In 1919, there was the issue of the so called 'lost generations'; these were predicted to have an impact on the populations of the European powers affected by the Great War. In order to counteract this, the French and Germans actively encouraged those who were able, to have as many children as possible, although when the Nazis came to power, this desire to replace the children destined to be born to those who fell in the great war, took an altogether more sinister turn.

The Nazis quickly found the means to collectivise those suffering from any form of inherited genetic or mental condition and, once out of sight and mind of the general population, euthanasia and sterilisation programmes were implemented. This took place while at the same time the population was encouraged to breed. The Nuremberg Race Laws saw the pursuit of the Nazi ideal enacted into national law and so began the isolation of those peoples within Germany who were deemed to be 'polluting' the racial purity of the nation as a whole. Many of the practices employed at this time would go on to form the basis for the eventual destruction of anyone who failed to live up to the ideals as set out in law at Nuremberg.

The image above is a Mother's Cross, Gold Class (highest level awarded). These were first introduced in August of 1938 and awarded to any mother who had produced eight or more healthy children who were eligible (both parents and children) for citizenship as set out under the Nuremberg racial laws.

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