What Will Happen If They Don't Get It Now?

By reading on from the chosen scene, we can establish that Sally has an abortion as a consequence of her unstable personal circumstances. However, further research into Weimar Berlin tells us that this move forwards is risky for Sally. According to what I have read, abortion in Germany was illegal in the early 20th Century; despite wide discussion about reversing this, sentences for abortion were reduced during the Weimar Republic period and abortion was only legal in cases where the life of the mother jeopardised by the pregnancy.

Despite laws preventing abortion, studies show that it was still a reasonably common practice and that population was in steep decline due to use of contraceptives and illegally performed terminations. According to an article in the New Oxford Review:

"Contraception, of course, was not foolproof, so abortions multiplied and "official disapproval" of them faltered. In 1917 new guidelines set forth by the Reich Health Council allowed abortions "on the strictest health grounds," only if approved by two doctors. In 1926 the law on abortions was mollified, and in 1927 the Supreme Court allowed doctors to perform "therapeutic" abortions. German law on abortion became "one of the most liberal in the world" because doctors could easily convince officials that any abortion was necessary for "health" reasons."

Barbeau Gardiner, A. (2009). The Road to Hitler Was Paved With Abortions. Available: http://www.newoxfordreview.org/reviews.jsp?did=1209-gardiner. Last accessed 23rd Oct 2014.


The need for the procedure to be approved by two doctors would have been financially strenuous in times which were already economically difficult; Germany had been through a period of hyperinflation, meaning the currency (the German Mark) declined in value and the cost of living increased. The financial implications of abortion are mentioned in the script and discussed at length in the book... As Sally is unemployed, financial stress would possibly have an affect on her appearance as well as the initial symptoms of pregnancy.