Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A 3344
A 3344
Introduction
Berlin Document Center (BDC) biographic records include membership information for approximately
3.5 million members of the NS Frauenschaft and Deutsches Frauenwerk (National Socialist Women’s
Organization), which directed the activities of various women’s organizations in Nazi Germany. Included
among the latter were professional organizations, NSDAP women’s auxiliary formations, and
humanitarian and educational groups during the 1931-45 period. As with other ‘front’ organizations,
NSDAP membership was not required, so that many individuals documented here are not found
elsewhere among BDC biographic collections. The Records are organized in two series, reproduced on
2,418 microfilm rolls.
The earliest Frauenschaft organizations came into existence in October 1931 as NSDAP women’s
auxiliaries. After Hitler came to power in January 1933, the NS-Frauenschaft served as the means by
which existing women’s organizations were brought into line with National Socialist principles. Under
the direction of Reichsfauenführerin Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, it specialized in political indoctrination of
such varied organizations as the Reichsgemeinschaft Deutscher Hausfauen (Reich Community of German
Housewives), Bund Deutscher Ärztinnen (League of German Female Physicians), and others. Its
organization paralleled that of the Nazi Party, with subordinate levels extending to the gau, kreis, and
block throughout Germany. The headquarters was located in Berlin. An organizational chart follows this
description.
The principal series consists of membership applications reproduced on 2,412 16mm rolls of BDC
Accessioned Microfilm A3344, series FS. The rolls are not numbered in a single sequence, but in
successive alpha-numeric sequences that correspond to a single alphabetical arrangement as follows:
A001 – A402: A – Ei
B001 – B392: Ei – He
C001 – C400: He – La
D001 – D402: La – Pr
E001 – E407: Ra – Se
F001 – F408: Si – Z
Roll breaks by individual name are indicated in the accompanying roll list.
The records are generally arranged alphabetically by surname, thereunder alphabetically by first name and
chronologically by date of birth. Retakes of individuals omitted during the initial filming, however, are
scattered throughout the series; many retakes for names beginning with the letters “St” through “Za” are
filmed at the end of the series, rolls F398-F408. Where a woman applied for membership under her
maiden name but later married, documentation is filed under the married name.
Most documentation consists of two sided application forms (Aufnahme-Erklärungen). The front includes
the woman’s name, date and place of birth, address, Gau- and Ortsgruppe, marital status, profession,
signature, and an indication of membership in the NSDAP; if the application was accepted, the NS-
Frauenschaft membership number and date of admittance is also provided. The reverse side of the
application indicates membership in specific women’s organizations on NSDAP organizations. Nearly all
entries are handwritten and are often difficult to read. Scattered throughout the series are similar registry
cards for members of the Deutsches Frauenwerk, which records similar information but are usually typed.
CONTENTS
Roll Description