DIVORCE IN GERMANY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20820, 2 June 1939, Page 3

DIVORCE IN GERMANY

STEADY INCREASE SHOWN (REGIMENTING OF WOMEN According to Dr. Clifford Kirkpatrick, Professor of Sociology in an American University, and author of a recent book on “Woman in Nazi Germany,” divorce is steadily increasing in that country, in spite of propaganda and special concessions to make marriage more attractive. Clever propaganda to win over tlie women of Germany was used by the Nazis when they came into power in 1933. Hatred of the regime which coincided with llie post-war period of hunger and poverty was carefully nurtured, and women were lured with promises of husbands and homes. There were two million surplus women in Germany after the war. other propaganda directed at women appeal to love—love of leader, love of heroes, love of children. In 1933 German women had organised themselves into 60 organisations with millions of members. All these were wiped out under the Nazi regime with incredible swiftness. Discontents were encouraged by Nazi agents to break up organisations, and the work and aims of others were embodied in one giant organisation, the National Socialist Frauenschaft. The new organisation, instead of expressing women’s views, imposed upon women the Nazi verdict on women's place in the new Germany. The controller of the organisation is a man. To encourage marriage, matrimonial advertising has been greatly extended and newspaper and even religious magazines carry these advertisements. Hitler introduced marriage loans, which are paid back at 1 per cent per month.