Nazi Party Men Women Composition

The Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), commonly known as the Nazi Party, was the political organization in Germany that played a pivotal role in the rise of Adolf Hitler and the establishment of the Third Reich. The composition of the NSDAP was predominantly male, reflecting the gender dynamics of the time and the party’s ideology, which placed men in positions of power and authority.

The NSDAP was always a male-dominated organization. But from the mid-1930s until the end of the war a steady increase occurred in doubling female membership rate. Even at the peak of female membership, the males retained a 2:1 ratio.

Nazi Party Men Women Composition — The makeup of men and women membership within the Nazi Party 1925 through 1945.

The above graph can be downloaded as an image.

Nazi Party Membership

According to historical records and accounts from Chris McNab’s book, “Hitler’s Masterplan,” the NSDAP was primarily composed of male members. The party’s leadership, including top officials, officers, and influential figures, was overwhelmingly male. Hitler himself was the driving force behind the party’s ideology and policies, which often emphasized traditional gender roles and the importance of male leadership in both the political and social spheres.

In 1925, male members constituted 82% of the Nazi party, while female membership stood at 18%. By 1935, the male percentage reached its zenith at 94%, with women comprising only 6% of the party’s members. As the eve of World War II approached in 1939, men represented 81% of the party, while women made up 19%. However, by the conclusion of the war in 1945, the male contingent decreased to 63%, while women accounted for 37% of the Nazi party’s membership. The overall growth of the Nazi party’s membership was remarkable, starting from 850,000 in 1935 and escalating to 5.3 million at the beginning of the war in 1939, eventually peaking at a staggering 8 million members in 1945.

Women in the Nazi Party

Party Roles

While the NSDAP did have female members, their role within the party was largely confined to supportive and auxiliary functions. Women in Nazi Germany were encouraged to embrace their roles as wives and mothers, adhering to the regime’s emphasis on family values and procreation. The party’s stance on gender roles reflected a deeply conservative and patriarchal worldview, where men were seen as the primary providers and protectors of the state.

The role of women within the NSDAP extended to organizations like the National Socialist Women’s League (NS-Frauenschaft), which promoted Nazi ideals and encouraged women to support their husbands and families. The NS-Frauenschaft also organized women’s activities and events that aligned with the party’s objectives, such as charitable work and pro-Nazi propaganda.

Notable Women Nazi Members

While the NSDAP had male and female members, the party’s leadership and core ideology were firmly rooted in male dominance and authority. This gender composition reflected the broader social and political landscape of Nazi Germany, where traditional gender roles were reinforced, and women were encouraged to play a supportive role in the service of the Nazi state.

Many of the well-known women in the Nazi Party were primarily associated with the leadership and inner circles due to their relationships with prominent male figures within the party. Notable examples include:

Eva Braun

As Adolf Hitler’s long-time companion and, ultimately, wife, Eva Braun had a prominent but largely behind-the-scenes role in the Nazi regime. She is best known for her personal relationship with Hitler and her presence in photographs and films taken within Hitler’s inner circle.

Magda Goebbels

Magda Goebbels, the wife of Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, was a prominent figure within the Nazi leadership. Her loyalty to Hitler and the party was unwavering, and she played a significant role in promoting Nazi ideals through her association with her husband.

Margarete Himmler

Margarete Himmler was the wife of Heinrich Himmler, one of the most powerful figures in Nazi Germany and the head of the SS. Although her public role was limited, her marriage to Himmler placed her in a position of influence within the Nazi elite.

Lina Heydrich

Lina Heydrich was the wife of high-ranking SS officer Reinhard Heydrich, known for his key role in planning the Holocaust. While not as well-known as some other Nazi women, her husband’s prominence elevated her within the Nazi social circles.

Women Nazi Members of Influence

Beyond these figures, there were other notable women in the Nazi Party who held positions of authority or influence:

Gertrud Scholtz-Klink

Gertrud Scholtz-Klink served as the leader of the NS-Frauenschaft (National Socialist Women’s League), a Nazi women’s organization. In this role, she promoted Nazi ideals of motherhood, domesticity, and the subordination of women to the needs of the state. Scholtz-Klink played a significant role in reinforcing traditional gender roles within Nazi Germany.

Leni Riefenstahl

Leni Riefenstahl was a renowned filmmaker and actress who produced propaganda films for the Nazi regime, most notably the documentary “Triumph of the Will” and “Olympia.” While her work was celebrated for its cinematic innovation, it also served as a powerful tool for Nazi propaganda, promoting the image of a strong and unified Germany under Hitler’s leadership.

Conclusion

Men and women played distinctive roles in the Nazi Party. Men had and maintained leadership in both the political and social spheres within the Nazi Party. Women, whether through their personal relationships with Nazi leaders or their roles in promoting Nazi ideology, played various roles within the Nazi Party and contributed to the dissemination of its ideals, albeit within the constraints of the regime’s deeply patriarchal structure.