This
is the magazine that was produced for the BDM. The BDM History site has several
copies of this available online, as well as many other primary resources and
much other useful information.
Basic Content
At
first glance, the magazine has much to recommend it and could be considered of
equal merit to the type of text produced for the scouting movement. Typically
in each issue there are:
- Articles about nature
- Impressive photography, though it is always black and white
- Articles about extraordinary women
- Features about craft
- Instructions about household tasks
- Reports from other BDM members – always presented anonymously
- Reports about young women at work
- A special section for the Jungmädel (girls 10-14)
- A story (usually suitable for younger readers)
- Articles about women from other countries
- Recommended books
- Advertising - aimed at young women and rather emphasising the housewifely duties
This
seems quite innocent at first and we might even be surprised that the
publication partly looks outwards.
Changes during the war
As
soon as the war started the publication became thinner. It used to go up to 40
pages. After September 1939 it was
rarely above 26. Before the war there were regional editions. As the war started a single issue was
produced for all parts of Germany.
More sinister aspects of
the publication
Every
issue started off with some Nazi rhetoric and encouragement to perform duties. I noticed too in the girls’ letters that I have
that the words “duty” and “camaraderie” are used a lot. These also appear in
the magazines. These seem worthy qualities, but it does rather depend on in which
context the girls are encouraged to perform duty and in which circumstances
they are encouraged to show camaraderie.
The
Nazi rhetoric gradually becomes more pronounced and takes up more space. Also, in later editions within this range we
see more and more pictures of the rallies and the sporting events. There is a
subtle suggestion that weakness will not be tolerated.
The
girls appear to be liberated: they are given much encouragement to work outside
the home and be independent form their families. However, the advertising reinforces
the homemaker role. The girls are being encouraged to be housewives to the Fatherland.
The
recommended books support Nazi idealism.
Parents
are encouraged to support the advertisers who are in effect sponsoring the
magazine.
As
the war progresses, the magazine produces a series of articles about the nature
of the English. In some ways these are quite respectful – the English are seen
as being very tolerant. However, it soon
becomes clear that tolerance is not a quality the Nazis admire and we are rather
mocked for it.
Some examples
The
cover of the October 1936 is rather ominous and there are six pages of photographs
of the Nuremberg rallies.
January1937 quotes form the new race laws that were passed in Nuremberg in 1935. The concept
of the young women being part of a work force becomes important here and there
is an article about nursing skills.
September1937 seems to emphasize the place of women in the home.
June 1938 brings much information about the rallies and strengthens a link with Spain.
October1939 is a much shorter magazine and the photography does not seem so good.
March1941 recommends that girls concentrate on school in the mornings, BDM
activities and families in the afternoons, and confirms that all camps should
take place in holiday times. This would actually promote “Nazification”; by now
all schools taught Nazi ideology and the girls would also be encountering it in
their “free” time.
October1941 brings a startling change of font for many of the articles though some of
the old script is still used for one or two articles.