Women, children and the family were important to the Nazis.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] They worked in factories producing weapons.
2. [1] They took men's jobs when the men went to war.
3. [1] They did administrative jobs in the armed forces.
4. [1] They worked in agriculture.
5. [1] As Germany prepared for war, women had to work a Duty Year on a farm or in a factory.
6. [1] They became nurses.
7. [1] They provided labour in annual summer camps.
8. [1] They worked as tram/train drivers.
9. [1] They worked as fire officers.
10. [1] They worked as air raid wardens.
11. [1] All single women had to do work in war-related industries.
12. [1] Nazi women worked in the concentration and extermination camps.
13. [6] (Level 4) Hitler thought the German family was important because he wanted Germany to dominate Europe and spread eastwards. He wanted Lebensraum. This could only be achieved by war and for that he needed soldiers. This is why the family was important. The duty of the mother was to have lots of children and produce more men to fight in the armed forces.
14. [5] (Level 3) Hitler considered the German family crucial for achieving Lebensraum and dominating Europe. He believed a strong family structure, with mothers producing many Aryan children, was essential to provide the soldiers needed for his expansionist wars and to maintain social stability.
15. [1] (Level 2) Hitler wanted to increase the birth rate.
16. [1] (Level 2) To produce more Aryan children.
17. [1] (Level 2) The mother would bring up loyal children.
18. [1] (Level 2) The family gave stability to German society.
19. [1] (Level 2) Men were to work and protect their family.
20. [1] (Level 2) Women were to stay at home and nurture their family.
21. [1] (Level 2) Hitler wanted more soldiers.
22. [1] (Level 2) To help Germany conquer other countries.
23. [1] (Level 2) Hitler gained support for his ideas on family after the moral decline of the 1920s.
24. [1] (Level 1) Hitler thought that everybody in Germany should be part of a family because this would be good for Germany. He wanted Germany to be made up of family units.
25. [10] (Level 5) It can be argued that the Hitler Youth was very popular because millions of young people joined. However, from 1936 membership was compulsory and there were still nearly a million who had not joined. Many only belonged because they thought it would protect their families or they were worried about what would happen to them if they did not join. Some young people joined other groups like the Swing movement. So, despite all the pressures on them, many young people did not join the Hitler Youth.
26. [6] (Level 3) There is a lot of evidence that the Hitler Youth was popular with German youth. They spent a lot of time on activities like camping, athletics, hiking and firing guns. These were activities that were enjoyed by a lot of young people. The Hitler Youth also gave them a sense of belonging as they all wore a uniform. It also gave them an alternative to the discipline and values of their parents.
27. [6] (Level 3) The Hitler Youth became less popular in the years just before and during the war. The emphasis in the Hitler Youth changed to more discipline and more drills and some young people drifted away from it. It certainly was not popular with teenagers who wanted more freedom. They joined the Swing movement where they could enjoy American clothes and music and have long hair and dance. Others became Edelweiss Pirates. They sang anti-Nazi songs and enjoyed the freedom that they could not have in the Hitler Youth.
28. [1] (Level 2) Most German young people joined.
29. [1] (Level 2) The activities were exciting and fun.
30. [1] (Level 2) It gave them a sense of belonging.
31. [1] (Level 2) It gave them some freedom from their parents' rules and ideas.
32. [1] (Level 2) Many did not join even after it became compulsory.
33. [1] (Level 2) During the war it became less enjoyable.
34. [1] (Level 2) Some young people joined other groups like the Edelweiss Pirates/Swing movement/White Rose movement.
35. [1] (Level 1) The Hitler Youth was popular with many German young people. They enjoyed what they did there. However, there were also some German young people who would rather do other things.