First published 1987
Claudia Koonz examines the female population of Nazi Germany through extensive research. Her study reveals how women contributed to the downfall of the Weimar Republic and facilitated Hitler's ascent to power. Koonz challenges assumptions about women as passive victims by documenting their active roles in supporting the Nazi movement. The book draws from vast archival materials to reconstruct the experiences of ordinary German women during this period. Koonz demonstrates how women operated within Nazi ideology while maintaining their own spheres of influence. The work shows how female citizens navigated the transition from democratic society to totalitarian rule. Readers gain insight into the complex motivations and choices that shaped women's behavior during one of history's darkest chapters.
Genres: history, 20th-century, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-non-fiction
Setting: Germany, Weimar Republic
Period: 20th Century
700 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's
Content warnings: sexism