Abstract
During World Wars I and II German women’s service became increasingly important for the functioning of the home front as well as the battle front. In 1944-45 more than 500,000 women were auxiliaries in the German armed forces (Wehrmacht), the same number served in civil aerial defense, 400,000 volunteered as nurses, and many more replaced drafted men in the wartime economy. This article takes a closer look at German women’s wartime service in the age of the two world wars in history, historiography, and memory, and tries to explain the paradox that while women’s wartime service was needed, it has long been overlooked in post-war memory and mainstream historiography. The essay draws upon recent scholarship, earlier publications, and primary sources to provide a comprehensive English-language overview.
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Cite this article
Karen Hagemann, “Mobilizing Women for War: The History, Historiography, and Memory of German Women’s War Service in the Two World Wars,” The Journal of Military History 75, no. 4 (October 2011): 1055–1093.