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0 / 28 Fotos
The woman's role in Nazi Germany
- Even before the outbreak of war in 1939, the Nazi regime in Germany officially encouraged and pressured women to fill the roles of mother and wife only.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
Homemakers and child-rearing
- Women were excluded from all other positions of responsibility. Instead, their roles were as traditional homemakers tasked with the rearing of children.
© Getty Images
2 / 28 Fotos
Encouraged to reproduce
- Prolific mothers, those who conceived and raised at least four children in the role of a parent, were awarded a military decoration, the Gold Mother's Cross.
© Getty Images
3 / 28 Fotos
The ideal family
- German women were expected to dress conservatively, keep themselves fit and healthy, and marry a strong, pure, and healthy Aryan man.
© Getty Images
4 / 28 Fotos
Careless whispers
- Combating enemy espionage during the Second World War saw the establishment of domestic propaganda campaigns that cautioned citizens against revealing any information that could be useful to the enemy. While not exclusively aimed at women, they were generally the main recipients of the message.
© Getty Images
5 / 28 Fotos
A message aimed at women
- Many women on the home front received letters from their sweethearts abroad. While all correspondence was vetted, officials worried that some letters might contain information useful to the enemy. Likewise, replies ran the risk of divulging sensitive details that the Allies didn't want in Axis hands.
© Getty Images
6 / 28 Fotos
Be silent
- Women were seen as potential, albeit innocent, conduits of intelligence imparted through idle gossip.
© Getty Images
7 / 28 Fotos
Governed by propaganda
- The Axis powers recruited women to broadcast propaganda in an attempt to demoralize Allied troops. One of the most infamous of these female English-speaking announcers was Iva Toguri D'Aquino, or "Tokyo Rose."
© Getty Images
8 / 28 Fotos
Tokyo Rose
- Tokyo Rose was in fact an American who was living in Japan when war broke out. Her broadcasts typically taunted troops about the task that lay ahead of them in trying to defeat the Imperial Japanese Army, and questioned whether wives and girlfriends back home were remaining faithful.
© Getty Images
9 / 28 Fotos
Following different rules
- Another American woman, Mildred Gillars, was employed by Nazi Germany to broadcast enemy propaganda in much the same way as Iva Toguri D'Aquino.
© Getty Images
10 / 28 Fotos
Axis Sally
- Gillars was based in Berlin and dubbed "Axis Sally" by the Allies. Following her capture after the war, she became the first woman to be convicted of treason against the United States.
© Getty Images
11 / 28 Fotos
Entertaining the troops
- Maintaining moral and confidence in victory was of paramount concern to the Allies. In the United States, the United Service Organizations (USO) sought to be the GI's "home away from home" and began a tradition of entertaining the troops and providing social facilities. Marlene Dietrich was one of the big Hollywood stars happy to brighten troops' deployments.
© Getty Images
12 / 28 Fotos
Regulating the dating game
- Both big names and lesser-known talents took part in shows organized at home and overseas. On American soil, the USO drew up some pretty tough rules designed to keep females out of the dating game.
© Getty Images
13 / 28 Fotos
Strict guidelines
- For example, in guidelines drawn up for junior USO hostesses, one rule stated: "No young lady will be permitted to leave the Service Club until the dance is over." Another rule warned: "At the conclusion of the dance, girls will leave only with their chaperones. Those coming in private cars will leave immediately after the dance."
© Getty Images
14 / 28 Fotos
Handle with caution
- The USO knew women mattered to morale—the men needed company of women. But the organization cautioned girls about unmentioned wives and girlfriends back home.
© Getty Images
15 / 28 Fotos
Women in the workplace
- In many nations during WWII, women were encouraged to join female branches of the armed forces or participate in industrial or farm work.
© Getty Images
16 / 28 Fotos
Rosie the Riveter
- Except for nurses, women were restricted from combat zones. But they were widely accepted in industry to help the war effort. In the United States, Rosie the Riveter was an allegorical cultural icon. She represented the women who worked in factories and shipyards during the conflict.
© Getty Images
17 / 28 Fotos
Facing challenges
- However, they faced challenges in overcoming ingrained cultural stereotypes against working women. Another more pressing issue was finding adequate childcare during working hours.
© Getty Images
18 / 28 Fotos
Allowed to work on the land
- In Great Britain, factory laws regulating hours were suspended and night work for women was permitted. Meanwhile in the countryside, the Women's Land Army provided a rural workforce to replace the many male agricultural workers who had joined the armed forces. But a sharp eye was kept on its members, the fear being some women would be tempted to stray after hours.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
Fashion victims
- Women's fashion took a hit during the Second World War. To compensate for a wartime shortage of material, women would replicate the look of stylish nylon stockings by painting their legs, sometimes including a pencil seam for an even more authentic look.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Personal sacrifices
- In fact, women were encouraged to discard silk or nylon stockings, and for good reason. Used silk stockings were made into powder bags for the navy, and used nylon stockings were melted down and respun into nylon thread for parachute production.
© Getty Images
21 / 28 Fotos
Helping the war effort
- Younger women and girls gave up much of their time at weekend camps knitting sea stockings and jerseys for the crews of wartime convoys.
© Getty Images
22 / 28 Fotos
Utility clothing
- Even the most fashion-conscious of women applauded what was known as utility clothing. Introduced in Great Britain, the utility clothing scheme ensured the availability of fabric, clothing, and shoes no matter what the consumer's socioeconomic circumstances.
© Getty Images
23 / 28 Fotos
Housewives' dilemma
- Civilians in all the waring nations were subject to food rationing. In Great Britain, rationing commenced in 1940. Housewives suddenly faced the dilemma of having to feed their families on a fraction of what was previously available.
© Getty Images
24 / 28 Fotos
Food rationing
- Among the first commodities to be restricted were butter, sugar, bacon, and ham. With each purchase, a coupon was clipped from the ration book.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Joining the queue
- By the height of the conflict, around 1942, just about anything that was edible and for sale was rationed. Long queues formed outside shops, with many people often going away empty-handed.
© Getty Images
26 / 28 Fotos
Skirting restrictions
- As homemakers, women had to think on their feet. They had to be thrifty and creative. Savvy home economics was called for. Fortunately, fresh fruit and vegetables were widely available so it made sense to either grow your own or ingratiate yourself with a local farmer or gardener. Sources: (Imperial War Museum) (United Service Organizations) (The National WWII Museum) (Striking Women)
© Getty Images
27 / 28 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 28 Fotos
The woman's role in Nazi Germany
- Even before the outbreak of war in 1939, the Nazi regime in Germany officially encouraged and pressured women to fill the roles of mother and wife only.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
Homemakers and child-rearing
- Women were excluded from all other positions of responsibility. Instead, their roles were as traditional homemakers tasked with the rearing of children.
© Getty Images
2 / 28 Fotos
Encouraged to reproduce
- Prolific mothers, those who conceived and raised at least four children in the role of a parent, were awarded a military decoration, the Gold Mother's Cross.
© Getty Images
3 / 28 Fotos
The ideal family
- German women were expected to dress conservatively, keep themselves fit and healthy, and marry a strong, pure, and healthy Aryan man.
© Getty Images
4 / 28 Fotos
Careless whispers
- Combating enemy espionage during the Second World War saw the establishment of domestic propaganda campaigns that cautioned citizens against revealing any information that could be useful to the enemy. While not exclusively aimed at women, they were generally the main recipients of the message.
© Getty Images
5 / 28 Fotos
A message aimed at women
- Many women on the home front received letters from their sweethearts abroad. While all correspondence was vetted, officials worried that some letters might contain information useful to the enemy. Likewise, replies ran the risk of divulging sensitive details that the Allies didn't want in Axis hands.
© Getty Images
6 / 28 Fotos
Be silent
- Women were seen as potential, albeit innocent, conduits of intelligence imparted through idle gossip.
© Getty Images
7 / 28 Fotos
Governed by propaganda
- The Axis powers recruited women to broadcast propaganda in an attempt to demoralize Allied troops. One of the most infamous of these female English-speaking announcers was Iva Toguri D'Aquino, or "Tokyo Rose."
© Getty Images
8 / 28 Fotos
Tokyo Rose
- Tokyo Rose was in fact an American who was living in Japan when war broke out. Her broadcasts typically taunted troops about the task that lay ahead of them in trying to defeat the Imperial Japanese Army, and questioned whether wives and girlfriends back home were remaining faithful.
© Getty Images
9 / 28 Fotos
Following different rules
- Another American woman, Mildred Gillars, was employed by Nazi Germany to broadcast enemy propaganda in much the same way as Iva Toguri D'Aquino.
© Getty Images
10 / 28 Fotos
Axis Sally
- Gillars was based in Berlin and dubbed "Axis Sally" by the Allies. Following her capture after the war, she became the first woman to be convicted of treason against the United States.
© Getty Images
11 / 28 Fotos
Entertaining the troops
- Maintaining moral and confidence in victory was of paramount concern to the Allies. In the United States, the United Service Organizations (USO) sought to be the GI's "home away from home" and began a tradition of entertaining the troops and providing social facilities. Marlene Dietrich was one of the big Hollywood stars happy to brighten troops' deployments.
© Getty Images
12 / 28 Fotos
Regulating the dating game
- Both big names and lesser-known talents took part in shows organized at home and overseas. On American soil, the USO drew up some pretty tough rules designed to keep females out of the dating game.
© Getty Images
13 / 28 Fotos
Strict guidelines
- For example, in guidelines drawn up for junior USO hostesses, one rule stated: "No young lady will be permitted to leave the Service Club until the dance is over." Another rule warned: "At the conclusion of the dance, girls will leave only with their chaperones. Those coming in private cars will leave immediately after the dance."
© Getty Images
14 / 28 Fotos
Handle with caution
- The USO knew women mattered to morale—the men needed company of women. But the organization cautioned girls about unmentioned wives and girlfriends back home.
© Getty Images
15 / 28 Fotos
Women in the workplace
- In many nations during WWII, women were encouraged to join female branches of the armed forces or participate in industrial or farm work.
© Getty Images
16 / 28 Fotos
Rosie the Riveter
- Except for nurses, women were restricted from combat zones. But they were widely accepted in industry to help the war effort. In the United States, Rosie the Riveter was an allegorical cultural icon. She represented the women who worked in factories and shipyards during the conflict.
© Getty Images
17 / 28 Fotos
Facing challenges
- However, they faced challenges in overcoming ingrained cultural stereotypes against working women. Another more pressing issue was finding adequate childcare during working hours.
© Getty Images
18 / 28 Fotos
Allowed to work on the land
- In Great Britain, factory laws regulating hours were suspended and night work for women was permitted. Meanwhile in the countryside, the Women's Land Army provided a rural workforce to replace the many male agricultural workers who had joined the armed forces. But a sharp eye was kept on its members, the fear being some women would be tempted to stray after hours.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
Fashion victims
- Women's fashion took a hit during the Second World War. To compensate for a wartime shortage of material, women would replicate the look of stylish nylon stockings by painting their legs, sometimes including a pencil seam for an even more authentic look.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Personal sacrifices
- In fact, women were encouraged to discard silk or nylon stockings, and for good reason. Used silk stockings were made into powder bags for the navy, and used nylon stockings were melted down and respun into nylon thread for parachute production.
© Getty Images
21 / 28 Fotos
Helping the war effort
- Younger women and girls gave up much of their time at weekend camps knitting sea stockings and jerseys for the crews of wartime convoys.
© Getty Images
22 / 28 Fotos
Utility clothing
- Even the most fashion-conscious of women applauded what was known as utility clothing. Introduced in Great Britain, the utility clothing scheme ensured the availability of fabric, clothing, and shoes no matter what the consumer's socioeconomic circumstances.
© Getty Images
23 / 28 Fotos
Housewives' dilemma
- Civilians in all the waring nations were subject to food rationing. In Great Britain, rationing commenced in 1940. Housewives suddenly faced the dilemma of having to feed their families on a fraction of what was previously available.
© Getty Images
24 / 28 Fotos
Food rationing
- Among the first commodities to be restricted were butter, sugar, bacon, and ham. With each purchase, a coupon was clipped from the ration book.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Joining the queue
- By the height of the conflict, around 1942, just about anything that was edible and for sale was rationed. Long queues formed outside shops, with many people often going away empty-handed.
© Getty Images
26 / 28 Fotos
Skirting restrictions
- As homemakers, women had to think on their feet. They had to be thrifty and creative. Savvy home economics was called for. Fortunately, fresh fruit and vegetables were widely available so it made sense to either grow your own or ingratiate yourself with a local farmer or gardener. Sources: (Imperial War Museum) (United Service Organizations) (The National WWII Museum) (Striking Women)
© Getty Images
27 / 28 Fotos
Things women couldn't do during World War II
How strict were the directives governing women in the Second World War?
© Getty Images
Daily life for a woman during the Second World War was in many ways a liberating experience. In several countries after the call to arms was announced and men left for the front, women were introduced to new lines of work not typically suited to them. Females were employed in factories, on farms, and other places where the war effort required all the help it could get. But this cultural shift came at a price. New rules and regulations dictated what many women could, and could not, do, both at home and in the workplace. Some of these directives were drawn up out of necessity. Others demonstrated a still bigoted and prejudiced attitude towards women in general.
So what were the laws that governed a woman's lifestyle in WWII? Click through this gallery and find out the rules women had to follow in the Second World War.
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