Kinder, Kirche, Kueche: Women in Nazi Germany

The government of Nazi Germany’s ideology for the place of women promoted a return to ‘traditional’ roles such as marriage, motherhood and family. However, the policies they put in place tell a different story. Although they led women to believe that their main role was to increase the birth rate of the country, the government was performing forced abortions and sterilizations. Women were meant to aspire to marriage, yet the government created ‘Breeding’ camps where women would be impregnated by officers they did not know, for the good of the country. Despite wanting a return to the sacred family life, children were asked to report on the discussions their parents had and remain loyal to the state above all else. This essay will discuss the contradictions between the ideology of the Nazi government and their policies in regard to the role of women.