Changes to Women in Nazi Germany (Edexcel GCSE History)

Blockquote

the mission of the woman is to be beautiful and bring children into the home

Worked Example

Give two things you can infer from Source A about the Nazi view of women.

4 marks

 Source A: A Nazi poster published in 1937. The poster was published with the caption 
‘The Nazi Party protects the national community’

IMAGE

Answers:

 (i) What I can infer:
Women were encouraged to have large families (1)

Details in the source that tell me this: 
There are four children in the poster (1)

(ii) What I can infer:
Women were seen as the main part of the family (1)

Details in the source that tell me this: 
The woman is shown in the middle of the poster, surrounded by her family (1)

This answer would receive full marks because it contains two relevant inferences, supported by details from the source.

Worked Example

Study Interpretations 1 and 2. They give different views about Nazi policies towards women

What is the main difference between these views?
Explain your answer, using details from both interpretations

4 marks

Answers:

 A main difference is that Interpretation 1 suggests that Nazi policy towards women was not successful because more women were employed (1). This is shown by the quote, “the number of women in all types of jobs increased” (1).

On the other hand, Interpretation 2 suggests that Nazi policy towards women was successful because they were forced out of employment to focus on having families (1). This is shown by the quote, “very few women were in full-time work” (1).

This answer would receive full marks because it clearly states the main difference by comparing the two interpretations. It also used evidence from each interpretation.

Worked Example

Suggest one reason why Interpretations 1 and 2 give different views about Nazi policies towards women. 

You may use Sources B and C to help explain your answer.

4 marks

Answers:

The interpretations may differ because they have given weight to different sources.

Source C suggests that women stayed in employment because it shows women working in a textile factory (1). This aligns with the argument presented in Interpretation 1 that more workers were needed in industry (1).

Source B suggests that women were at the centre of the family and the “builder of the foundation of the future" (1). This agrees with the idea in Interpretation 2 that women should bring up children at home (1).

This answer would receive full marks because it clearly identifies why the interpretations give different views. Each source is discussed and compared to the relevant interpretation with precise detail.

Exam Tip

Question 3(d) is asking you why Interpretations 1 and 2 have different views.

It will always state, “You may use Sources B and C to help explain your answer.” This is the examiner's way of suggesting you look at Sources B and C to help you answer this question.

Remember, historians make interpretations and arguments based on the sources available to them. If historians use different sources, they could come to different conclusions.

Study both Interpretations and both Sources. Then, compare which Source agrees with which Interpretation. In the question above, it is clear that Interpretation 1 agrees with Source C. Similarly, Interpretation 2 clearly agrees with Source B.