Koenigsberg Housewives Association

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The job title "Master of Housekeeping" from Königsberg in 1926

The Koenigsberger Housewives Association (KHB) existed from 1914 to 1935. It united numerous smaller regional East Prussian housewives associations in the "Association of East German Housewives Associations (VOH)". The organ was the "Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung". The KHB was a member from 1919 to 1935 in the "Reich Association of German Housewives' Associations (RDH)". The two chairmen of the KHB were Olga Friedemann and Helene Neumann from 1914 to 1934 and Dora Schlochnow from the NSDAP in the last year until 1935 , which took over the association on December 31, 1935 into the National Socialist "Deutsche Frauenwerk".

Prehistory of the women's movement in Prussia

At the beginning of the 20th century, the “Association of Progressive Women's Associations Berlin” (VFFB), the Berlin association “Frauenwohl” and the “moderate-bourgeois” “ General German Women's Association ” (ADF) faced each other. The latter is considered to be one of the oldest women's associations in Berlin, founded in 1865, as can be seen from the documents in the ADF holdings from 1892 - 1930 in the Helene Lange Archive. Helene Lange (1848–1930) was its most prominent board member. The work of the ADF aimed in particular at more rights for the housewives' associations. Women should be given the same educational and professional opportunities and gain more influence in politics and economics in order to correct “the undesirable development of the world shaped by men”. Those women who felt they belonged more to the “radical” groups, above all Clara Zetkin (1857–1933), increasingly refused to work with the bourgeois groups of the women's movement as represented by Helene Lange and Gertrud Bäumer .

The polarization in Berlin between radical and moderate currents within the women's movement was not carried over to the distant province of East Prussia. Here the social commitment of “higher daughters” and wives of politicians, scientists and craftsmen predominated. What they all had in common was the recognition of women's work in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement as far as possible in their employment in domestic and agricultural work or in independent home work.

First women's associations in Königsberg

Long-standing chairman of the board of directors of the Königsberg Housewives Association

Predecessors of the Königsberg Housewives Association were the “Women's Association for Poor and Nursing Care” (1843/44), the “Patriotic Women's Association” (1867/68) and, in particular, the “ Königsberger Verein Frauenwohl ” (KVF) by Pauline Bohn (1834) –1926), which existed from 1890 to 1920. In addition to Pauline Bohn, two other women came into the limelight of the East Prussian women's movement, Elisabet Boehm (1859–1943) and Helene Neumann (1874–1942). Böhm had headed the "Agricultural Housewives Association" and Helene Neumann the "Union of Homeworkers" (1904–1914). Olga Friedemann (1857–1935) became aware of the needy housewives through this “home workers' union” . With Helene Neumann she managed to unite all existing East Prussian housewives' associations in the "Königsberger Hausfrauenbund" (KHB). The statutes of the KHB could be revised and specifically adopted by the Königsberger Verein Frauenwohl.

tasks

Appreciation of housewife work. Establishment of his own job agency for domestic staff, repeal of the Prussian servant code, introduction of a domestic help law, legal regulation of apprenticeships in housekeeping, long-term goal: recognition of the professional title "Master of Housekeeping", establishment of a death benefit. Housewives, domestic servants, but also subject teachers, should belong to a profession! That can only be achieved if all young girls, regardless of their status and schooling, received a domestic education.

Koenigsberg Housewives Association in the First World War

In the midst of this new spirit of optimism, the First World War burst , so that the statutory implementation of the association's tasks had to be postponed. The coordinated help was directed by Olga Friedemann with the new Königsberg Housewives Association:

“East Prussia became a theater of war. Thousands of seriously wounded from the East Prussian and Russian battlefields lay in the hospitals. Crowds of homeless refugees roamed the streets ”.

The KHB organized kitchens, sales outlets, but also training courses. "The education of housewives and servants in war-style cooking, the courses on the preservation and utilization of food, the establishment of a food supply through which many thousands of needy and sick people could be supplied with something fatty and mill preparations, the establishment of" middle class kitchens ", a" Einkochküche ", which supplied hospitals, soldiers 'rest houses, schools and clubs with jam for years, are only mentioned here as individual examples." Olga Friedemann and Helene Neumann continued to expand their "Königsberg housewives' association" during the war by setting up a "job placement agency" in 1916 that housewives and domestic workers could use.

Social environment after the First World War

After the war, more and more women working in agriculture and home workers migrated to the cities in the course of industrialization. On the other hand, cheap industrial goods and agricultural products were imported from the west and from neighboring countries. Due to the negative consequences of industrialization, the country's own agricultural and products were no longer accepted. By upgrading the working housewife, Olga Friedemann wanted to increase the value of her own production and thus stimulate her sales.

The first step was to reorganize all of the many existing East Prussian associations in the vicinity of the Königsberger Verein Frauenwohl. By 1920, a total of 18 associations from the province had come together to form the Association of East German Housewives' Associations (VOH). After the takeover of Insterburg, the Koenigsberg Housewives Association expanded to Tilsit in 1920 (chairwoman Mrs. Schmidt). New housewives' associations were then established in Gumbinnen, Marienburg, Marienwerder Deutsch-Eylau and in Allenstein. The housewives' associations that had developed independently in Danzig and Elbing also agreed to join the VOH. In addition, the consumer association “Self-Help” and a “Social Work Service” were founded for all associations, and a death benefit was introduced.

The “Königsberger Hausfrauenbund” (KHB) joined the “Reichsverband deutscher Hausfrauenvereine 1915-1935 (RDH)” in 1919 with its many East German housewives' associations mentioned above, on whose board Olga Friedemann 14 years of experience as 3rd chairwoman (1st chairwoman 1924 Mrs. Gerhardt-Altenburg and in 1931 Maria Jecker from Aachen) brought in. In 1920, all associations of East German housewives' associations (VOH) were accepted into the RDH. From 1921 to 1935, Helene Neumann represented the KHB and all VOHs on the entire board of the RDH and in the committee for building and housing purposes. Both women, Olga Friedemann and Helene Neumann from the KHB, had such a decisive influence in the RDH that they not only integrated the domestic vocational training into the "Vocational Training Act", but also the "Work Evidence Act" and the "Food Act" based on the East German model via the RDH for put all of Germany on a legal basis. "With these measures you have made a significant contribution to the development of housekeeping throughout Germany."

Job title "Master of Housekeeping" February 1926

In 1926, the state-recognized examination for "Master of Housekeeping" was held for the first time for the whole of Germany via the "Königsberger Hausfrauenbund" in the Reichsverband Deutscher Hausfrauenvereine (RDH). In February 1926, the first twelve housewives passed their master craftsman examination at the East Prussian Girls' Trade School. Within the next 4 years, another 13 cities in Germany, including the Berlin “Deutsche Hausfrauenbund”, took over these master’s examination regulations from Königsberg and examined around 300 female masters of housekeeping. Königsberg also adopted the “Vocational Training Act”, the “Work Evidence Act” and the “Food Act” in the RDH.

Housewives' homes, retirement homes, foundations

Food house noise. Opened in 1921 by the Königsberg Housewives Association

With the introduction of state-recognized home economics training, it was not yet regulated how housewives and domestic servants could be relieved of their daily lives. That is why the KHB, under the leadership of Olga Friedemann and Helene Neumann, offered four rest and retirement homes in Königsberg and the surrounding area:

1. Housewives' home in Rauschen in the former Villa Tiedemann (rest home for housewives with 3 children for 3 weeks).

2. The non-alcoholic dining house in Rauschen belonged to the Königsberger Hausfrauenbund (opened July 1921, not 1919). "If, despite all the difficulties, the building of the house was successful, it is mainly thanks to the leading ladies, Miss Friedemann and Miss Neumann." 3. Helene Neumann House in Sassau 1908. With the help of father Prof. Ernst Neumann established a Helene Neumann Foundation and built a rest home in Sassau on Samland around 1908 (postcard) for the home workers' union. In 1918 the house was taken over by the Königsberger Hausfrauenbund until 1934 and continued to be looked after by Helene Neumann. From 1934 to 1944 it belonged to the Reichsverband Deutscher Hausfrauenvereine (RDH). 4. Olga Friedemann-Rentenheim, Königsberg On September 30, 1928, after a two-year construction period, this house was opened on Aschmann-Allee at the corner of Schwertbrüderstrasse. Fellow citizens who had lost property due to inflation or who had become defenseless due to the impoverishment of their relatives, a dignified home was made available for their retirement. The admission was made, regardless of political or religious denomination, only according to social aspects. The architect Hanns Hopp built the house in the style of the builder. Each apartment was individually designed. The home was assigned to the Deutsches Frauenwerk on January 1, 1936 . In 1931, the East Prussian Girls' Trade School (OMGS) and the Vocational Education Institute were merged into one. The city of Königsberg was involved as sponsor and built a new building in Schubertstrasse. Corner of Loewenstrasse (architect Hanns Popp).

"Gleichschaltung" 1933, new statutes, end of association-specific tasks December 31, 1935

When the National Socialists came to power in 1933, a fundamental change began. For the Association of Ostdeutscher Hausfrauenbünde (VOH) "with its largest association, the" Königsberger Hausfrauenbund ", it was possible to carry out harmonization in 1933 with very little renaming within the board members. The new board members were expressly recognized by “Gauffrau general managers” without the chairmen having to be members of the NSDAP. In February 1934, the local associations of the VOH adopted new statutes. Due to illness, Olga Friedemann resigned from the KHB and VOH in October of this year. Her successor was not Helene Neumann, as generally assumed, but the party member Dora Schlochow, who was also the East German regional department head for economics.

Schlochow headed the "Association of East Prussian Housewives' Associations (VOH)" until December 31, 1935. At that time, it dissolved the VOH and transferred it to the National Socialist "Deutsche Frauenwerk". For the time after that, Schlochnow himself writes: "As of January 1, the work of the individual German housewives' associations was directed into all corresponding circles in all German districts and incorporated into the 'Deutsche Frauenwerk' as a specialist pillar 'Department of Economics and Housekeeping'." Not all members of the KHBs in the Association of East German Housewives' Associations (VOH) were automatically transferred to the "Economics-Housekeeping" department of the "German Women's Work". The “Aryan” selection of housewives was reserved. In a footnote of an article by the new chairwoman, Dora Schlochow, it says: “At the beginning of the new year 1936, each member of the housewives' association will be visited by his group lady and will have the opportunity to send the admission certificate to the Department of Economics and Housekeeping (of the German Women's Association) sign. Monthly membership fee of at least 30 Pfg. ”In the following years, work in the KHB with its schools, retirement and rest homes continued unabated. In 1937/1938 the East German Girls' Trade School (OMGS) was converted into a women's technical school. Associated with this was the training of trade teachers for home economics vocational schools. In the war year 1943, the OMGS was turned into a military hospital and lessons in gymnasiums were continued until January 22, 1945 with restrictions. With the fall of East Prussia, knowledge of the beginnings of home economics training at the KHB was also lost. The Berlin "German Housewives 'Association", which survived the war, in the Reich Association of German Housewives' Associations (RDH 1915-1935) still exists in a changed structure as the "umbrella organization of the DHB-Netzwerk household, professional association of household leaders eV"

Publications

Newspaper of the Königsberger Hausfrauendbund 1934 with imprint and logo KHB - before the "Gleichschaltung"

The articles from the "Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung", the organ of the KHB or the smaller East German housewives' associations (Vereinigung Ostdeutscher Hausfrauenbünde VOB) integrated there, which deal with the history of the association, are included in this section. The "Ostpreußische Hausfrauenzeitung" existed from year 1 (1926) to year 10 (1935).

  • Olga Friedemann: The Association of East German Housewives' Associations . In: 80 Years of the Ostpreußische Zeitung 1849–1929, commemorative edition (December 31, 1928), pp. 99–100
  • Freiin von Gahl: 25 years of the Provincial Association of East Prussian Agricultural Housewives' Associations . Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 4, No. 12 (1929), p. 4
  • Olga Friedemann: The Master of Housekeeping , Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 5, No. 11 (1930), p. 1
  • Olga Friedemann: From my life . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung, vol. 10 (1935), No. 9, p. 3
  • Helene Neumann: 15 years of the Association of East German Housewives . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung, vol. 10 (1935), Christmas special, p. 5.

literature

  • Elisabeth Boehm: East Prussian Newspaper and Country Women . In: Commemorative edition 80 years of Ostpreußische Zeitung 1849–1928, from December 31, 1928, p. 14
  • Reichsverband Deutscher Hausfrauenvereine eV . (Hg), Yearbook 1931 of the Professional Association of German Housewives, Volume 7, Berlin: Self-published by the Reich Association 1930
  • Helene Neumann: Trade Association of Homeworkers in Germany, local group Königsberg i.Pr. 1904-1914. In: Königsberg Handelsdruck 1914 (from Wermke: Bibliography of the History of East and West Prussia (until 1929), print 1933 No. 10.270)
  • Olga Friedemann, Helene Neumann 60 years old - A review and thanks . In: Hausfrauenzeitung 9th vol. 4 (1934), p. 1
  • Gertrud Brostowski: From the estate household to the East Prussian girls' trade school . In: Life in East Prussia, memories from nine decades, Munich: Gräfe and Unzer 1963
  • Pauline Bohn: On the women's movement in East Prussia . In: Grenzland Welt (Subtitle: Leaves of a Yearbook of German Labor in the East), Grenzland-Verlag Allenstein Jg. 2 (1921), pp. 33–35, here p. 35
  • Else Lüders: The left wing. A sheet from the history of the German women's movement. Berlin 1904. In: Helene-Lange-Archiv in the Landesarchiv Berlin, A Rep. 060-53, microfiche
  • Erna Albrecht (Hrsg.): East Prussian Girls Trade School and Vocational Education Institute Königsberg . In: The domestic and commercial women's education system in Germany from the beginning to the present. The vocational school. Delivery 12 (1956), pp. 103-110.
  • Pauline Bohn: A quarter of a century of women's work in Königsberg . Each supplement, Frauenrundschau No. 15, No. 16, No. 17 and No. 18: p. 1, In: Königsberger Hartung'sche Zeitung No. 171 (1915); Königsberger Hartung'sche Zeitung No. 183 (1915), Königsberger Hartung'sche Zeitung No. 195 (1915); Konigsberger Hartung'sche Zeitung No. 207 (1915)
  • Gabriele Wiesemann: Hanns Hopp (1890–1971). Koenigsberg, Dresden, Halle East Berlin. A biographical study of modern architecture. Helms, Schwerin 2000
  • Reichsverband Deutscher Hausfrauenvereine eV (Ed.), Yearbook 1931 of the Professional Association of German Housewives, Volume 7, Berlin: Self-published by the Reichsverband 1930
  • Olga Friedemann: Die Vereinigung Ostdeutscher Hausfrauenbünde , In: 80 Jahre Ostpreußische Zeitung 1849–1919, commemorative edition (1928), pp. 99–100
  • Helene Neumann: 15 years of the Association of East German Housewives . Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung Königsberg, Vol. 10, Christmas special issue (1935), p. 3
  • Hermine Rust: Master craftsman training and apprenticeship in housekeeping, two gifts from Olga Friedemann to the German people . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 10, No. 9 (1935), p. 5
  • B. Ansat: Communication: death fund of the Königsberg housewives' association . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 10, No. 9 (1935), p. 7
  • Olga Friedemann: The master of housekeeping . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 5, No. 11 (1930), p. 1
  • Dora Schlochow: Outlook into the future . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 10 (1935), pp. 2–3
  • Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding : From the beginnings of East Prussian housewives' associations to the job title “Master of Housekeeping”. Pauline Bohn, Elisabet Boehm, Helene Neumann, Olga Friedemann. In: Preußenland No. 7 (2016), pp. 121–146.
  • Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding: Elisabet Boehm (1859–1943) and Helene Neumann (1874–1942) as pioneers for the profession of “home economics”. In: Königsberger Bürgerbrief No. 86 (2015), pp. 32–34
  • Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding: Olga Friedemann (1857–1935), pioneer of home economics vocational training to become "master of home economics" . In: Königsberger Bürgerbrief No. 86 (2016), pp. 32–33
  • Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding: From the beginnings of the East Prussian “housewives' associations” to the professional title of “Master of Housekeeping”. Part 1 Königsberger Bürgerbrief No. 86 (2015), pp. 35–41
  • Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding: From the beginnings of East Prussian “housewives' associations” to the professional title of “Master of Housekeeping” Part II. In: Königsberger Bürgerbrief No. 87 (2016), pp. 24–31

Web links

Helene Neumann (1874–1942) as a pioneer for the profession of "master of housekeeping"

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Else Lüders: The left wing. A sheet from the history of the German women's movement . Berlin 1904. In: Helene-Lange-Archiv in the Landesarchiv Berlin, A Rep. 060-53, microfiche.
  2. ↑ General German Women's Association (ADF / HLA) . In: Helene-Lange-Archiv in the Landesarchiv Berlin, B Rep. 235-02-01, microfiche.
  3. ^ Marie Stritt: On the 70th birthday of Helene Lange on April 9, 1928 In: The question of women. Zentralblatt des Bundes Deutscher Frauenvereine, Ed. E, Vol. 20 (1918), No. 4, pp. 25–27, here p. 26
  4. ^ Pauline Bohn: On the women's movement in East Prussia. In: Grenzland Welt (Subtitle: Leaves of a Yearbook of German Work of the East), Grenzland-Verlag Allenstein, vol. 2 (1921), pp. 33–35
  5. ↑ Ibid., P. 33
  6. ↑ Pauline Bohn: A quarter of a century of women's work in Königsberg . In: Königsberger Hartung'sche Zeitung No. 207 (1915), supplement Frauenrundschau No. 18, p. 1.
  7. ↑ Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding : From the beginnings of East Prussian housewives' associations to the job title "Master of Housekeeping". Pauline Bohn, Elisabet Boehm, Helene Neumann, Olga Friedemann . In: Preußenland No. 7 (2016), pp. 121–146.
  8. ↑ Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding: From the beginnings of East Prussian “housewives' associations” to the professional title of “Master of Housekeeping” . Part 1 Königsberger Bürgerbrief No. 86 (2015), pp. 35–41.
  9. ^ Olga Friedemann: The Association of East German Housewives' Associations . Professional organizations of the East German housewives. In: Ostpreußische Zeitung, commemorative edition: 80 Years Ostpreußische Zeitung 1849–1929 (December 31, 1928), pp. 99–100
  10. ↑ Helene Neumann: Olga Friedemann and her work. In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung, vol. 10 (1935), No. 9, p. 3
  11. ^ Olga Friedemann: The Association of East German Housewives' Associations. Professional organizations of the East German housewives. In: Ostpreußische Zeitung, commemorative edition: 80 Years of the Ostpreußische Zeitung 1849–1929 (December 31, 1928), p. 99
  12. ↑ Ibid., P. 99
  13. ↑ Ibid., P. 99
  14. ↑ Helene Neumann: 15 years of the Association of East German Housewives . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung, vol. 10 (1935), Christmas special, p. 4.
  15. ^ Anonymus: A housewives' association in Rauschen In: Königsberger Allgemeine Zeitung, No. 40 (October 1, 1919), supplement p. 1
  16. ↑ Helene Neumann: 15 years of the Association of East German Housewives. In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung Königsberg, vol. 10, (1935), Christmas special, p. 3
  17. ↑ Hermine Rust: Master training and apprenticeships in housekeeping, two gifts from Olga Friedemann to the German people . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 10, (1935), No. 9, p. 5
  18. ↑ Eberhard Neumann-Redlin von Meding: From the beginnings of East Prussian “housewives' associations” to the professional title of “Master of Housekeeping” . Part 1 Königsberger Bürgerbrief No. 86 (2015), pp. 35–41.
  19. ↑ Gertrud Brostowski: From Gutshaushalt the East Prussian girls vocational school. In: Life in East Prussia. Memories from New Decades, Munich: Gräfe and Unzer, 1963
  20. ↑ Olga Friedemann: The master of housekeeping . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung vol. 5, No. 11 (1930), p. 1
  21. ↑ Anonymous: From the women's associations in East Prussia . In: Königsberger Allgemeine Zeitung of June 22nd, 1927, Königsberger Frauenblatt as Wednesday supplement, third supplement No. 285. (Excerpt of the content: The RDH took over the handling of extrajudicial disputes arising from the employment relationship from the “Königsberger Hausfrauenbund” Chambers of labor and employees were set up. The Occupational Safety and Health Act regulated the special protection provisions for women and young people in Sections 17-22 and 28)
  22. ↑ Anonymous: A housewives' home in Rauschen . In: Königsberger Allgemeine Zeitung No. 40, (October 1, 1919), supplement, p. 1
  23. ↑ Anonymus: The Alcohol Free Speisehaus of the Koenigsberg Housewives Association in Rauschen . In: Königsberger Allgemeine Zeitung No. 310 (July 6, 1921) 1st supplement to the evening edition, p. 1
  24. ↑ Helene Neumann: "Helene Neumann Foundation" in Sassau In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung Vol. 1 No. 12 (1926), pp. 2–3 with illustrations and floor plans of the rest home
  25. ^ Gabriele Wiesemann: Hanns Hopp (1890–1971) Königsberg, Dresden, Halle East Berlin. A biographical study of modern architecture . Schwerin: Helms, 2000, p. 93
  26. ↑ Ibid., P. 253
  27. ↑ Helene Neumann: 15 years of the Association of East German Housewives . In: Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung, vol. 10 (1935), Christmas special, p. 4.
  28. ↑ Dora Schlochow: Outlook into the future . Ostdeutsche Hausfrauenzeitung, vol. 10 (1935), pp. 2–3
  29. ↑ Ibid., P. 3