Women in the Non-Nazi Right during the Weimar Republic: The German Nationalist People's Party (DNVP)

Abstract

Traces the motivations for joining the right-wing Deutschnational Volkspartei ([German Nationalist People's Party] DNVP), the focus of activities, & the ideologies of four high-profile women in the Weimar Republic. After a brief description of the DNVP & its politics, attention turns to case studies of Paula Mueller-Otfried, Margarethe Behm, Kathe Schirmacher, & Annagrete Lehmann. The absence of a housewife representative is noted, along with the relative power these women had on getting involved with the DNVP. Demonstrated is that the primary concerns of women were radical nationalism -- often linked to anti-Semitism & racism -- & religiously based conservatism. Further, different priorities emerged among female activists regarding women's rights; however, it is observed that the analysis here challenges the thesis that the gender-specific focus of German women activists was decisive for German women's affinities with Nazism. It is concluded that DNVP women were able to make Wiemar legislation more conservative while showing that women could well represent right-wing interests in parliament & the wider public sphere. J. Zendejas