Third Reich Maidens

When Adolf Hitler and the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (N.S.D.A.P. — Nazi Party) came to power in 1933, they did so by embracing a series of beliefs where each German citizen would assume a certain place in the new utopia. During the “Period of Struggle” that preceded Hitler’s rise to power (Kampfzeit of 1925 –1933), many German women had been very active in political speech making, leaflet distribution, and even some street brawling. Despite this obvious display of activism, the new regime relegated women and girls to Victorian-like roles of traditional wife, mother, and subservient daughter. This meant that they were no longer expected to be active in politics or make any meaningful contributions to business or industry. The Nazi’s process of developing women’s new role began with molding the minds of young girls to meet what was expected of them within the Nazi community.

Since the nineteenth century, many religious and political youth groups had flourished across the Germany. During the post-WWI Weimar Republic, right and left-wing political groups emphasized training of the young in order to strengthen their future ranks.

RISE OF GIRL POWER

When the N.S.D.A.P became active in the political arena, the need for an organized (Hitler Youth — HJ) was organized as loose-knit assemblages of young boys. Similarly, by the late 1920s, girls were organized into small groups of (Sisterhood of the Hitler Youth) as part of this growing youth movement.