Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates.

Study the sources carefully and then answer all the questions. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. You must use the sources to which you are specifically directed, but you may use any of the other sources where they are helpful.

1.a) Study Source A.

What can you learn about ideal Nazi family from Source A? [5]

b) Study Source B.What does Source B tell you about the attitude of the Nazis towards women?

[5]

c) Study Sources C and D. How similar are Sources C and D? [7]

What was the Nazi policy like towards women and families in the 1930s?

Source A – A propaganda poster portraying an ideal Nazi family.

*Everyone in this poster has blond hair and blue eyes.*

Source B – An account by an American teacher who visited a clinic in Berlin, capital of Germany.

The doctors made quick, deft incisions* in white abdomen walls. “What are they doing?' I asked. “These doctors”, the guide said, “are sterilising* women.” I asked what type of women, and was informed they were the mentally sick, women with low resistance, women who had proved through other births that their offspring were not strong.

“We are even eradicating colour-blindness”, the guide continued. “We must not have soldiers who are colour-blind. Colour-blindness is transmitted only by women.”

Incisions* - Surgical cutsSterilising* - Making infertile

Source C – An extract from a historian’s view on Nazi family policy

Hitler had a traditional view of the role of the German women as wife and mother. It is worth remembering that many women agreed with him, especially those from traditional rural areas and small towns who felt that the role of a woman was to support her husband and to bear children. Overall, there was a lot of pressure towards working women to conform. Professional women were often forced to give up their jobs and stay at home with their families which many resented as a restriction on their freedom. Besides all these, the government also introduced tempting financial incentives and rewards like medals to increase birth-rate. With all these encouragement, birth rate did increase from 15 percent in 1933 to 20 percent in 1939. However, it declined then and never reached pre-1928 figures.

Source D – An interview with a German lady doctor in 1934

When one had five children, one got an Honourable Mother’s cross, right? Sort of a mark of distinction that I also fought in a battle and won. But I sent it back to them… I said I would not allow myself to be rewarded. I did not bear my children for Hitler. I also did not think that I agree with the State campaign that when I give birth, I am donating a baby to the Fuhrer. I am even sadder that I cannot work as a doctor anymore but to stay at home to cook and wash and look after my husband and my family. But that was bad to say.