In Nazi society, women were primarily seen as mothers and homemakers, crucial for supporting the regime’s ideology of racial purity and expansion. The regime propagated the slogan “Kinder, Küche, Kirche” (Children, Kitchen, Church) to emphasize women’s roles. Policies incentivized childbirth through awards like the Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross) and financial support. The Nazi government also discouraged women from pursuing higher education and professional careers, aiming to confine them to domestic spheres to boost the Aryan population.

Women’s roles were strictly regulated through organizations like the National Socialist Women’s League (NS-Frauenschaft) and the German Women’s Enterprise (Deutsches Frauenwerk), which promoted Nazi values. These organizations trained women in household management, child-rearing, and indoctrinated them with Nazi ideology.

The impact on women was profound. Many experienced restricted personal and professional growth, as their primary value was tied to their ability to bear and raise children. This led to loss of individual autonomy and opportunities for self-fulfillment outside the home. However, some women found empowerment and sense of purpose in these roles, aligning their personal identities with the regime’s expectations. Despite these roles, women were also active supporters and participants in the regime’s activities, including in auxiliary military roles and as perpetrators in concentration camps.