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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
3.5 stars, rounded up. A chilling novel that reads more like horror than the historical fiction it is. This story focuses on three women involved in the Nazi's Aryan supremacy breeding program, The Lebensborn Society. The Society provided maternity homes for racially desirable pregnant young women, groomed other young women as sexual partners for officers of the Reich, and kidnapped Aryan babies and children from other countries for adoption schemes. Gundi, a young woman active in the Resistance and pregnant with her Jewish lover's baby, is sent to a maternity home. The other two women in this novel are less likable and sympathetic. Hilde, pregnant by a high-ranking married SS officer, is slavishly devoted to the Reich and engages in horrendous behavior over and over. And finally, Nurse Irma, who is caring for the young mothers-to-be, is somewhat rehabilitated throughout the novel but it felt like too little, too late for my liking. Overall the history is fascinating (in a gruesome way), and it's clear Coburn did a great job researching. The writing is a little rough and the characters didn't really come to life for me, but I still think it's a book worth reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital review copy.
This was a great story with excellent storylines and storytelling. It was very eye opening and informative of some of the things experienced during Hitler’s Reich. I couldn’t put this book down! I was captured from the first line and I didn’t want it to end!
This was my first book by the author, but I’m looking forward to reading more.
This was my first book by the author, but I’m looking forward to reading more.
Thank you Sourcebook for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cradles of the Reich is a historical fiction based in Germany during WWII. This book is written in multiple POV, the main characters are Gundi, Irma, and Hilde. Gundi has been supporting the underground resistance against the Nazis and has a jewish boyfriend, she become pregnant and is sent off to a home to take care of the child while she is pregnant. Hilde is an ambitious 18 year old girl who wants to be a part of the elite and feel passionate about supporting the Nazis. Irma was about to get married to Eduardo until she discovers a woman in his home and she leaves him and goes off to work at a home for unborn mothers where her friend is working.
I read this book quickly over a few days. At times I found it hard to read because the content is disturbing - a home for unwed mothers to produce children for the Aryan race. There are definitely triggers in this book for me and one night before bed I couldn't read it because I was concerned it would give me nightmares. The story is informative and based on some actual historical information which I found upsetting and disturbing. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys reading historical fiction. I would rate it a 4.5/5. It's an informative book and I would recommend reading it.
Cradles of the Reich is a historical fiction based in Germany during WWII. This book is written in multiple POV, the main characters are Gundi, Irma, and Hilde. Gundi has been supporting the underground resistance against the Nazis and has a jewish boyfriend, she become pregnant and is sent off to a home to take care of the child while she is pregnant. Hilde is an ambitious 18 year old girl who wants to be a part of the elite and feel passionate about supporting the Nazis. Irma was about to get married to Eduardo until she discovers a woman in his home and she leaves him and goes off to work at a home for unborn mothers where her friend is working.
I read this book quickly over a few days. At times I found it hard to read because the content is disturbing - a home for unwed mothers to produce children for the Aryan race. There are definitely triggers in this book for me and one night before bed I couldn't read it because I was concerned it would give me nightmares. The story is informative and based on some actual historical information which I found upsetting and disturbing. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys reading historical fiction. I would rate it a 4.5/5. It's an informative book and I would recommend reading it.
Cradles of the Reich was rather underwhelming. It had some very interesting historical tidbits, but it lacked a certain emotional depth and the characters felt very one-dimensional.
Set during the height of World War Two, Cradles of the Reich introduces readers to the horrors of Nazi birther homes, where young "racially pure" German girls are forced to have children to enhance the Nazi's vision of a "perfect Aryan society".
The detailed historical setting was definitely the highlight of the book; it is evident that Jennifer Coburn put in an extraordinary amount of research into all the historical aspects of the story. It was horrifying to learn about these programs and realize how far the Nazis were willing to go to create a "racially pure" society.
The story is told from three different perspectives: two expectant young mothers in the program, one pro-Nazi and the other a secret member of the German resistance, and one of he program's nurses. Sadly each of these perspectives felt rather one-dimensional and simplistic. There wasn't much depth or complexity to any of the characters.
About 2/3 of the story is told from the perspective of Gundi, the anti-Nazi expectant mother. Because she is such a strong focus of the novel, the other two perspectives felt incredibly unnecessary. Eliminating the other two points of view and writing entirely from Gundi's perspective would have helped make the novel much more focused and impactful.
While the historical components of this novel were satisfying and well-researched, the actual story itself was a bit flat and disappointing. It lacked the emotional punch that many other World War Two books have.
Set during the height of World War Two, Cradles of the Reich introduces readers to the horrors of Nazi birther homes, where young "racially pure" German girls are forced to have children to enhance the Nazi's vision of a "perfect Aryan society".
The detailed historical setting was definitely the highlight of the book; it is evident that Jennifer Coburn put in an extraordinary amount of research into all the historical aspects of the story. It was horrifying to learn about these programs and realize how far the Nazis were willing to go to create a "racially pure" society.
The story is told from three different perspectives: two expectant young mothers in the program, one pro-Nazi and the other a secret member of the German resistance, and one of he program's nurses. Sadly each of these perspectives felt rather one-dimensional and simplistic. There wasn't much depth or complexity to any of the characters.
About 2/3 of the story is told from the perspective of Gundi, the anti-Nazi expectant mother. Because she is such a strong focus of the novel, the other two perspectives felt incredibly unnecessary. Eliminating the other two points of view and writing entirely from Gundi's perspective would have helped make the novel much more focused and impactful.
While the historical components of this novel were satisfying and well-researched, the actual story itself was a bit flat and disappointing. It lacked the emotional punch that many other World War Two books have.
Overall: Cradles of the Reich follows three women into a Lebensborn home called Heim Hochland in Nazi Germany. Like the author, I hadn’t heard much about the Lebensborn program other than a reference to it in the Netflix series “The Man in the High Castle” and an occasional allusion to it in non-fiction. The program housed unwed pregnant women whose racial profile the Nazis deemed “desirable,” placing their children with party officials after birth. Other young women also lived at the homes as “mothers-in-training,” and many claimed after the war that they were used as sexual partners by Nazi officers. The reader meets Hilde and Gundi, two young women raised under Nazi ideology who arrive as expectant mothers under very different circumstances. Irma, the third main character, is a middle-aged woman with nursing experience trying to escape the fallout of a disappointing love affair when the director of the home recruits her.
Likes: Coburn did a ton of research, and it shows the details, such as the two baths a day dictated by the Nazi program for infants and the uniforms embroidered with the SS logo worn by the young women ostensibly being "trained” as future mothers. Coburn shines detailing how life for women in Nazi Germany, even so-called Aryan women, was constrained.
Dislikes: I did not connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. In my opinion, Hilde, Irma, and Gundi remained very one-dimensional. Coburn states in her author’s note that she wanted avatars of a German resistor, a German who embraced Nazi ideology, and someone in between; the characters’ stories seemed stuck in these archetypes. I didn’t feel that two of the three characters had learned or grown much over the course of the book. The ending, which involves a “deus ex machina” style turn in the plot, also seemed a bit too fairytale for me, especially for a book about the Third Reich.
FYI: sexual assault, racism, anti-Semitism, Nazi ideology, misogyny, violence.
Likes: Coburn did a ton of research, and it shows the details, such as the two baths a day dictated by the Nazi program for infants and the uniforms embroidered with the SS logo worn by the young women ostensibly being "trained” as future mothers. Coburn shines detailing how life for women in Nazi Germany, even so-called Aryan women, was constrained.
Dislikes: I did not connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. In my opinion, Hilde, Irma, and Gundi remained very one-dimensional. Coburn states in her author’s note that she wanted avatars of a German resistor, a German who embraced Nazi ideology, and someone in between; the characters’ stories seemed stuck in these archetypes. I didn’t feel that two of the three characters had learned or grown much over the course of the book. The ending, which involves a “deus ex machina” style turn in the plot, also seemed a bit too fairytale for me, especially for a book about the Third Reich.
FYI: sexual assault, racism, anti-Semitism, Nazi ideology, misogyny, violence.
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ending was amazing, I wish the whole book was that exciting.
Cradles of the Reich follows the story of three women entangled in the Lebensborn society maternity homes. Two are expectant mothers, one there by choice and the other not, and the other a nurse in charge of their care. This story albeit a work of fiction really is based in true events that happened and @jennifercoburnbooks did a really great job showcasing the different mindsets. I could not stand one of the expectant mothers- she drank too much of the koolaid but the sad part is her mindset was part of the overwhelming majority. I felt so bad for the other expectant mother and everything she went through and I think the nurse’s change of perspective probably happened to some but did they ever do anything about it. If you want to read a really thought provoking story then pick up Cradles of the Reich.
Thank you @jennifercoburnbooks @sourcebooks and @netgalley for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
Thank you @jennifercoburnbooks @sourcebooks and @netgalley for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
“We don’t need a savior, we need allies”
Cradles of the Reich was an interesting and unique account of a Nazi breeding program to create a master race.
Although it was a deeply disturbing story, it was a very easy and eye opening read. Gundi was the star of the book for me; she stood out more than the others. She went through great lengths to protect her unborn child.
The book was so well written, you can tell the author put a lot of thought, research and time into her craft.
I feel like the other two characters weren’t fleshed out enough and that the ending was kinda quick.
I love it when books teach me about things about history that I never knew! Great story!! Great narration!!
dark