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Post by kapitanprien on Mar 17, 2011 17:25:15 GMT -5
This is an excellent resource for BDM History - I've met the reenactor who created it  www.bdmhistory.com/ |
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Post by Miss Bothmann on Mar 18, 2011 17:56:53 GMT -5
Thank you so much for posting this prien. Anna was in the BDM! Upon researching the Nazi schooling, I grew increasingly frustrated that 90% of the info of the "Hitler Youth" was only for the boys division. I will definitly check out the site further once I have more time. |
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Post by kapitanprien on Mar 18, 2011 18:14:12 GMT -5
You're welcome. My half-sister was a member of the BDM as well. The site is very informative and when one sits down and actually goes through the material - they will realize that the BDM wasn't only 'political indoctrination'.
Digressing a bit here - my half-sister actually didn't like the political aspect of it because later in the war it was alleged that she joined the Resistance movement. There is a letter by her dated from '44 where she talks about her suicide attempts due to the GESTAPO apparently following her.
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Post by Miss Bothmann on Mar 18, 2011 18:21:04 GMT -5
Oh, that's terrible about your half sister...to be followed to such extent that one would consider taking their own life. Tragic.  I remember it being much more than just a "political" forum as well. To Anna, she cared nothing for politics. In her opinion that was best left up to the men to figure it all out. I remember the camaderie with other girls..I remember being proud to see myself in a recollection as a leader of one of the groups of younger girls. To Anna, there was loads of pride involved. |
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Post by kapitanprien on Mar 18, 2011 18:23:56 GMT -5
Yeah she attempted it I think 3 or 4 times from what I could get form using Babel translation (that name is SO appropriate for the way it translates  ). But yes - you'll read about all the different things they were involved with. I remember coming across something like herbs (use of herbs?) or something dealing with that. And it wasn't some sort of 'preparation school to be a mother' either. There were many things taught to help girls and young women with independence too. Not what is typically taught about the BDM. |
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Post by Miss Bothmann on Mar 18, 2011 18:30:00 GMT -5
No, I don't recall it as the 'baby factory training forum' either. *laughs* Ooh, I can hardly wait to look at this website! It sounds very detailed which is what I have been looking for. |
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Post by kapitanprien on Mar 18, 2011 18:41:39 GMT -5
It is - I somewhat know the reenactor who created it. |
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Post by Storm on Mar 19, 2011 5:35:18 GMT -5
Was the BDM similar to the League of German Girls?
Only, according to a Czech historian my past life had an affair with a leading member of the League resulting in an illegitimate child. I am desperate to find out about that but his book is all in Czech. I must try and get hold of it and even if I have to pay someone to read it in Czech I would be prepared to do that to get any info I can on the identity of the girl invloved.
I understand there were a lot of outside marriage pregnancies in some of these girls movements. I do worry about what happened to the women and their children after the Germans were defeated. Obviously with the Lebensborn project, (for all its sins), there was a system of support to unmarried German mothers provided by the SS, while it was still in existence, but obviously that all stopped after our defeat.
This is an area that I am fascinated in. I do not know how much research has been done into the lives of the children affected. I know there was a documentary some time ago about it, but not sure of any books focusing specifically on the girls and their children and their stories. I find that side of it so touching. I recall being very interested in the story of that lady from ABBA who was a Lebensborn child and her painful reunion with her ex-Nazi father.
I do actually think some aspects of SS/Lebensborn philosophy were pioneering, for women. I am a single Mum. I like being a single Mum and I do not like the prejudice that does exist in some quarters towards unmarried mothers. It was said that all women in Germany would have had the chance to be mothers, should they want to be, even if they never managed to have a husband. As someone who only wanted the children and not the husband in this life, (LOL), that is very attractive to me! I am certainly not alone there. If one is financially able to be a single Mum it is often much much easier than being a married one. ALthough I do accept that the ideal for child rearing is a Mum and a Dad or at least two carers who love and share the role and who are adult enough to put the needs of the kids first.
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Post by kapitanprien on Mar 19, 2011 7:55:39 GMT -5
Was the BDM similar to the League of German Girls?It's the same thing - just the 'English name' for the BDM: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_German_GirlsOnly, according to a Czech historian my past life had an affair with a leading member of the League resulting in an illegitimate child. I am desperate to find out about that but his book is all in Czech. I must try and get hold of it and even if I have to pay someone to read it in Czech I would be prepared to do that to get any info I can on the identity of the girl invloved.I wonder if you could just ask the seller for scans/copies of those specific pages relating to the incident (that way it may cut down on the trouble as they can email you the scans). I understand there were a lot of outside marriage pregnancies in some of these girls movements. I do worry about what happened to the women and their children after the Germans were defeated. Obviously with the Lebensborn project, (for all its sins), there was a system of support to unmarried German mothers provided by the SS, while it was still in existence, but obviously that all stopped after our defeat.
Well that's the thing, unfortunately there's all this 'demonization' of these 'programs' and 'groups' - when, in all actuality, when one sits down to read through the information on them - they weren't all that bad and were very good programs for women. This is an area that I am fascinated in. I do not know how much research has been done into the lives of the children affected. I know there was a documentary some time ago about it, but not sure of any books focusing specifically on the girls and their children and their stories. I find that side of it so touching. I recall being very interested in the story of that lady from ABBA who was a Lebensborn child and her painful reunion with her ex-Nazi father.
Oh wow. I wouldn't know where to start, but you could perhaps ask Chris (she's the one that created the BDM site). She's very nice and helpful - and could probably give you either some answers or at least a pointer. I do actually think some aspects of SS/Lebensborn philosophy were pioneering, for women. I am a single Mum. I like being a single Mum and I do not like the prejudice that does exist in some quarters towards unmarried mothers. It was said that all women in Germany would have had the chance to be mothers, should they want to be, even if they never managed to have a husband. As someone who only wanted the children and not the husband in this life, (LOL), that is very attractive to me! I am certainly not alone there. If one is financially able to be a single Mum it is often much much easier than being a married one. ALthough I do accept that the ideal for child rearing is a Mum and a Dad or at least two carers who love and share the role and who are adult enough to put the needs of the kids first. I think, after having read this from the BBC: Rabenmutter : www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/business-12703897That these programs were 'ahead in time' for the 'German culture'. I've read enough regarding the 'German culture' regarding women when I read a Naval book - 'The Great Naval Game' and it illustrated the differences between England and Germany during the late 1890's into early 1900's. The differences were big as to how women were viewed (and can still be seen above with the BBC link). This sort of -what some may call backwards- treatment towards women is alien to me - my mother was an art instructor during 20's and beyond in Leipzig and after reading the BBC article, I thought to myself, 'I would HATE to think what was thought of my mother whom I loved and who cared for us.'  If anyone would have called my mother that, they would have had to deal with me. (I should state that she divorced and remarried. My father was a judge and he too remarried - so I had both a stepfather and stepmother... )
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If anyone would have called my mother that, they would have had to deal with me.