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Social Policies in Germany: Weimar Republic to Nazi and Wartime Eras 1918-1945

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sophie <3

10/12/2025

History

Social Policies in Germany (1918-1945)

1,030

10 Dec 2025

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Social Policies in Germany: Weimar Republic to Nazi and Wartime Eras 1918-1945

user profile picture

sophie <3

@sophiebagnall

Germany's social policies from 1918-45 show how dramatically society can... Show more

# Social Policies in Germany (1918-45)

Women | The Weimar Republic (1919-33) | Nazi State (1933-39) | Wartime (1939-45)
---|---|---|---
| -

Social Policies in Germany (1918-45)

Ever wonder how quickly a society can completely transform? Germany between 1918-45 is the perfect case study, showing three drastically different approaches to social policy in just 27 years.

Women's roles shifted dramatically across these periods. The Weimar Republic was surprisingly progressive - by 1925, 36% of workers were women, and thousands became teachers and doctors. However, married working women faced criticism as "double earners" who supposedly stole jobs from unemployed men. The reality was harsh: with 1 million illegal abortions yearly by 1930, 10-12,000 women died from dangerous backstreet procedures.

The Nazi period completely reversed women's progress, promoting the "Kinder, Kirche, Küche" (children, church, kitchen) ideology. They capped women's university participation at 10% and created programmes like Lebensborn to encourage childbirth. Ironically, labour shortages by 1939 forced them to bring women back into the workforce, showing how ideology clashed with practical needs.

Young people experienced equally dramatic changes. Weimar struggled with youth unemployment 1717% of jobless Germans were aged 14-25 and competing political youth groups. The Nazis solved this through total control - 97% of teachers joined the Nazi Teacher League, Hitler Youth membership became compulsory with 9 million members by 1939, and elite NAPOLA schools trained future Nazi leaders.

Key insight: Notice how each government used education and youth organisations to shape the next generation according to their ideology.

Workers saw their fortunes change repeatedly. Weimar brought improved rights, trade unions, and unemployment insurance, with wages rising 12% in 1928. The Nazis banned all trade unions, replacing them with the German Labour Front (DAF), but offered perks like holidays through "Strength through Joy" programmes. Wartime brought the harshest conditions - 60-hour minimum working weeks, wage cuts, and food rations tied to productivity.

Religious groups and elites faced increasing persecution under Nazi rule. The 1933 Concordat with the Pope promised church autonomy but was quickly broken - 800 Protestant pastors and 400 Catholic priests ended up in concentration camps. Even traditional elites who initially supported Hitler found themselves arrested by 1943, as paranoia consumed the regime.



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Xander S

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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

History

1,030

10 Dec 2025

1 page

Social Policies in Germany: Weimar Republic to Nazi and Wartime Eras 1918-1945

user profile picture

sophie <3

@sophiebagnall

Germany's social policies from 1918-45 show how dramatically society can change under different governments. From the relatively progressive Weimar Republic to the controlling Nazi regime and wartime desperation, each period brought massive shifts in how women, young people, workers, and... Show more

# Social Policies in Germany (1918-45)

Women | The Weimar Republic (1919-33) | Nazi State (1933-39) | Wartime (1939-45)
---|---|---|---
| -

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Social Policies in Germany (1918-45)

Ever wonder how quickly a society can completely transform? Germany between 1918-45 is the perfect case study, showing three drastically different approaches to social policy in just 27 years.

Women's roles shifted dramatically across these periods. The Weimar Republic was surprisingly progressive - by 1925, 36% of workers were women, and thousands became teachers and doctors. However, married working women faced criticism as "double earners" who supposedly stole jobs from unemployed men. The reality was harsh: with 1 million illegal abortions yearly by 1930, 10-12,000 women died from dangerous backstreet procedures.

The Nazi period completely reversed women's progress, promoting the "Kinder, Kirche, Küche" (children, church, kitchen) ideology. They capped women's university participation at 10% and created programmes like Lebensborn to encourage childbirth. Ironically, labour shortages by 1939 forced them to bring women back into the workforce, showing how ideology clashed with practical needs.

Young people experienced equally dramatic changes. Weimar struggled with youth unemployment 1717% of jobless Germans were aged 14-25 and competing political youth groups. The Nazis solved this through total control - 97% of teachers joined the Nazi Teacher League, Hitler Youth membership became compulsory with 9 million members by 1939, and elite NAPOLA schools trained future Nazi leaders.

Key insight: Notice how each government used education and youth organisations to shape the next generation according to their ideology.

Workers saw their fortunes change repeatedly. Weimar brought improved rights, trade unions, and unemployment insurance, with wages rising 12% in 1928. The Nazis banned all trade unions, replacing them with the German Labour Front (DAF), but offered perks like holidays through "Strength through Joy" programmes. Wartime brought the harshest conditions - 60-hour minimum working weeks, wage cuts, and food rations tied to productivity.

Religious groups and elites faced increasing persecution under Nazi rule. The 1933 Concordat with the Pope promised church autonomy but was quickly broken - 800 Protestant pastors and 400 Catholic priests ended up in concentration camps. Even traditional elites who initially supported Hitler found themselves arrested by 1943, as paranoia consumed the regime.

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user