SS Wedding Customs and Traditions

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Brianna1627
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Joined: 08 Aug 2017, 05:46
Location: NJ

SS Wedding Customs and Traditions

#1

Post by Brianna1627 » 17 Aug 2017, 07:31

I've read many times that SS men were married according to traditional SS customs. Was there a different sort of ceremony or tradition for an SS wedding? Also, is it true that there were programs like schools for the prospective wives of the SS?

Atrevida
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Re: SS Wedding Customs and Traditions

#2

Post by Atrevida » 01 Sep 2017, 15:36

The authoritative work approved by the Reichsführer-SS is:

Author: SS-Obergruppenführer Fritz Weitzel (1904-1940)
Title: Die Gestaltung der Feste im Jahres- und Lebenslauf in der SS-Familie.
(I have the Spanish translation of this book published in Buenos Aires in 2001)

The following is an extract amounting to 85% of the chapter-

CHAPTER 30: The Marriage and Acceptance of the Wife into the SS Community

The marriage ceremony must take place before a Judge. This is the binding ceremony. Attempts to imitate the empty rituals of the Church are to be avoided.

The Third Reich sees marriage as the nucleus of the State. In contrast to the previous regimes and the Church, the couple wishing to marry must first undergo a control of suitability for marriage and genetic health. The State is concerned for the family, is attempting to eliminate economic difficulties within the bounds of possibility while always highlighting the importance of the family.

The marriage of an SS man must be officiated by a high-ranking SS officer. The bride's gown must be traditionally festive but lack the veil which is an Oriental tradition. The vows are made and then the rings exchanged.

During the celebration afterwards the wife will be accepted into the SS. The wedding feast must be held if possible in the dining room of the new home.
The table will be adorned with plants and flowers especially around the positions occupied at table by the bride and groom.

A close family friend who is a member of the SS sits facing the couple: during and after the banquet he will speak to them on the subject of valour and of the importance that the State and SS attach to the preservation of the German race. He will speak to them on the theme of Meine Ehre heisst Treue which will now also be the motto of the wife. The speaker will stress that the couple shall observe the regulations of the SS, do their bounden duty by it, and that the SS will protect them.

At the end of this discourse the speaker accepts the bride into the ranks of the SS and gives the couple a small gift such as a book or painting. He will also give them a wooden platter containing bread and salt and two clay jars to remind the couple that their lifestyle must be simple and plain. In conclusion the speaker will honour the Führer and the newly weds with a single Heil Hitler!

The speaker also expresses the wish that any existing differences be resolved swiftly and that above all the sincerity and frankness which is the SS style unites the couple ever more closely.

The remainder of the celebration then develops with less formality and concludes if possible with a ball."

The book, which is well illustrated, covers every aspect of SS life, religion and special days of the year.


HistoryVsFacts
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Re: SS Wedding Customs and Traditions

#3

Post by HistoryVsFacts » 10 Sep 2017, 06:06

The process seems similar to that of some dictatorship and royal regimes. Traditional Khmer weddings involving the royal family would have a similar speech from a family member in the royal family and welcome the new member into it, and stresses the importance of living under the King and serving the King. Then they would usually get a small gift of fruit or something similar; somewhat luxurious but a treat type of thing.

sarahburton44
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Re: SS Wedding Customs and Traditions

#4

Post by sarahburton44 » 18 Mar 2024, 12:44

During the Nazi era, the SS, or Schutzstaffel, had its own set of customs and rituals, including those related to marriage. SS weddings were often conducted with a degree of pomp and ceremony, reflecting the organization's emphasis on hierarchy, loyalty, and the perpetuation of the Aryan race. While there wasn't a distinct "SS wedding ceremony" per se, SS members often adhered to traditional Germanic wedding customs, such as wearing formal attire, exchanging vows, and participating in rituals symbolizing unity and commitment.

It's worth noting that marriage within the SS was highly encouraged, as it was seen as a means of furthering the Nazi ideology of racial purity and strengthening the organization's familial bonds. To facilitate this, there were indeed programs and institutions established for the prospective wives of SS members. These programs, often referred to as SS Bride Schools or SS Bride Schools, were designed to indoctrinate women into the ideals of National Socialism, promote traditional gender roles, and prepare them for their roles as wives and mothers of future SS generations.

SS Bride Schools provided education in subjects deemed essential for their roles within the SS community, including domestic skills, childcare, and eugenics. Additionally, these schools emphasized physical fitness and racial purity, aiming to produce ideal Nazi wives who would support their husbands in their SS duties and contribute to the perpetuation of the Nazi regime's racial policies.

While these practices may seem archaic and deeply entrenched in Nazi ideology, they highlight the extent to which the SS sought to control and mold every aspect of its members' lives, including their personal relationships and family dynamics. These institutions played a significant role in shaping the culture and values within the SS community, perpetuating the Nazi regime's agenda through marriage and family life.

And just like a vibrant party balloon, these SS customs added a colorful, albeit disturbing, dimension to the broader narrative of Nazi ideology and control.

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