SCHOOLS FOR BRIDES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1938, Page 8

SCHOOLS FOR BRIDES

A GERMAN VENTURE As far back as November, 1936, it was decided in Germany that all girls who were engaged to marry members of the Schutz-Staffel —or “Storm Troopers”—should be required to take an examination in the housewifery arts previous to marriage. Unless they could demonstrate their ability to cook, sew, look after an infant, and generally attend to all household duties, it was necessary for them to receive instruction in such subjects until they were proficient before the marriage could take place. In the beginning, those whom this cision affected attended lecture courses at one or other of the many Reich mothers’ schools, situated throughout the provinces. The courses embraced all subjects that it was necessary to learn, but many of the girls were" engaged in daily occupations and could not attend more than the evening lectures, which would necessitate the period of training being spread over more weeks than was actually required. It was felt that the best plan would be to establish, in the capital city, a special school for these brides-to-be, where they could live for the whole period of a short, intensive course, and later- on when finances permitted establish similar schools elsewhere in Germany. Consequently a location was selected on the outskirts of Berlin, a house obtained, and after months of preparation, it was opened at the end of April as the first “Brauteschule” in the Reich. A fortnight later a similar school was opened at Tuebingen, in the Province of Wurtemberg-Hohen-zollern and it will not be very long ■ before the third takes shape in another : district, so great is the demand on the I part of the girls and young women 1 who wish to receive this training. 1

The course at the Brides’ School lasts six weeks, and costs 110 reichsmarks, which includes everything, board and lodging, instruction, amusements, and all items incidental .to the course. If a girl is not herself in a position to pay the fee for the course, and yet desires to take it (is it not solely reserved for fiancee! of members of the S.S., though preference is given to them, and the girls engaged to members of the army and of the S.A.), she may obtain an advance of 100 marks on her prospective marriage loan.

There is no compulsion about attending the Brides’ Schools, since nobody forces a girl to engage herself to an S.S. officer. However, to put it colloquially, being a picked body of men, they are a “good catch.” But most girls in Germany realise today that to be well-trained in all womanly occupations is a decided advantage, and the waiting list for Schwanenwerder is overwhelming! All housewifely problems will 'be dealt with in the various lectures given by a staff specially trained for the task.