Topics and the History of Economic Thought

Eugenics and Nazi Germany

What is Eugenics?

-also referred to as race-hygiene

Gender Discrimination in Nazi Germany

Women's Role in Nazi Germany

Although mass murder is the most profound example of eugenics in Nazi Germany, it is also important to analyze the role women played in this time period. In 1932 Germany reached an international low in birth rates. This was most likely due to the economic conditions at the time; however it was perceived as a strike by women. The remedy was social improvement through the use of financial and social incentives.

In Nazi Germany, women were divided into two sections: superior and inferior. This classification was determined by their nationality, marital status, and position they held within society. Germans were considered superior, whereas people of Jewish, Polish or other national descent were inferiors. Additionally house servants, unskilled factory workers, farm workers, prostitutes, unmarried women, and anyone who deviated from the norm were classified as inferior as well. This separation determined the who was allowed to reproduce and who would be forbidden. The ideology behind this was to promote the expansion of the German Volk or Aryan race.

These divisions of superior and inferior women determined the applicable laws dealing with pregnancy. Women of the superior race, were expected to bear children and continue on the Ayran race. These women were forbiden to obtain an abortion and if violated, faced various consequences depending on the degree of their crime committed. Whereas women of inferior status, were often prohibited to procreate through practices of sterilization or abortions. These women were considered as lacking value to the community and so were their offspring. The idea was that the number of degenerates born depends on the number of degenerate women capable of procreation, so take that ability away and the problem is solved. This caused physician- patient relationships to be replaced by loyalty to the state. Anyone who was deemed hostile or against the state could then be classified as inferior and have certain rights and priveleges revoked.

Abortion Laws

• May 1933- 2 penal laws prohibited availability of abortion facilities, legalized eugenic sterilization and prohibited voluntary steriliazation • Only after 3 kids could a woman have an abortion • Wanted to promote gene value—build superior race • Documents tell of abortions being performed illegally by the women themselves or unqualified people. • 1937 estimates of 400,000 abortions occurred • 1933-45 under hitler: severe restrictions placed on abortions and use of contraceptives o Could impose death penalty • However lack of documentation of abortions • History of abortions: 1851-1933 o Paragraphs 218 of penal code for german reich took effect January 1872: a pregnant women who killed her baby in utero could serve 5 years of a penitentiary sentence  By 1938, convictions against reached 7000 65% increase from 1932, mostly female physicians were arrested o P 219: any person who performs an abortion for financial gain would be subject to penitentiary sentence of 10 years o 1933- reintroducted p 218 and 219:  219:anybody who advertises / advocates abortions faces a fine or prison sentence not exceeding 2 yrs  220:anyone who publicly offers services for abortions will face fine or punishment up to 2 yrs  “law for the prevention of hereditary diseases in future generations” jan 1934, preventing lives that are unworthy of living • Petitions heard about this, 94% were sterilized o Abortion to save women’s life did not constitute as a crime o Working women harmed by pregnancies o Faced opposition from roman catholic church---- made sentences less severe  Church also does not support contraceptives o Since rules were not lifted, illegal abortions continued to increase, 1926 hamburg predicted 2 out of 3 were aborted o Abortion could only be performed if it threatened the health of the mother- had to be determined by at least 2 doctors o Blocking reproduction of german volk acts detrimental to german nation or those who mix blood with lesser races (jews, blacks, other inferiors)- deteriorates nation---will be punished under racial treason o Increasing social unrest caused number of abortions to increase • Sex education and contraceptions 1905-33 o 1905- birth control movement o Nazi view “mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world” pg 87 david et al o People involved in movement were pushed into retirement or asked to emigrate o Advertisements were restricted, contraceptive sales were not prohibited o Use of contraceptives were a violation of nature, degradation of womanhood, motherhood and love • 1939-1945- years of the war o Fight against abortion intensified o Condoms were exempt b/c could prevent venereal disease o 1940- officers granted permission to perform sterilization and abortion on inferiors

Sterilization Laws

Women of inferior status, were often prohibited to procreate through practices of sterilization or abortions. These women were considered as lacking value to the community and so were their offspring • 1936- castration: destruction of women gonads, x-rays used for sterilization (mass sterilization w/o knowledge of the inmates) • 1934 sterilization law: 9 different conditions were summons to be sterilized: 5 related to psychiatric conditions, 3 to physical invalidity and 1 to alcoholism • People with disabilities were seen as able to pass them along- not wanted • Mental, physical disorders, alcoholism, prostitution, social problems, poverty, criminiality- seen as inheritable traits • By 1937, german authorities has sterilized more than 220,000 people • Legal ruling in 1935- abortion and sterilization can be performed concurrently Hamburg council of physicians: b/t aug- may of 1944-1945, there were only 38 petitions for abortion (health issues etc), only 89percent of those approved A woman with cancer had her request denied bc there was no proof that the abortion would prolong her life If a woman petitioned for an abortion her and her partner were required to undergo racial examination in which the court would deem if the future child would be racially valuable. For german women to have an abortion, serious health problems had to be the reason. Whereas a woman of polish, russsian or other nationalities, need only state they were foreign to have an abortion. Polish abortionists were not punished so long as they only performed abortions on polish women and not german volk.

1988: abortion is legally available to pregnant women in 1st 3 months of pregnancy. Often against medical opposition in germany. 

Project t4: Aka euthanasia- 1939-1941: over 100000 inmates killed, sterilization of useless was first step, gas chambers were used for the first time under this program… eventually after secret was out, pressure forced hitler and ss to put a hault to this plan and the 3 million they had mapped out to kill.---considered final solution