Morgan Clelland
Women and Fascism Research Paper
Professor Jessica Davidson
In 1933, the rise of Adolf Hitler as the German leader ushered in a period of dramatic
change for the family. This period of change seemed to offer nothing more than an opportunity
for the revival of a strong traditional family that existed as an integral part of the nation. Laws
and party propaganda focused on returning women to the home where they could better serve as
mothers and making it easier and more appealing for families to have many children. However,
the value that Hitler placed upon high numbers of children for a powerful nation also led to
strong statements of support for women who had children outside of marriage. Personal support
for these women who did not have children within the traditional family became so strong that
secret maternity homes were created for unwed mothers under the Lebensborn organization. The
organization offered these mothers a chance to contribute a child to the nation away from the
disapproval of mass society. In the end, the Lebensborn program is important for legitimizing the
position of unwed mothers and undermining the importance of marriage and the traditional
family for the simple production of children for the state.
The established government before Hitler rose to power was the Weimar Republic. The
beginning of Weimar government may be found in the last months of World War One. By
November 1918, the German leadership had the option of surrendering or facing invasion.1
Surrender did occur, but also resulted in the formation of an interim government charged with
creating a democratic constitution.2 The creators of this constitution saw an opportunity to
remove Germany from the trauma of defeat and gain acceptance from former enemies. However,
1
Claudia Koonz, Mothers in the Fatherland: Women, the Family, and Nazi Politics (New York: St. Martin’s Press,
1987), 22.
2
Koonz, 22.
1
, the Weimar Republic meant little to the average German who experienced the political and
economic uncertainty that came from defeat.3 After suffering defeat, the Allied Powers singled
out Germany as being responsible for the war. The Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of its
colonies, forced enormous reparations for war debt and damages, and significantly downsized
the armed forces.4 The reduction in the armed forces was especially significant for the German
people as they felt that their culture and virility were being questioned. Many Germans felt
victimized because of these severe consequences and wished for a return to glory.
Adolf Hitler was one of the many people who strongly saw the Weimar Republic as a
perpetrator of the German defeat and wished to create a new era. In an effort to begin this new
era, Hitler joined the National Worker’s Party. He quickly rose through the ranks to become the
head of propaganda in 1920 and the president of the party in 1921.5 As the party leader, he
sought to take advantage of the political turmoil in Germany by leading a coup. Hitler led
hundreds of his followers and top officials on the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch against government
buildings and leaders in Munich.6 The hope was that Munich would become a base from which
an even greater march could be launched.7 However, the coup failed when government forces
scattered the marchers and arrested Hitler. Hitler faced trial under the charges of high treason,
but faced a lenient judge that only required him to serve eight months in prison.8 It was during
this time that he wrote Mein Kamph, a manifesto that served as a blueprint for his political ideas.
Hitler continued his efforts to bring down the Weimar Republic after leaving prison, but
decided to use democratic means. The worldwide depression that began in 1928 provided an
3
Koonz, 28.
4
Lynn H. Nicholas, Cruel World: The Children of Europe in the Nazi Web (New York: Vintage Books, 2006), 18.
5
Catrine Clay, Master Race: The Lebensborn Experiment in Nazi Germany (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1995), 26.
6
Koonz, 57.
7
Koonz, 57.
8
Koonz, 57.
2
Women and Fascism Research Paper
Professor Jessica Davidson
In 1933, the rise of Adolf Hitler as the German leader ushered in a period of dramatic
change for the family. This period of change seemed to offer nothing more than an opportunity
for the revival of a strong traditional family that existed as an integral part of the nation. Laws
and party propaganda focused on returning women to the home where they could better serve as
mothers and making it easier and more appealing for families to have many children. However,
the value that Hitler placed upon high numbers of children for a powerful nation also led to
strong statements of support for women who had children outside of marriage. Personal support
for these women who did not have children within the traditional family became so strong that
secret maternity homes were created for unwed mothers under the Lebensborn organization. The
organization offered these mothers a chance to contribute a child to the nation away from the
disapproval of mass society. In the end, the Lebensborn program is important for legitimizing the
position of unwed mothers and undermining the importance of marriage and the traditional
family for the simple production of children for the state.
The established government before Hitler rose to power was the Weimar Republic. The
beginning of Weimar government may be found in the last months of World War One. By
November 1918, the German leadership had the option of surrendering or facing invasion.1
Surrender did occur, but also resulted in the formation of an interim government charged with
creating a democratic constitution.2 The creators of this constitution saw an opportunity to
remove Germany from the trauma of defeat and gain acceptance from former enemies. However,
1
Claudia Koonz, Mothers in the Fatherland: Women, the Family, and Nazi Politics (New York: St. Martin’s Press,
1987), 22.
2
Koonz, 22.
1
, the Weimar Republic meant little to the average German who experienced the political and
economic uncertainty that came from defeat.3 After suffering defeat, the Allied Powers singled
out Germany as being responsible for the war. The Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of its
colonies, forced enormous reparations for war debt and damages, and significantly downsized
the armed forces.4 The reduction in the armed forces was especially significant for the German
people as they felt that their culture and virility were being questioned. Many Germans felt
victimized because of these severe consequences and wished for a return to glory.
Adolf Hitler was one of the many people who strongly saw the Weimar Republic as a
perpetrator of the German defeat and wished to create a new era. In an effort to begin this new
era, Hitler joined the National Worker’s Party. He quickly rose through the ranks to become the
head of propaganda in 1920 and the president of the party in 1921.5 As the party leader, he
sought to take advantage of the political turmoil in Germany by leading a coup. Hitler led
hundreds of his followers and top officials on the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch against government
buildings and leaders in Munich.6 The hope was that Munich would become a base from which
an even greater march could be launched.7 However, the coup failed when government forces
scattered the marchers and arrested Hitler. Hitler faced trial under the charges of high treason,
but faced a lenient judge that only required him to serve eight months in prison.8 It was during
this time that he wrote Mein Kamph, a manifesto that served as a blueprint for his political ideas.
Hitler continued his efforts to bring down the Weimar Republic after leaving prison, but
decided to use democratic means. The worldwide depression that began in 1928 provided an
3
Koonz, 28.
4
Lynn H. Nicholas, Cruel World: The Children of Europe in the Nazi Web (New York: Vintage Books, 2006), 18.
5
Catrine Clay, Master Race: The Lebensborn Experiment in Nazi Germany (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1995), 26.
6
Koonz, 57.
7
Koonz, 57.
8
Koonz, 57.
2
