Reichsbund der Kinderreichen (RDK or RdK), ''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 World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. To qualify as a member of this league a family should have at least four children. Widows were also admitted. The German Large Family League was forcefully nazified after the Nazi takeover of power in 1933. As such its goal became the preservation and promotion of the German hereditarily healthy

Aryan ''Aryan'' (), or ''Arya'' (borrowed from Sanskrit ''ārya''), Oxford English Dictionary Online 2024, s.v. ''Aryan'' (adj. & n.); ''Arya'' (n.)''.'' is a term originating from the ethno-cultural self-designation of the Indo-Iranians. It stood ...

family ("Erhaltung und Förderung der deutschen, erbgesunden, arischen Familie").

Renaming

The RDK was renamed ''Reichsbund Deutsche Familie, Kampfbund für erbtüchtigen Kinderreichtum'' (literally ''German Family Reich's League, Struggle League for a Hereditarily Strong Offspring''), in April 1940, in the first years of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Its new acronym became RDF and Dr. Robert Kaiser became its new leader. Lisa Pine, ''Nazi Family Policy, 1933-1945''
/ref> Under Dr. Kaiser, the RDF became essentially a

propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...

organization, promoting marriages and natality among the youth despite the war-related difficulties. As a Nazi organization the German Large Family League was disbanded after Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II. The American Military Government issued a special law outlawing the Nazi party and all of its branches. This

Denazification Denazification () was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of the Nazi ideology following the Second World War. It was carried out by removing those who had been Nazi Par ...

decree was also known as "Law number five".

References

(partly) * Natalism 1919 establishments in Germany Organizations established in 1919 Organizations disestablished in 1945 Organizations based in the Weimar Republic Nazi Party organizations Nazi propaganda organizations {{Nazi-stub