Robert Kaiser (Nazi leader)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Kaiser was the leader of the RDF, Reichsbund Deutsche Familie
(Reich's League for the German Family) after 1940, in the first years of World War II
.
The RDF, a branch of the NSDAP, was the pronatalist
organization in Nazi Germany
. Before Dr. Kaiser's takeover it had been known as Reichsbund der Kinderreichen (RDK) or (RdK), meaning "Reich's Union for Large Families".
machine to advocate the urgency of a "victory of cradles". He encouraged young people to marry and promoted having a minimum of four children per family.
The aims of Dr, Kaiser's organization were hampered by the physical separation of young people and the difficulties of the war years. Owing to the military situation, most men were fighting in the fronts, in distant places. As marriageable young men were far away from German women, the RDF established Letter Centres in order to promote early marriages. This measure helped in some measure to counteract the decrease in marriages of the war years, for many young Germans were wondering whether they should marry or not in the war circumstances.
The idea of the promotion of marriages went hand in hand with the promotion of bringing "racially and biologically perfect"
couples together, that would breed as many children as possible despite the long periods of separation.
Robert Kaiser used the available media of the time to promote his cause. The German radio, magazines, newspapers and posters extolled the virtues of parents having many children, as worthy Germans having done their duty. Novelists were also encouraged to portray the family according to the requirements of the Nazi Party, promoting the idea of "Volksgemeinschaft" (Common interest of the people). Childless couples were portrayed as "selfish" in the RDF propaganda. Meanwhile the village of Freisheim
was hailed by the same propaganda as the most "kinderreich" in Germany.
Reichsbund der Kinderreichen
Reichsbund der Kinderreichen or , Reich's Union of Large Families or, literally: "Reich's League of those wealthy in children", was one of the most important pronatalist groups founded in Germany after World War I....
(Reich's League for the German Family) after 1940, in the first years of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The RDF, a branch of the NSDAP, was the pronatalist
Natalism
Natalism is a belief that promotes human reproduction. The term is taken from the Latin adjective form for "birth", natalis. Natalism promotes child-bearing and glorifies parenthood...
organization in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Before Dr. Kaiser's takeover it had been known as Reichsbund der Kinderreichen (RDK) or (RdK), meaning "Reich's Union for Large Families".
Propaganda activity
Dr. Kaiser took over the pro-natalist cause with fervor during the war years. The death of Germans in the front called for all-embracing measures to promote "kinderreich" families having large amounts of children. Kaiser used the Nazi propagandaNazi propaganda
Propaganda, the coordinated attempt to influence public opinion through the use of media, was skillfully used by the NSDAP in the years leading up to and during Adolf Hitler's leadership of Germany...
machine to advocate the urgency of a "victory of cradles". He encouraged young people to marry and promoted having a minimum of four children per family.
The aims of Dr, Kaiser's organization were hampered by the physical separation of young people and the difficulties of the war years. Owing to the military situation, most men were fighting in the fronts, in distant places. As marriageable young men were far away from German women, the RDF established Letter Centres in order to promote early marriages. This measure helped in some measure to counteract the decrease in marriages of the war years, for many young Germans were wondering whether they should marry or not in the war circumstances.
The idea of the promotion of marriages went hand in hand with the promotion of bringing "racially and biologically perfect"
Nazi eugenics
Nazi eugenics were Nazi Germany's racially-based social policies that placed the improvement of the Aryan race through eugenics at the center of their concerns...
couples together, that would breed as many children as possible despite the long periods of separation.
Robert Kaiser used the available media of the time to promote his cause. The German radio, magazines, newspapers and posters extolled the virtues of parents having many children, as worthy Germans having done their duty. Novelists were also encouraged to portray the family according to the requirements of the Nazi Party, promoting the idea of "Volksgemeinschaft" (Common interest of the people). Childless couples were portrayed as "selfish" in the RDF propaganda. Meanwhile the village of Freisheim
Berg, Ahrweiler
Berg is a municipality in the district of Ahrweiler, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.The municipality consists of the following villages: Berg, Freisheim, Krälingen, Häselingen, Vellen and Vischel....
was hailed by the same propaganda as the most "kinderreich" in Germany.