Adolfas Hitleris sužavėdavo moteris per masinius renginius, paversdavo jas pamišėliška isterikių minia. Aukštuomenės damos žavėjosi juo ir tiesė jam kelią į viršūnę.
Tokios „paradinės“ moterys kaip Hana Raič, Leni Braun ir Vinifred Vagner liaupsino jį ir pelnė jam šlovę.
Hitlerio seserėčia Geli Raubal del jo nusižudė. Eva Braun drauge žengė į mirtį.
Netgi Hitlerio pagalbininkų žmonos buvo jo pasekėjos.
Kaip klostėsi nacių elito aplinkos moterų gyvenimas? Kokį vaidmenį jos atliko oficialiai ir užkulisiuose? Kaip jautėsi Magda Gebels, kuri 1945 metais nužudė šešis savo vaikus? Kaip elgėsi su Gėringu dvi jo žmonos Karina ir Emi? Kaip jautėsi Henrieta fon Širak, kai jos vyras deportavo iš Vienos 60 000 žydų?
Ar atitiko Junita Mitford ir kitos moterys nacių elito aplinkoje propaguojamą idealą „vyras skirtas tautai, moteris - šeimai“?
Anna Maria Sigmund kaip tik ir bando atsakyti į tą klausimą. Šioje patrauklioje knygoje pateikiamos išvados apie moteris Trečiajame reiche.
Nothing special, nothing new that wouldn't have been possible to read in others books, which focus aren't only on the ' leading ' women in the Nazi period. What I miss the most is deeper, sociological framework of that period. My expectations were too high/different, but if it's your first contact with the role of women in Nazism, there is enough information for a quick insight on this topic.
I don't know whether this book was poorly written or poorly translated or both (my money's on both). The language is clumsy; the scholarship is mediocre to poor (I grant that Leni Riefenstahl's post-WWII, self-exculpating memoir is not a trustworthy source, but when you're countering with Goebbels . . . um, maybe this needs a little more unpacking?); and as a historiographical endeavor, this is a set of eight biographical sketches, to varying degrees of sketchy, devoid of an argument even in those cases when an argument is absolutely crying out to be made. As for example, Geli Raubal. Or the fantastically hypocritical Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, who made a public career out of telling women to stay out of the public sector:
She wanted to communicate to other women her fervent conviction that fulfilling one's duty--quietly in the background and without demanding recognition--was an essential part of the female psyche.
"For mothers it is true that they come to a very quiet and understated power through service, whose sole purpose for ever and ever remains service."
Scholtz-Klink, of course, never served quietly, but traveled constantly from one congress to the next, giving speeches and putting her simple ideas down on paper. In 1938, when her husband started complaining about her numerous party duties, she divorced him. (117) And overarchingly, demandingly, the central question about Carin Goering, Magda Goebbels, Leni Riefenstahl, Gertrud Schotz-Klink, Henriette von Schirach, and even Eva Braun: what was it that made intelligent, ambitious women devote themselves to Nazism and to Hitler, who made no secret at all of the fact that he had no use, either personally or politically, for women who were intelligent and/or ambitious? Some of it is attributable to Hitler's legendary magnetism, but not all of it. Some of it is attributable to the Nazi habit of making exceptions: Leni Riefenstahl, for instance, was able to achieve extraordinary things with Nazi support, and Hanna Reitsch, who isn't covered in this book, is another example. But right at the center of the whole thing is this question that Sigmund doesn't even formulate, much less try to answer: why did these women devote their entire lives--and in the case of Magda Goebbels, her death--to an ideological cause that, from the beginning, utterly and unhesitatingly rejected them?
Um casal meu amigo, que conhece os meus gostos literários, fez uma careta e perguntou "mas agora andas a ler isso?", quando soube do meu livro de cabeceira. Eu tentei explicar-lhes que, como Mulher e Mãe, me fazia muita confusão o papel das mulheres alemãs do Terceiro Reich durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial. Bem sei que, mesmo em seitas e nas várias religiões, as mulheres são quem mais facilmente embarca em idolatrias e em credos cegos, mas, ao mesmo tempo, e considerando uma visão mais romântica da sensibilidade feminina, custava-me a perceberr como justificariam elas o que se passava em seu redor. A resposta é simples: não justificavam! Aceitavam cegamente e de bom grado a doutrina do seu ídolo (Hitler), sem a questionar... mesmo quando esta ia contra elas próprias, os seus direitos ou as suas escolhas.
Como eu disse aos meus amigos, decidi ler este livro para ver se, no fim, me sentia mais iluminada sobre a temática... Mas isso é impossível quando se está a ler sobre pessoas que viviam nas trevas!
This was an interesting read as it was refreshing to see the women behind the men that stayed in history for the atrocities they committed during World War II. The first chapter about "Hitler's Women" as in the ones that influenced their husbands to join the party, his followers and admirers was a brilliant introduction. However I found that the writing was very fragmented which made it confusing sometimes, this happened especially in the first chapters. The author often refers to an event in the future and then goes back and continues what she was talking about again... In some chapters I felt like she focused too much on the men, the husbands, boyfriends, relatives of these women. Even though I understand she has to mention them and provide information about them and tell their story and set up a background I felt, especially in the chapter about Henriette von Schirach where there was more on her husband then about her even, especially towards the end of the chapter. Very interesting anyway and will definitely check out the second volume.
Este livro conta a história de algumas das mulheres de mais relevo durante o período do Terceiro Reich. Para quem já leu bastante sobre este período e sobre a Segunda Guerra Mundial, este será um livro que pouco trará de novo. No entanto, não deixa de ser uma leitura que recomendo a todas pessoas para se conhecer um outro lado deste período negro da história europeia. É importante conhecermos a história destas mulheres que viveram lado a lado com algumas das personagens mais negras da história europeia como Hitler, Goring ou Goebbels e perceber como foi possível manterem-se ao seu lado até ao fim, mesmo sacrificando a sua vida ou a dos seus filhos.
A minha classificação de três estrelas tem apenas a ver com o facto de, nesta fase, este livro já não trazer grande coisa de novo. Mas recomendo a quem se esteja a iniciar neste tema.
I 've read the complete German edition counting 1000 pages and I think this has been the third time I am re-reading it. I enjoy the variety of destinies of women with close relationships to high profile Nazis. I think the book is well-researched and a pleasure to read. These were not typical average women living in the 3rd Reich by the standards given by the regime, but more of protegees of the regime who have benefited from it or pursued their plans within it. The author starts with their childhood, mentions related historical events and life of their husbands (if applicable), mentions their children, character and career and closes up with their after-war fate.
I haven’t read a lot of the genre of “white women who were complicit in crimes against humanity” but I had not heard of many of these women and it’s wild how relatively light they got off during denazification trials. Leni Riefenstahl was particularly a shocking example. Really disturbing read. I agree with other comments that there were many typos so if there is a future edition it needs a stronger editor.
Wenn man liest wie begeistert manche Frauen sich dem Nationalsozialismus angeschlossen haben und voller eigenem Elan an der „Karriere“ in der „Partei“ gefeilt/gearbeitet haben.....
Ja, manchen wurde das anerzogen, der Großteil kann mir aber nicht weißmachen dass man nichts von den Gräueltaten mitbekam. Vor allem die Frauen der „Oberen“......
The twelve year existence of the Third Reich is a fascinating subject to study. That such an advanced/modern culture could so wholly and quickly immerse itself into following an absurd ideology that would inevitably lead to the deaths of millions of its own people (let alone those of other nations) is quite mind-boggling. Understandably, most of the research, books and documentaries are devoted to the Nazi hierarchy and the military … in other words, evil men. Anna Maria Sigmund’s WOMEN OF THE THIRD REICH offers a provocative look at a select group of women who were nestled in the black heart of the Nazi regime.
WOMEN OF THE THIRD REICH provides a thorough look into the lives of eight women who were either married to or closely associated with Nazi leadership: Carin Goering – married to Hermann Goering until her death in 1931. Emmy Goering – second wife to Hermann Goering (following Carin Goering’s death) Magda Goebbels – notorious spouse of Joseph Goebbels Eva Braun – mistress and eventual wife of Adolf Hitler Leni Riefenstahl – talented German filmmaker/producer/photographer and actress Geli Raubal – neice adored by Adolf Hitler Henriette von Schirach – wife of Hitler Youth leader and eventual Reich Governor of Vienna Gertrud Scholtz-Klink – Head of the Nazi Women’s League
What I liked about this book was that the author provides a well-researched and intimate view into the lives of these women and, in some cases, the considerable power they wielded. The book’s presentation is simple; a concise introduction that summarizes the role of women in the Third Reich, followed by individual chapters dedicated to each of the eight women. The chapters read less like a story and more like thoroughly detailed bullet points that chronologically capture significant events in the lives of these women. As much as I’ve read about World War II over the last 30+ years, I found this book providing me with a treasure trove of new information and a better understanding of individuals who are generally identified as tag-alongs to the men they are associated with. While I knew Hermann Goering’s devotion to his first wife Carin led to him building his infamous hunting estate in her name (Carinhall), I’ve never found anything substantive written about Carin Goering until I read this book. Likewise, the notoriously evil Magda Goebbels (whose total devotion to Hitler led her to poisoning her six children) was also a feminist pioneer in Germany. The information provided fills a lot of gaps and certainly answers a lot of questions, like the alleged romantic ties Hitler supposedly had with his niece Geli Raubal. Sigmund digs deep into each woman’s life and reveals many intricate and intimate details that made it easy to understand why these particular individuals were chosen as subject matter. It is quite clear that the mind of a Nazi wife was no less evil. The lives of each are extremely varied in many ways, with Leni Riefenstahl being the most interesting, in my opinion. I’ve known about Riefenstahl’s ground-breaking work in film and she’s responsible for providing the iconic footage of Jesse Owens (watch “Olympia” to see her handiwork). Of all the women covered, she stood out as being less dependent on Hitler (as her post-war life would prove). Accompanying each chapter are several pictures, many of which I’ve never seen before.
I really liked this book. I appreciated the unique topic and the rich content. WOMEN OF THE THIRD REICH is a significant addition to my World War II library as it details a lesser-known, but no-less significant, side of the Third Reich. If I were to find any fault in this book, it would be the omission of some women, such as the wife of Heinrich Himmler or the aviation pioneer Hanna Reitsch (although she is mentioned in the summary at the book’s beginning).
Lietuvių kalba knyga išleista 2000 metais pavadinimu "Nacių moterys". Pateikiamos 8 biografijos, gan įdomios, siekiant atvaizduoti ne schematiškus moterų, buvusių šalia savo garsių ir įtakingų vyrų, charakterius, aplinkybes, lėmusias jų tokį gyvenimo kelią. Daug įdomių, anksčiau (bent jau man) nežinomų istorinių faktų.