LABOUR CAMP

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 7 June 1937, Page 3

LABOUR CAMP

HITLER’S ’NEW WOMEN' English Girl’s Story London, May 12. Elizabeth Fairholme, twenty-four-year.old English girl, has come back to London after eight weeks in one of the German labour camps, where Hitler’s new women are being produced. There she was given the Nazi outlook on womanhood—says 1 Hilde Marchant in the Daily Express. ‘‘The importance of having four or more children. “The right way to attract a husband. “The sacrifice of individuality for the State, and “A disregard for Christianity because Jesus Christ was a Jew.” Balanced against an orgy of propaganda is the fact that Mies Fairholme ■is fitter than she has ever been. The first Englishwoman to be allowed indide la camp, she fulfilled the strict disciplinary schedule which these women accept voluntarily. There are already 300 of these camps. Hitler has announced that in five years this period of domestic training will be compulsory to every German woman, just las military training is to their men. Rising at 4.30, washing in snow water, walking 10 miles, physical jerks, and hard domestic labour, they regard as their contribution to the improvement of the race—and ultimately their large families. Rich and Poor. Miss Fairholme said: “I was keen to see the camps; quite apart trom propaganda. I wrote directly to the Fuhrer because no one' could give me any assurance Of getting into camp from this end. I was asked for health and details of my ancestors. “They were pure Aryan—l was accepted.” With a rucksack and pair of skis she went to Hilkerode, a tiny village in the Hartz Mountains of Northern Germany. She said: "The camp was a converted house with long dormitories', bare, clean rooms, large kitchens. “We slept on straw, with brown blankets; pillows were not allowed because it would be better for the carriage. The girls in camp wereyoung—between 17 and 18 years old. They came from all classes, some rich girls, titled girls, and some extremely poor peasants. “Food is poor. An allowance of 8d a day is made for each girt, and the diet is black bread; cabbage, potatoes and flour soup. “Every morning at seven we climbed out into deep snow for the ceremony of hoisting the swastika flag. This was their only fervour. There were no Sunday prayers or mention of Sabbath observance. “ B ac k-B peak Ing.’’ “The work is hand. Laundry, for instance—white uniform blouses were worn only once, stockings changed daily, linen three times' a week, apart from a huge pile of towels and sheets used up by forty people That was done by two people. “It was a back-breaking job—l know, for I stood for hours oyer the ironing hoard. These girls, however, have their vision of new Germany for ever before them, and never wince.” No make-up is allowed, and the women do not want it. They wash their faces in such, sharp, cold water that ft hurts, then oil their skin and achieve a bold fresh face which is to attract young Nazi men.

At a party to celebrate the- killing of a pig, when some youths from a neighbouring labour tamp were invited, we were given •' uArubtions on deportment, and just what would or would not attract the opposite sex. We were firmly instructed to be feminine and attnactive. but not to ogle and flirt. “Those who deserved praise afterwards were praised, and others corrected. Ails a was told she had- sat like a stuck pig, her eyes glued on food,, and made no attempt to entertain the gentleman in her charge. Ingle on the other hand, had ogled her Storm Trooper lige a sick, cow,” While Miss Fairholme was .in Germany more of these camps were established, girls passing out after six months’ tnzining complete with a whole series of Nazi songs, instruct ed in home-making, ready to marry, physically developed under ideal conditions, and worshipping the Fuhrer.