Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 2 September 1939, page 12


CULT OF THE AMAZON

Swedish girls in a joint camp in Stralsund, together with the Hitler Youth, show the high standard of their

gymnastics - both courage and training are needed for this flying lump.

By A CORRESPONDENT FROM

' GERMANY

gERMANY'S "Night Of the

Amazons," recently held at Munich, was spectacular evidence of the growth of a new cut on the Continent-a cult devoted to raising the physical standard of womankind The activities of the movement embrace organised sport and gymnastics, aviation, skating, and horse racing

Australian women are continually raising their already high physical standard, and greater numbers are taking part in sport

But whereas the Australians are impelled solely by their natural love of sunshine, exercise, and health, the motives behind the mass movements of women in Europe are political and racial

In Hitler's Germany the campaign is strongest But Finland, Russia, France, Rumania, Jugoslavia Italy, and former Czechoslovakia are also making systematic efforts to improve the physique of their womenfolk

German women in scanty attire or none at all - standing on pedestals, immovable like Greek statues, or riding on horsebacktook part in the "Night of the Amazons "

Lente Riefenstahl, Hitler's filmdirector friend, made a film featuring athletic German women Here she is working on the film

Athletic German women are featured in a film of the last Olympic Games made by Miss Lorne Riefenstahl, Hitler's famous film-dnector friend

And in Berlin young and blonde Dorothy von Brick appears on

the stage of the Theatre of Comedians-a veil-dancer carrying the applause of the Fuhrer and other big Nazi leaders

But box-office appeal is not the object of these shows behind them lies a distinct political purpose

upon it is part of Hitler's policy

to improve the physique of the German race First step is the practice of physical culture which will beautify the body of the future German mother, as Hitler himself once said

Nazi Germany is proud of her amazons - leading sportswomen who are considered models to other women "The permanently smoking society girl has to make way for the sun-tanned sports girl," said Herr Baldur von Schirach, German Youth leader

Among Germany's amazons is Frau Irmgard von Opel, a pioneer of horse races for women, and a well-known jockey

A few years after the war some German women, disregarding all prejudices, started in "unofficial" races, which were scheduled as last events at race meetings

The amazon races drew large crowds, because plenty of laughs were expected There was no betting, and the gates were closed To-day you can bet at German

amazon races

More German women are taking to the air When 13 entered a

safety flying test last year none failed, although weather conditions were unfavourable and the planes out of date

THE German amazon who combines

physical strength and feminine charm is found on the ice There is Maxi Herbert, 18year-old Munich girl, one of the most expert skaters in the world Three days after her partner's skate cut a deep wound in her leg she won with him the world championship for pair skating

An important part in the German woman's strength and beauty campaign is played by the Strength Through Joy" organsection which provides for weekly evening classes in gymnastics

Schoolgirls and business girls have annual competitions Winnews of city and country district contests meet and ultimately the fittest girls in the German Reich are presented to Hitler

German schoolgirls have a lesson in gymnastics every morning This example has been followed by several French schools

In Finland women are members of the Lotta Svard organisation. They form a private army, and each woman who joins must take an oath of allegiance to Finland. In war the women's army would assist the regular army The women are trained in gymnastics, rowing, and ski-ing

In Rumania, Jugoslavia, and former Czechoslovakia girls prac

Maxi Herber, 1 8-year-old Munich girl, who is an expert skater, com-bines physical strength and feminine charm. She is seen here training for skating championships.

case sport in the Sokol organisation a Slavic youth movement sponsored by their Governments Italian women have organised sport as in Germany

Open-air Children

Mothers who bring up healthy children know the value of sunlight They accustom their children to sunlight from infancy Their room Is chosen for its sunny aspect and sun bathing time is the early morning

The children are exposed to the sun's rays by degrees and are not allowed to be exposed for too long a period however, welcoming the sun may seem after v. inter

dullness

The importance of children living

in the open air can hardly be over emphasised and parents in the town should try to get their children into the country parks and playgrounds as much is possible '