Racial theory in Nazi Germany included the cult of the biologically healthy female body, the cult of childbirth and multiplication of the nation. Thus, the very meaning of communication between a man and a woman was deprived of all romance, giving way to physiological expediency. There is an opinion that the "Aryan" standard of beauty is boring, monotonous and joyless - a muscular blond with an immobile lower jaw and the “snow queen”, devoid of any piquancy.
National Socialist propaganda exploited the interest in chaste nudity human body to demonstrate the Aryan ideal of beauty, to educate physically developed person. Marriage itself was not considered an end in itself; it served the highest task - the increase and preservation of the German nation. The personal lives of two people had to be consciously placed in the service of the state.
Antique, with its ideal perfection of forms, was chosen as the standard of beauty. The sculptors of the Third Reich - Joseph Thorach and Arno Brecker - strategically embodied the image of a superman in their monuments. Superhumans were simply obliged to be like ancient gods and goddesses.
Stills from Olympia.
Sepp Hilz. Country Venus
E. Liebermann. By the water. 1941
In a perfect body fine arts National Socialism embodied the idea of "blood" (nation). “Blood” in the ideology of National Socialism was directly connected with “soil” (earth). IN in this case it was about the symbiosis of people and land, as well as their material and mystical connection. In general, the idea of “blood and soil” was addressed to pagan symbols of fertility, strength and harmony, expressing human beauty nature itself.
National Socialist art attached great importance to the theme of family, women and motherhood. In the Third Reich, this value triad merged into a single whole, where a woman was exclusively the continuer of the family, the bearer of family virtues and the keeper of the home.
As Hitler said: “German women want to be wives and mothers, they do not want to be comrades, as the Reds call for. Women have no desire to work in factories, in bureaus, in parliament. A good home, a beloved husband and happy children are closer to her heart.”
National Socialist fine art formed the image of a German woman exclusively as a mother and keeper of the family hearth, depicting her with children, in the circle of her family, busy with housework.
The National Socialists did not recognize any equality of women in public life - they were assigned only the traditional roles of mother and friend. "Their place is in the kitchen and bedroom." After coming to power, the Nazis began to view women's desire for professional, political or academic careers as unnatural. Already in the spring of 1933, systematic liberation began state apparatus from the women employed in it. Not only employees of institutions were fired, but also married female doctors, because the Nazis declared caring for the health of the nation such a responsible task that it could not be entrusted to a woman. In 1936, married women who worked as judges or lawyers were released from office, since their husbands could support them. The number of female teachers has sharply decreased, and in women's schools the main academic subjects became home economics and handicrafts. Already in 1934, there were only 1,500 female students left at German universities.
The regime pursued a more differentiated policy towards women employed in production and the service sector. The Nazis did not touch either the 4 million women who worked as “domestic helpers” or the large group of saleswomen whose working hours were not fully paid. On the contrary, these occupations were declared “typically feminine.” The work of girls was encouraged in every possible way. From January 1939, labor service became mandatory for all unmarried women under 25 years of age. They were mainly sent to the village or as servants to mothers with many children.
L. Shmutzler "Village girls returning from the fields"
Gender relations in the Hitlerite state were influenced by numerous public organizations. Some of them included women together with men, others were created specifically for women, girls and girls.
The most massive and influential among them were the Union German girls(BDM), the Reich Women's Youth Labor Service (Women's RAD) and the National Socialist Women's Organization (NSF). They covered a significant part of the female population of Germany: more than 3 million girls and young women were members of the BDM at the same time, through labor camps 1 million young German women attended, the NSF had 6 million participants.
In accordance with the National Socialist ideology, the League of German Girls set as its task the education of strong and brave women who will become comrades to the political soldiers of the Reich (raised in the Hitler Youth) and, having become wives and mothers, organizing their family life in accordance with the National Socialist worldview, will raise a proud and seasoned generation. Exemplary German woman complements the German man. Their unity means the racial revival of the people. The Union of German Girls instilled racial consciousness: a real German girl should be the guardian of the purity of blood and the people and raise his sons as heroes. Since 1936 all girls German Reich were obliged to be members of the Union of German Girls. The only exceptions were girls Jewish origin and other "non-Aryans".
The standard uniform of the Union of German Girls is a dark blue skirt, white blouse and black tie with a leather clip. Girls were forbidden to wear high heels and silk stockings. Rings and wrist watch.
Purchased in Nazi organizations worldview, norms of behavior and lifestyle for a long time later influenced the way of thinking and actions of many representatives of the older generation of modern Germany.
When girls turned 17, they could also be accepted into the organization "Faith and Beauty" ("Glaube und Schöncheit"), where they remained upon reaching the age of 21. Here girls were taught housekeeping and prepared for motherhood and childcare. But the most memorable event with the participation of "Glaube und Schöncheit" was the sports round dances - girls in identical white short dresses, barefoot, entered the stadium and performed simple but well-coordinated dance movements. The women of the Reich were required to be not only strong, but also feminine.
The Nazis promoted the image of the "real" German woman" and a "real German girl" who doesn't smoke, doesn't wear makeup, wears white blouses and long skirts, and wears her hair in braids or a modest bun.
Also, the authorities, in accordance with the “Blood and Soil” principle, tried to introduce “tracht” into the quality of festive clothing - that is, a dress in the national style based on the Bavarian dress.
V. Wilrich. Daughter of a Bavarian peasant. 1938
So stylized" national clothes"worn by participants in the grandiose theatrical celebrations that the Nazis loved to organize in stadiums.
A special place focused on sports and group games. If for boys the emphasis was on strength and endurance, then gymnastic exercises for girls were designed to develop grace, harmony and sense of body in them. Sports exercises were selected taking into account female anatomy and future role women.
The Union of German Girls organized camping trips, on which the girls went with full backpacks. At rest stops they lit fires, cooked food and sang songs. Night observations of full moon spending the night in a haystack.
The image of the Hollywood “vamp”, which was popular in Weimar Germany, was particularly attacked by Nazi propaganda: “War paint is more appropriate for primitive black tribes, but in no case for a German woman or a German girl.” Instead, the image of a "natural German" was promoted. female beauty". However, it should be noted that these requirements did not apply to German actresses and movie stars.
Portrait of a woman from Tyrol
They perceived the image of the emancipated Berliner of the 20s as a threat to public morality, male dominance in society, and even the future of the Aryan race.
In many public places Even before the war, there were posters “German women do not smoke,” smoking was prohibited in all party premises and in air-raid shelters, and Hitler planned to ban smoking altogether after the victory. At the beginning of 1941, the Imperial Association of Hairdressing Establishments adopted a directive that limited the length of women's hairstyles to 10 cm. So hairstyles from longer hair were not done in hairdressing salons and could even be shortened too much long hair, unless they were tied up in a modest bun or braided.
Christmas cover of one of women's magazines. December 1938
The German press strongly emphasized that the outstanding successes of the magnificent actress and director Leni Riefenstahl or the famous athlete-aviator Hannah Reich are directly related to their deep belief in the ideals of National Socialism. The former actress Emma Goering and the mother of six Magda Goebbels, whose elegant toilets clearly showed German women that a true National Socialist had no need to dress in the modest uniform of the League of German Girls, were also declared role models.
Hannah Reich
Leni Riefenstahl
Magda Goebbels
Emma Goering
German women generally calmly accepted the policies being pursued towards them. The improved well-being of the population also contributed to the loyalty of German women to the new regime. This was also facilitated by favorable demographic policy ruling party in support of the family. Nazi regime was very interested in increasing the population. If a working woman got married and voluntarily left her job, she was given an interest-free loan of 600 marks. Since 1934, active promotion of the birth rate began: child and family benefits were introduced, medical care Large families receive preferential rates. Were open special schools, where pregnant women were prepared for future motherhood.
In any case, Germany became the only major European country, in which the birth rate was constantly increasing. If in 1934 just over 1 million babies were born, then in 1939 there were already about 1.5 million children.
In 1938, the order “Mother's Cross” was established - in bronze, silver and gold. The inscription on the back of the cross read: “The child ennobles the mother.” According to the plan of the Ministry of Propaganda, women were to occupy the same place of honor among the people as front-line soldiers. Three degrees of honorary title were established - 3rd degree for 4 children, 2nd for children (silver), 1st for 8 children (gold).
Paradoxically, this anti-feminist regime contributed greatly to improving the real situation of women. It is therefore not surprising that the vast majority of women in Germany adored their Fuhrer. They were largely impressed by A. Rosenberg’s statement that “a woman’s duty is to support the lyrical aspect of life.”
Frau Lampshaded by Ilse Koch. In 1937, at the Buchenwald concentration camp, Ilse became notorious for her cruelty towards prisoners. The prisoners said that she often walked around the camp, dispensing lashes to everyone she met in striped clothes. Sometimes Ilse took a hungry, ferocious shepherd dog with her and set it on pregnant women or exhausted prisoners; she was delighted with the horror experienced by the prisoners. It is not surprising that behind her back they called her the bitch of Buchenwald.
Frau Koch was inventive and constantly came up with new tortures, for example, she regularly sent prisoners to be torn to pieces by two Himalayan bears in a regular zoo. But this lady's true passion was tattoos. She ordered the male prisoners to undress and examined their bodies. She wasn't interested in those who didn't have tattoos, but if she saw an exotic pattern on someone's body, her eyes would light up, because it meant that in front of her another victim. Ilse was later nicknamed Frau Lampshaded. She used the tanned skins of murdered men to create a variety of household utensils, of which she was extremely proud. She found the skin of gypsies and Russian prisoners of war with tattoos on the chest and back most suitable for crafts. This made it possible to make things very decorative. Ilsa especially liked lampshades.
One of the prisoners, the Jew Albert Grenovsky, who was forced to work in the Buchenwald pathology laboratory, said after the war that prisoners selected by Ilse with a tattoo were taken to the dispensary. There they were killed using lethal injections. There was only one reliable way Don't let the bitch fall into the lampshade - disfigure your skin or die in a gas chamber. To some, this seemed like a good thing. Bodies having artistic value, were taken to the pathology laboratory, where they were treated with alcohol and the skin was carefully torn off. Then it was dried, lubricated with vegetable oil and packaged in special bags. Meanwhile, Ilse improved her skills. She began to create gloves, tablecloths and even openwork underwear from human skin. I saw the tattoo that adorned Ilse’s panties on the back of one of the gypsies from my block,” said Albert Grenovsky.
Apparently, Ilse Koch’s savage entertainment has become fashionable among her colleagues in other concentration camps, which multiplied in the Nazi empire like mushrooms after rain. It was a pleasure for her to correspond with the wives of the commandants of other camps and give them detailed instructions, how to turn human skin into exotic book bindings, lampshades, gloves or tablecloths.
Education younger generation in Nazi Germany, as has already been said, great attention was paid. This process covers not only the Bund Deutscher Medel (BDM), the Union of German Girls, which was part of the Hitler Youth and can be organizationally divided into three groups. The organization consisted of girls aged 10 to 21 years. The first group, "BDM-jungmedel", consisted of girls aged 10 to 14 years ("Union of Girls"). The second (“BDM-medel”) consisted of girls from 14 to 17 years old. The third group, which was called "Glaube-und-Schönheit" ("Faith and Beauty"), consisted of girls and young women in age category from 17 to 21 years old.
The Union of German Girls (German: Bund Deutscher Mädel, BDM or BdM) was a women's youth organization in Nazi Germany, a youth and children's women's movement similar to the Hitler Youth, which included German girls in the age category from 10 to 18 years. Girls aged 10 to 13 years were united by Jungmedelbund (German: Jungmädelbund, JM) - Union of Young Girls.
In 1936, mandatory membership in the Union of German Girls was established at the legislative level for girls in Germany. An exception could be considered girls who were of Jewish nationality, as well as those excluded for “racial reasons.” By the end of 1944, the Union of German Girls was considered the largest women's youth organization in the world, with about 4.6 million members.
The standard uniform of the German Girls' Union was a dark blue skirt, white blouse and black tie with a leather clip. Girls were strictly forbidden to wear high-heeled shoes, as well as silk stockings. The only jewelry I have are rings and watches. As Hitler argued, clothing should serve the purpose of educating young people.
During the Second World War, girls from "BdM" worked in hospitals and took part in air defense and were engaged in agriculture.
After the war ended, the League of German Girls, as a separate unit of the Hitler Youth, was banned and dissolved on the basis of Law No. 2 of the Control Council.
The first two groups had uniforms that they were required to wear. There were BDM cells and groups in all corners of the Reich, including annexed and occupied territories. There were titles in the BDM, the assignment of which depended not only on age, but also on the functions performed. In 1939, membership in the BDM, as in other divisions of the Hitler Youth, was mandatory. The decree, which was published on March 25, 1939, interpreted that all members of the Hitler Youth who had reached the age of 16-18 must annually work out a specified period of time in public works: young men were recommended to work in agriculture, that is, harvest, and girls - to help families who have many children. The "Landdienst", or "land service", was introduced in 1934 and was increased every year. Farm work was encouraged. The boys and girls who performed public works on the farm for a year, could claim great privileges. During the war, help in harvesting and working on a farm for a year was a prerequisite. It was believed that those who take part in the work make a personal contribution to victory. The girl who worked for one year at Landdienst also had differences in uniform: the cuffs on her uniform were black and had the inscription “Landdienst”. The rank in the BDM was indicated on the dark blue uniform and white summer blouse with cloth badges. Colored laces were also worn, which also denoted rank. More often, the girls from BDM wore the so-called “Alpine jacket,” which was made of light brown material with leather or brown plastic carved buttons, convex, which resembled a soccer ball.
"Faith and Beauty" - ("Glaube und Schönheit") was a women's youth organization within the Union of German Girls. It was created in 1937 by Baldur von Schirach. Girls aged 17 to 21 could join it. They were trained in housekeeping and prepared for marriage and motherhood in accordance with the National Socialist concept of the "ideal German woman".
Girls of this age category were no longer considered members of the Union of German Girls, but did not yet have the right to join the National Socialist Women's Organization. Thus, the state and the NSDAP, with the help of “Faith and Beauty,” sought to keep them in the mainstream of public life.
"Faith and Beauty" was created in 1938 by order of the leader of the imperial youth, Baldur von Schirach, in agreement with the leadership of the Union of German Girls. Like its parent organizations - the Union of German Girls and the Hitler Youth - "Faith and Beauty" had a strict hierarchical structure. The law established voluntary membership in this organization, but in practice, all German girls graduating from the ranks of the Union automatically joined the ranks of Faith and Beauty. Leaving the organization could give reason to suspect the girl and her parents (the age of majority was 21) of oppositional views. The pressure on girls in Germany increased even more with the entry into force of the Reich Labor Service Law on September 4, 1939.
The work "Faith and Beauty" was responsible political objectives organizations. It was carried out in circles that worked once a week in non-working hours. Sports, dance or body care courses were designed to improve the health of young women as future mothers of Germany's new generation. Circles that disseminated knowledge in the field of health, communications or air defense prepared young women so that in the event of war they could replace men who had gone to the front in production.
The organization "Faith and Beauty" was banned and liquidated after the war by Law No. 2 of the Control Council, and its property was subject to confiscation.
Girls' Union (German Jungmädelbund, JM) is the younger age group of the women's youth organization "Union of German Girls" for girls in the age category from 10 to 14 years, which was part of the Hitler Youth.
Organization on German called Jungmädelbund, and therefore in modern historical literature the name of the organization is usually abbreviated as JM. Since it was a girls' organization, it was located in the League of German Girls, which was led by the only head of the Hitler Youth, Baldur von Schirach (later replaced by Arthur Axmann).
The organization was created in 1931, the Union of German Girls became one girls' organization. All other groups, including church groups and scout organizations, were either absorbed into the Hitler Youth or closed. In 1936, the Hitler Youth Law made membership in the Union compulsory for all girls aged 10 years and older. This law specified compulsory membership in the Hitler Youth for all boys over the age of 10 years.
New members must register between March 1st and March 10th of each year. Registration had to be carried out at local branches of the Union of German Girls. Girls had to complete fourth grade and meet the following requirements:
To be racially pure, that is, to be an ethnic part of the German nation;
Be a German citizen;
There must be no hereditary diseases.
If a girl met these requirements, then she could be assigned to a group of the Girls’ Union at her place of residence. In order to become a full member of the Union, she must visit preparatory courses, which consisted of her participation in one meeting of the Union, one sports day, which was to include a test of her courage, and lectures on the tasks of the Union.
After she fulfilled these requirements, a ceremony was held to induct new members into the rank of members of the Union (April 20 - Hitler's birthday). During the ceremony, new members were sworn in, given Certificates of Membership, and personally greeted by the group leader.
In order to become a “full” member of the organization, each girl had to pass a certain series of tests: take part in a one-day trip with a group, etc. The girl needed six months to fulfill all the specified requirements in order to become a full member of the Union. On October 2 of each year, those who were able to pass the tests could become full members during a ceremony where girls were officially given the right to wear a black tie, belt and brown neckerchief with a leather knot.
JM members wore a uniform that consisted of a white blouse, blue skirt, white socks and brown boots.
The girl was a member of the Union and remained in the group until she was 14, after which she was able to transfer to the Union of German Girls.
Jungfolk - The youngest age group of the Hitler Youth, which consisted of boys from 10 to 14 years old.
Joining the Jungfolk was considered voluntary by law. Education in the organization was carried out in the spirit of National Socialism with the aim of forming children with very early age National Socialist worldview about Aryan ideals. In addition, the need to remain faithful to Hitler and the regime he created was emphasized in every possible way, and the cult was also promoted physical strength, vitality and militarism. The Nazis believed that teaching children how to become tough would free them from some of their disadvantages. Anti-Semitism was also propagated during educational work in Jungvolkk.
1. According to the law of December 1, 1936, a conscription of children born in 1927 into the Jungvolk was announced in Germany.
Thus, women's youth organizations had their own system and their own goals. The girls were preparing to become exemplary wives and soldiers' mothers. The role of women in society was reduced to the institution of family. Despite the preparation for family life, ideology played a leading role in the upbringing of girls. Thus, in women's youth organizations, girls were instilled with anti-Semitism and a special, erroneous perception of humanism.
War through the eyes of the enemy: The Union of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel or BDM)
Union of German Girls
Union of German Girls (German: Bund Deutscher Mädel, BDM or BdM) - a women's youth organization in Nazi Germany, a youth and children's women's movement consisting of Hitler Youth, which included German girls aged 10 to 18 years. Girls aged 10 to 14 years old were united Jungmedelbund(German: Jungmädelbund, JM) - Girls' Union.
In 1936, mandatory membership in the Union of German Girls was established at the legislative level for girls in Germany. The exceptions were girls of Jewish nationality and others excluded for “racial reasons.” By 1944, the Union of German Girls was the largest women's youth organization in the world, with 4.5 million members.
All the girls of the union were constantly told that the most important task their training is to be “bearers of the National Socialist worldview.” The girls were doing physical training, mastered the basics of military and civil service, and prepared for motherhood. During the annual parades, they wore blue sailor skirts, white blouses and brown jackets. When union members turned 17, they could be accepted into an organization called “Faith and Beauty” (Glaube und Schinheit), where they were prepared for future marriage and homemaking. By 1936 the union had over 2 million members.
The first few organizations of girls under the auspices of the NSDAP arose back in 1923 and were called “sisters of the Hitler Youth.” Their unification into a union occurred only in 1930. In 1931, the membership of the Union of German Girls increased to 1,711 people, and in the same year the Union, led by Elisabeth Greiff-Walden, became part of Hitler Youth. The formation of local branches of the BDM, as well as the National Socialist Schoolgirls' Union (German: Nationalsozialistischer Schülerinnenbund, NSS) and girls' groups under the wing women's organization within the framework of the NSDAP (German NS-Frauenschaft, NSF), falls on 1930-31.
Immediately after his appointment as leader of the Imperial Youth on June 17, 1933, Baldur von Schirach passed a resolution dissolving or banning competing youth associations. To avoid interference from the National Socialists, some youth groups dissolved themselves. The remaining youth associations were forcibly transferred to subordination Hitler Youth And Union of German Girls, which led to a significant increase in the composition of these organizations. In accordance with the Hitler Youth Law of December 1, 1936, all boys and girls of the German Reich were required to join the ranks, respectively Hitler Youth And Union of German Girls.
From 1934 to 1937 The union was headed by Trude Mohr, and from 1937 to 1945 by Jutta Rüdiger. Rüdiger, together with von Schirach, opposed the efforts of the head of the National Socialist Women's Organization, Gertrud Scholz-Klink, who was trying to gain control of the Union.
National Socialist Ideal Woman
In accordance with the National Socialist ideology, the League of German Girls set as its task the education of strong and courageous women who would become comrades to the political soldiers of the Reich (raised in Hitler Youth) and, having become wives and mothers, having organized their family life in accordance with the National Socialist worldview, will raise a proud and seasoned generation. German women know the needs and aspirations of the German people and work towards them, rather than debate in parliaments. The exemplary German woman complements the German man. Their unity means the racial revival of the people. The Union of German Girls instilled racial consciousness: a real German girl should be the guardian of the purity of blood and the people and raise his sons as heroes.
The official BdM publication “Girl in Service” (German: “Mädel im Dienst”) published reports about girls aged 10-14 years who not only know how to cook and lead household, but also to create comfort in the house and maintain the “warmth of the hearth.”
Uniform
The standard uniform of the Union of German Girls is a dark blue skirt, white blouse and black tie with a leather clip. Girls were forbidden to wear high heels and silk stockings. Rings and wristwatches were allowed as jewelry. According to Hitler, clothing should serve the purpose of educating young people.
Main activities
The Union of German Girls organized camping trips, on which the girls went with full backpacks. At rest stops they lit fires, cooked food and sang songs. Night observations of the full moon with an overnight stay in a haystack were a success. The girls prepared theatrical performances and puppet shows, practiced folk dancing and learned to play the flute. Sports and group games occupied a special place.
If for boys the emphasis was on strength and endurance, then gymnastic exercises for girls were designed to develop grace, harmony and sense of body in them. Sports exercises were selected taking into account female anatomy and the future role of women. IN winter time the girls were doing needlework and crafts.
During the Second World War, girls from BdM worked in hospitals, took part in air defense and worked in agriculture.
After the end of the war, the League of German Girls as a division of the Hitler Youth was banned and dissolved according to Law No. 2 of the Control Council.
Valkyrie of the Reich. Hannah Reich
“With an amazing calmness, which I did not expect to find in this fragile woman, she noticed that a true patriot can't be too expensive own life when the honor of the fatherland is at stake."(Otto Skorzeny)
This woman was not just famous, she was famous, and not only in Germany. She performed tasks that were beyond the capabilities of male pilots. She holds more than 40 world records.
Her biography constantly flashes “the first...”, “the first...”, “the first...”. This woman is test pilot Hannah Reich.Rebellious Fraulein
According to the terms Treaty of Versailles Germany was prohibited from having its own air force. But no one in Germany considered the current situation unshakable. Politicians and the Reichswehr lived with the dream of revenge, and such sentiments were intensely fueled among the people. In anticipation of Germany gaining the right to create its own air force, numerous sections of glider pilots were created throughout the country. It was in these sports clubs that the future Luftwaffe aces Hartmann, Marseille, Barkhorn, Novotny received their first flying skills.
Theoretically, German girls were not barred from joining these circles, but unspoken rule limited social role German woman with three “Ks”: “Kinder, Kirche, Küche”. Hannah Reich was one of the few who decided to go beyond this triangle.
Glider pilot Hannah Reich
Hannah was born in Silesia on March 29, 1912 in the family of an ophthalmologist. Since childhood, she was overwhelmed by two passions: medicine and aeronautics. But if the parents perceived the first hobby quite calmly, then they categorically objected to the second. One day, a father promised his daughter that if she never mentioned flying before receiving her certificate, he would send her to a gliding course.
Focus failed. Having received the certificate, Hannah refused her parent's gift - a gold watch, and reminded her father of his promise. This is how the first and only female cadet, Hanna Reich, appeared at the glider school in Graunau.
At the end of the course, Hannah passes the “C exam” with flying colors - instead of the required 5 minutes, she soars in the sky for 20. While studying medicine at the University of Kiel at the insistence of her parents, she simultaneously enrolls in flight school, where he learns the intricacies of navigation, studies the structure of an aircraft engine, and masters the art of “blind flight.” Hannah graduates from school, gains fame among aviators and sets records one after another for altitude and flight duration and makes the final choice in favor of aviation.
In the service of the Nazis
An extraordinary female pilot attracts the attention of the Nazis. Even before coming to power, Hitler met Reich and tried to attract her to National Socialism. His speeches about humiliated Germany, about the need to return her former greatness have a profound effect on Hannah. She is only 20 years old, and Hitler, of course, had charisma and knew how to attract people. Reich became his supporter and subsequently quite rightly had the reputation of an ardent Nazi.
In 1934 in South America a group of glider pilots is sent. Their unspoken goal is to win the hearts of Brazilians, Argentines, and Paraguayans for Germany. Hannah Reich - central figure this propaganda tour: a highly qualified pilot, and also a young beautiful girl! (In the Third Reich they knew how to “put on propaganda”!) By the way, Hannah contributed 3,000 marks from her personal funds to the expedition’s cash desk.
The tour is a stunning success. Argentines are simply delighted with German pilots. Particularly distrustful people even inspect aircraft: are there hidden motors? They are simply unable to believe that such complex figures are performed on gliders. “The Germans can do anything!” becomes the leitmotif of speeches. 12 years will pass, and it is in Argentina that numerous “ rat trails”, with which numerous members of the NSDAP and SS will flee from Germany, fleeing retribution. But in 1934 no one thought about this yet.
Germany business card
Soon Hannah Reich becomes " business card» Germany. At the invitation of the Finnish government, she travels to cold Suomi in order to strengthen German-Finnish friendship, demonstrates her skills and gives the first gliding lessons to everyone. (In 1941, some of her students would bomb Karelia.) In 1935, in violation of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany introduced conscription. Neighboring countries they begin to look at Germany with caution.
In May 35th, “Festivos Lisboa” takes place in Lisbon; The program includes demonstration performances the best glider pilots peace. Germany is going to be represented not by the two-meter descendant of Siegfried - the standard of the future SS warrior, but by the miniature blonde Hannah (height - 1.54 m, weight - 45 kg). Here it is - the face of real Germany, which wishes no harm to anyone! And what some left-wing politicians are screaming is Bolshevik propaganda!
There will also be visits to the USA in 1938 to participate in the “World Air Races”, an expedition to North Africa (the time will come, and Rommel will gratefully remember both Reich and other members of the expedition). At the same time, Hannah sets records, records, records.
Test pilot
But all these shows, visits, tours are rare holidays. And in everyday life, closed from the majority, Reich is the first and only female aircraft tester in Germany. At one of the closed demonstrations, she throws the plane into a dive from a height of 3000 meters and only just before the ground pulls the handle towards herself and the plane goes “like a candle” into the sky. Luftwaffe officers are delighted. Very soon Poland, Belgium, France will hear the howl of diving Ju87s and shudder.
At the airfield in Rechlin, Reich tests bombers, fighters, and attack aircraft. Hannah suggests using gliders to transport goods and soldiers. A Ju52 in tow lifts a cargo glider with a platoon of soldiers into the air. At the helm of the glider is Hanna Reich. At an altitude of 1000 meters, she uncouples from the Junkers and throws the car into a dive.
Just before the ground he levels the glider and lands it right in front of the generals present at the demonstration. Paratroopers jump out of the glider and immediately take up a combat position. (This is how Eben-Emael, a Belgian fort considered impregnable, will be taken in May 1940. This is how Skorzeny’s paratroopers will land at the Campo Imperatore hotel, where the arrested Mussolini is being held)
Devoted to the Fuhrer and the Reich
Hannah has been in accidents several times. In October 1943, during testing of the Me163a, she crashed so seriously that she spent 5 months in the hospital and underwent a rehabilitation course for another 4 months. But every time she left the hospital, she returned to her dangerous work to serve the Fuhrer and the Reich.
Officially, Reich was not a soldier, but this did not stop her from receiving two from Hitler’s hands. Iron Cross, and from Goering - the title of honorary pilot-captain and a gold Luftwaffe pilot badge with diamonds.
Kamikaze III Reich №1
In February 1944, receiving another award from Hitler, Hannah suggested that the Fuhrer create a detachment of suicide pilots. According to her plan, the He-111 was supposed to deliver an explosive-laden bomb with a pilot to a given area, where the pilot of the flying bomb took control, aimed the projectile at the target, and then bailed out or died a hero's death. The targets of the attacks were to be important government and industrial facilities, key defense centers, capital ships(O Japanese kamikaze It was unheard of back then).
Hitler initially rejected Hanna's idea, but Reich found support in Skorzeny. Approval was received and the Luftwaffe office received the first application for enrollment in the suicide pilot squad, signed by Hannah Reich. It was decided to take the V-1 as the base model. The device was named "Reichenberg". The first tests of the flying bomb were unsuccessful. Two pilots were seriously injured. The Air Ministry ordered the testing to stop.
Then Hannah herself took the helm of the Reichenberg to prove the viability of her project. She carried out a test flight and safely landed the flying projectile. By February 1945, 175 Reichenberg-4s and a group of 70 pilots were ready. But everyone already understood that these less than a hundred pilots ready to die, led by a desperate Valkyrie, would not be able to change the course of the war. The group was disbanded, the pilots returned to the front to their units.
Last special task
On April 25, 1945, Colonel General von Greim, whom Hannah had accompanied since 1943, told his friend that he was flying to Berlin: the Fuhrer had called him. Both Hannah and Graham understood that this enterprise was almost hopeless. Soviet aviation dominates the skies over Berlin. There is little chance of flying to Berlin, and practically no chance of flying there and returning back. But the oath! But the Fuhrer's order! For von Greim, a career military man who went through the First world war The question “to fly or not to fly” was not even raised. Hannah is another matter. Honorary title she was not obliged to anything. But she is flying to Berlin.
Reich and von Greim take off from the last airfield in the hands of the Wehrmacht in a sports Storch. Von Greim is at the helm, Hannah is the co-pilot. Already on the approach to Berlin, their plane is fired upon by Soviet anti-aircraft artillery, von Greim is wounded, Hanna takes control of the plane and lands the plane at the Brandenburg Gate.
She's in last time sees the Fuhrer and offers him to escape: she will take him out on the Storch, she will break through! Answer: “No.” Then she will die next to him! But the Fuhrer does not need her death. Last order: deliver von Greim to Doenitz's headquarters. Von Greim has just been awarded the rank of field marshal (the last one to be so lucky!), he is appointed commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe instead of Goering, who betrayed Hitler in his difficult hour of testing.
Rach plays Russian roulette for the second time. The plane barely takes off from the ground when it comes under fire, but Hannah dives into the clouds. She still had that lucky chance, one in a thousand, which no one believed in anymore.
After the war
On May 9, 1945, Reich surrendered to the Americans. After spending 15 months in the camp, in 1946 she was released, where no one was waiting for her. The family died, von Greim committed suicide after learning that Soviet authorities They demanded that the Americans hand him over. Reich devoted the rest of her life to gliding. She took part in international competitions, won prizes, and in 1955 became the German champion. She founded the National Flying School in Ghana (Africa), which she directed until 1962. In 1978, at the age of 66, she set the last glider flight distance record. A year later she died.
Nazi forever
In 1951, Hannah Reich published her memoirs. There is not a line of regret about what they have done, not a word of repentance. Prisons, concentration camps, millions killed on the battlefields, shot, strangled in gas chambers - as if they existed in another, parallel world. For the rest of her life, Reich remained a loyal supporter of the ideas of National Socialism. Tragic fate Germany was not shaken one iota by its love for Hitler. To last days she kept it, and if the situation allowed, she proudly wore the Iron Cross handed to her by the Fuhrer.
Rach was a gifted person, but she gave her talents, will, and character to serve herself terrible phenomenon– fascism. It is customary for the soul of someone who has passed on to another world to wish for peace and tranquility. Hannah Reich deserved neither the first nor the second.
