She became active in the leadership of the BDM, which had been started in 1930 as a girls' auxiliary to the male-only Hitler Youth, but which grew rapidly after the Nazis came to power in January 1933.

This signified that her position was subordinate to the overall Nazi Youth Leader (Reichsjugendführer), Baldur von Schirach (and his successor from 1940, Artur Axmann).

Schirach was zealous in preventing the BDM becoming autonomous, or coming under the control of the Nazi Women's Organisation (Nationalsozialistische Frauenschaft, NSF), whose Leader Gertrud Scholtz-Klink he regarded as a rival.

The destiny of BDM girls under the Nazi state was to then participate in the Glaube und Schönheit (Faith and Beauty) society, open for ages 17 to 21.

And we need girls who, through healthy bodies and balanced minds, embody the beauty of divine creation.

Rüdiger came to preside over a female work force of several millions, directing them as the economic ministries requested additional labour.

From 1943 onwards, the BDM also supplied thousands of girls for work in flak (anti-aircraft) batteries guarding German cities.

[citation needed] Upon her release, she resumed her career as a paediatric psychologist, in the areas of the educational guidance and industrial psychology, in Düsseldorf.