Evening star., 1938-12-04


what part are women playing in the
midst Of all the persecution and violence
In the Third German Reich? Has the
Nazi philosophy so hardened their hearts
that they watch silently and approvingly
while Jewish mothers and children are
driven from their homes penniless?
Have the German women no voice in
state affairs? No leader to speak for
them?" These are questions American
women have asked me since my return
from Germany.
In 1888, when Hitler became chan
cellor, he relegated women to the kitchen
and the nursery. Their jobs were taken
from them wherever the work could be
done by men. Professional women were
often boycotted, and their livelihood
gradually disappeared
Today things are different! Germany
IS suffering from great labor shortage,
and women are urged to return to gain
full employment in agriculture, industry
and the professions. They are even re-
quired to work for six months in state
labor camps before they can attend COL
lege.
Camp Was Once Buttery.
The first of number of these camps
which I visited is about 80 miles from
Berlin in house which was built in
1876. At the time of Frederick the
Great it was buttery. where peasant
girls were taught the art of making but
ter and cheese. II they proved adept
after two years they were rewarded with
a small dowry and grenadier for a hus-
band. Now twice year groups of 40
girls enter this house for six months
labor service. If they are strong enough
to stand the hradships of camp life and
seven hours of work on a neighboring
farm for six months they are then per-
mitted to begin their college education
The house has few more comforts than
1t had 200 years ago. The pump is the
sole water system. Adjoining the pump
house is a big washroom filled with
benches on which each girl has a large
tin basin and dipper. Outdoor latrines
complete the bathroom facilities.
Upstairs the hall is lined with lockers.
Each girl has her own and it contains
her khaki dress uniform and blue denim
work dress supplied by the state. On
either side of this hall is dormitory
with 20 hunks in each. These are made
of wool and on top of them are straw
mattresses. a blanket and a checked
gingham spread. There are a few back
less stools but no chairs, no dressing
tables and no mirrors.
Up at AM. for Drill.
The girls are up at 5, have an outdoor
gymnastic drill breakfast, straighten
their hunks and walk or ride bicycle
to their work at the farm. For seven
hours they must do any work required by
the farmer. 1t may be hoeing or pitch
Ing hay IN the field or helping the farm
ers wife in the kitchen. After a meal
with the family the girl returns to the
camp at 2 pm. She must rest for one
hour in her bunk. The remainder of
the afternoon is devoted to lessons in
handlcrafts or lectures on national So
clallsm. In these classes they are we'll
drilled in the need Of racial purity" and
anti-Semitism.
The camp leaders are all enthusiastic
young Nazi under 3d. In three different
camps I asked these young leaders if
some OF their girls found the work too
strenuous and wanted to go home. An
parently the answer to that question
had been memorized. because it was
exactly the same in every camp
These girls are serving their countrv.'
said the leaders. They would be
ashamed to leave. 1t would be like
man deserting from the army in time of
war"
DR.. Marta Unger, head of the Womens
Reich Foreign Relations Bureau an
sWered my question like this: Our Ger.
man girls are not coddled They are ac-
customed to hard life. They all 20
through the training of the Hitler youth
groups and those prepare them for the
labor camps
But, I persisted, IF a girl isn't strong
enough to stand farm work is she barred
from a college education?"
I'VE are building a health nation"
she replied. I'VE believe a girl must be
physically fit to be worth a college edu-
cation"
isn't girl who is not able to do
manual labor IN greater need of COL
lege training than her more robust Sis
ter?" inquired.
Perhaps. In special cases we try to
find some social service work as SUBJ
stitute." She rose, indicating the inter-
view had come to an end, gave straight
arm salute accompanied by Hell Hit
ler' and I was dismissed.
No Funds for More Camps.
AT the present time the German gov
eminent has no funds for building more
labor camps for women. That is the rea-
son female labor service is required only
as qualification for college entrance.
According to Nazi leaders as soon as
camps can be constructed six months
labor service will be compulsory for all
girls between the ages of II and 81, Just
as 1t is for men.
At tea given by the wife of one of our
embassy staff met group of cultured