Reich Bride Schools

The Reich Bride Schools, also known as Reichsbräuteschulen, were a project initiated by Heinrich Himmler during the Nazi era. Himmler's objective was to ensure that women who were marrying members of the Schutzstaffel (SS) were suitable companions for SS men. To achieve this goal, he established these schools in 1935, with the specific aim of training young women to become the ideal wives. These educational institutions were based in Germany and were in operation from 1932 to 1945.

## Entry Requirements

The requisites for women entering the Reich Bride Schools during the Nazi era were stringent and adhered to the ideology of racial purity:

**Racial Background Check:** Prospective brides were required to undergo a thorough racial background check conducted by the SS Race and Settlement office to certify that they had no Jewish or mixed blood. This was a fundamental step to ensure that only individuals of what the Nazis considered "Aryan" descent were accepted.

**Aryan Ancestry Documentation:** Women had to provide evidence of Aryan ancestry by presenting birth and marriage certificates dating back to the 1800s. These documents were meticulously examined to establish a lineage that met the Nazi criteria for Aryan heritage.

**Physical Examination:** A physical examination was conducted, which included measuring the nose and upper lip to ensure that the facial features conformed to the correct Aryan type, as defined by Nazi racial standards. Detailed family histories, including any hereditary conditions such as tuberculosis, were also recorded during this examination.

**Cost of Entry:** There was a cost associated with entering the Reich Bride School, amounting to 135 Reichsmarks. This fee had to be paid as part of the admission process.

Upon meeting these requisites and successfully passing the checks and examinations, a certificate was issued, permitting the woman to marry an SS man and granting her the opportunity to enter the bride training school.

### Directives

The Reich Bride Schools were administered by the National Socialist Women's League's German Women's Welfare Organization (Deutsches Frauenwerk). Their primary focus was to mold young women into the image of the "perfect wife" according to the ideals of the Nazi regime. These schools played a role in promoting literature and shaping the roles of women in the society envisioned by the leadership.

## Curriculum

The curriculum of the Reich Bride Schools was structured into several modules:

### Foundations of Household Management

* Orientation session to introduce program objectives.
* Daily outdoor gymnastics and health exercises.
* Open-air baths for physical well-being.
* Lectures on balanced diets and meal planning.
* Practical skills sessions, including sewing basics and childcare fundamentals.
* Lessons on creating a pleasant home environment and managing household finances.

### Home and Family

* Focus on household chores, including uniform maintenance and flower arrangement.
* Social skills development, with etiquette and conversation techniques for dinner parties.
* Practical aspects of household management, such as changing linen, making beds, and floor polishing.
* Lessons on exhibiting proper obedience within a marital relationship.
* Leisure and family bonding activities.

### Practical Housekeeping

* Enhancing practical housekeeping skills, including cooking and meal preparation.
* Laundry and clothing care, covering washing, ironing, and clothing maintenance.
* Introduction to gardening basics and animal husbandry.
* Advanced interior design techniques.
* Infant care essentials.

### Education and Hygiene

* Engaging discussions on educational practices.
* Creative and crafting activities for keeping children engaged.
* Health and hygiene topics, including general health and racial hygiene.
* Insights into the nature of the German people and customs.
* Time management strategies for effective housekeeping.

### Work-Life Balance

* Exploring strategies for balancing work and family life.
* Outdoor exercises and fitness routines for physical fitness.
* Discussions on leisure time management and relaxation techniques.
* Teaching techniques for mental and spiritual well-being.
* Preparation for the transition to marriage.

### Graduation and Future Planning

* Culmination with a graduation ceremony and certificate presentation.
* Remaining days dedicated to career and life planning, offering guidance on future goals, career aspirations, and family planning.

## Expectations

* Acquire traditional household skills.
* Develop sociable qualities.
* Adhere to the 10 Commandments for German women, which emphasized maintaining bodily purity and aspiring to have as many children as possible.
* Note that families with more than six children were exempt from taxation.
* Women who had more than four children were honored with mother crosses.
* Newlyweds received a state loan of 1,000 Reichsmarks, with a quarter forgiven for each child they had.
* Remember that abortion and contraception were strictly prohibited.
* Recognize that involuntary childlessness was classified as a mental health condition.

## Quotes

> *"The days were full, the training thorough, and the evenings of reading, singing, and games were delightful. The future families they would have as wives and mothers were always at the center of the programme. That gave the six weeks [of the course] the unity and organization that so pleased the brides, creating that atmosphere of community that would last past the course. The fact that most of the girls were engaged to soldiers at the front strengthened the sense of togetherness, both in good and bad times. How happy the young woman is that she can still be with her husband. She wants to use weeks until he may be called up to build a comfortable home for him and make the few weekend hours he has at home warm and treasured."* - Program Attendee
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> *"She has forgotten for a job, which she thought could not live without, and instead her thoughts revolve around her household tasks."* - Magazine
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> *"In circles of 20 students, young girls should attend courses at the Institute, preferably two months before her wedding day, to recuperate spiritual and physically, to forget the daily worries associated with their previous professions, to find the way and feel the joy for their new lives as wives."*- Manual
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> *"Hitler awakens in us that which eternal and unalterable in the German concept of woman."*- SS Wife
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> Locations
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> Following the establishment of the first bride school in 1937, a notable trend emerged, and several more of these specialized institutions sprouted up in Berlin. By 1940 there were at least nine in Berlin, as well as others in Oldenburg and Tübingen. Some of these schools continued their operations well into May 1944.
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> ### Schwanenwerder
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> The school was located on an island situated in Berlin, located just a few doors away from Dr. Joseph Goebbels' country villa. This island served as an exclusive gated community for prominent families. The history of Schwanenwerder includes the acquisition of properties from wealthy Jewish families, culminating in the transformation of the residence at Inselstraße 38 into the "Reich Brides School" starting in 1938. Under the leadership of Reich Women's Leader Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, the Deutsche Frauenwerk e.V. (DFW) established its presence during the summer of 1937 at Villa Inselstraße 38 on Schwanenwerder Island in Berlin-Nikolassee. A documentary named "Bräute auf Schwanenwerder" was filmed about the school.
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> ### Tübingen
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> The property originally belonged to a student fraternity "Normannia Heidelberg" and included a large piece of land. It features a winged structure with baroque-style elements, characterized by an expansive roof in the style of a country house. It was designed by the Stuttgart architect Richard Dollinger. In 1936, the house was appropriated by the Nazi Party and repurposed as a bride school. Such specialized schools were rare in the Reich, indicating a high demand for them. Margarete "Grete" Gerok was selected as director of the school in 1936. The operations of the school lasted until 1945.
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> ### Nauen
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> A town in Germany that was the host of a model school. Nearby there was an excavation of a Germanic village.
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> ### Husbäke/Oldenburg
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> The school operated from 1937 to 1945, located in the Edewechterdamm-Husbäke Area of Oldenburg. has its roots in the Volkshochschulheim Edewecht, a long-established institution dating back to 1923. At its helm was Bertha Ramsauer (1884–1947), a dedicated educator from Oldenburg with a profound mission to empower young women, fostering their ability to make choices aligned with their own aspirations and dreams. However, the advent of the Nazi regime ushered in a significant transformation at this educational institution. The curriculum underwent a profound metamorphosis, introducing subjects carefully curated to align with the prevailing Nazi ideology. On the pivotal date of September 15, 1935, the reins of the Volkshochschulheim were handed over to the German Women's Work (Deutsches Frauenwerk), specifically its Mütterdienst Division based in Berlin. In 1937, it underwent a remarkable metamorphosis and emerged as the "Reich Bride and Home Mother School Husbäke." This transformation was a brainchild of none other than Reich Women's Leader Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, who proudly proclaimed that the institution had been "conceived on her initiative as a shining exemplar of the German Women's Work." The school embarked on a mission to offer alternating four-week courses tailored for mothers and six-week courses designed for brides-to-be. In a visionary move, a model settlement was seamlessly integrated with the school complex, fostering collaborative efforts with settlers and farmers from the surrounding region, aimed at the further development of the picturesque moorland landscape. The Reich Bride School in Husbäke garnered widespread national attention, capturing the imagination of many through various magazines and publications.
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> The school notably trained Celia Giménez Costeira. She was a nurse and a key figure in the Spanish Falange (SF) in Germany. She was awarded a medal by Adolf Hitler for her charitable work on behalf of Winterhilfe (Winter Relief). Giménez was instrumental in promoting connections between the Hitler Youth (HJ) and Spanish girls through a pen pal service. She attended the school during June to July 1940.
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> **Wannsee**
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> According to 10th of December 1938 article in the "Die Junge Frau Klink" newspaper, there exists a school located in Wannsee, The mention of an radio broadcast on December 16, 1938, at 6:00 PM at the school with association with the Reich Broadcasting Leipzig (Reichssender Leipzig).
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> 1. ↑ DFG Universitats- and Landesbibliothek Sachsen-Anhalt.
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