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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This is a story that needed to be told. While the market may be saturated with stories of the Third Reich, this is a women's story. This is a story of another shocking, secret Nazi program of life, on the edges of a society preoccupied with a painfully skewed idea of perfection.
The three main characters each open a window into the psyche of the German people during the Nazi reign. Each are relatable, in their own way. and have fascinating story arcs.
The narrator was well chosen, and makes the story seem even more authentic.
Thank you, Jennifer Coburn, for this compelling tale. I flew through it in two days.
The three main characters each open a window into the psyche of the German people during the Nazi reign. Each are relatable, in their own way. and have fascinating story arcs.
The narrator was well chosen, and makes the story seem even more authentic.
Thank you, Jennifer Coburn, for this compelling tale. I flew through it in two days.
I devoured this book in 24 hours.
There is a glut of WWII books to the point that even I have started to roll my eyes when I inevitably pick up a book with a pretty cover only to read “Paris 1942…” on the back. However I’ve been interested in the Lebensborn program since I first read about it so I thought I’d give it a chance.
I’m so glad I did. This is a good, suspenseful book that follows 3 women - 2 pregnant and one nurse - who end up at one of the homes in 1939.
Apparently there is a sequel of sorts coming, so I will be keeping my eyes out for that.
There is a glut of WWII books to the point that even I have started to roll my eyes when I inevitably pick up a book with a pretty cover only to read “Paris 1942…” on the back. However I’ve been interested in the Lebensborn program since I first read about it so I thought I’d give it a chance.
I’m so glad I did. This is a good, suspenseful book that follows 3 women - 2 pregnant and one nurse - who end up at one of the homes in 1939.
Apparently there is a sequel of sorts coming, so I will be keeping my eyes out for that.
Wonderful, yet disturbing, story of the Lebensborn program that played a part in Hitler's intention to create the perfect German race. Through the various female characters, we learn how young female specimens of the Aryan race were impregnaged by Nazi soldiers to bear Germany's next ideal generation.. Infants and toddlers - orphans of the Polish invasions - were also part of the adoption program. Families, loyal to the Reich, were incentivized to adopt and raise these children in the name of the future of Germany.
Well worth the read for an education but also a well written and documented story..
Well worth the read for an education but also a well written and documented story..
Cradles of the Reich is a story about three women in one of the Nazis' Lebensborn Society "maternity homes" aka breeding facilities for aryan babies. Irma is a nurse looking for a new start. Gunde is a Nazi-approved, blonde-haired, blue-eyed pregnant university student who is secretly part of a resistance group. Hilde is happily pregnant with a high-ranking official's illegitimate baby and is hoping to use her baby to move up the ranks of the Nazi party.
This was a different, unique aspect of WWII history that I didn't know much about previously, and it was fascinating (and infuriating). Coburn did an amazing job exploring the three women's personalities and what led each of them to the maternity home. My only complaint is that I needed an epilogue! I really wanted to know how everyone's lives turned out.
There's so much to discuss in this book -- this would be an excellent book club pick!
*thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the NetGalley review copy. Cradles of the Reich publishes October 11th.
This was a different, unique aspect of WWII history that I didn't know much about previously, and it was fascinating (and infuriating). Coburn did an amazing job exploring the three women's personalities and what led each of them to the maternity home. My only complaint is that I needed an epilogue! I really wanted to know how everyone's lives turned out.
There's so much to discuss in this book -- this would be an excellent book club pick!
*thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the NetGalley review copy. Cradles of the Reich publishes October 11th.
This book had a great premise and taught me about an aspect of the Third Reich I was completely unaware of. That being said, it left a lot to be desired. Without getting too detailed about the plot, the book follows three women who have different perspectives about the Nazi party and the party's actions to achieve a "perfect" race. I love novels that are structured like this (multiple narrators keep it interesting) but it was so heavily focused on one woman (in my opinion, the least interesting and most unrealistic of the three) that it didn't even bother to give us resolution for the other two women. We literally see one of the characters for the last time with a fourth of the book to go. And in a way, it doesn't even give the reader closure for the "main" character either. It ends right where it would have gotten interesting. Perhaps Coburn could write another book to give the audience true closure, but I'm not sure she's done something like that before. I loved "The Gown" and while "Cradles of the Reich" shares some of the same qualities that made the former so, so good, I feel like she phoned it in with this one, especially in regards to the ending.
About the book: “Three women, a nation seduced by a madman, and the Nazi breeding program to create a so-called master race.
Based on untold historical events, this novel brings us intimately inside the Lebensborn Society maternity homes that actually existed in several countries during World War II, where thousands of "racially fit" babies were bred and taken from their mothers to be raised as part of the new Germany. But it proves that in a dark period of history, the connections women forge can carry us through, even driving us to heroism we didn't know we had within us.”
Heim Hochland is a maternity home for unwed mothers in Bavaria during World War II where women are chosen based on the “Aryan” characteristics. Three of these women’s lives will intersect, as they narrate their stories: Hilde, eighteen-years-old, and seemingly content; Gundi, a student and secret member of the resistance, and Irma, a nurse.
Through these narratives, a complex story unfolds about the Lebensborn Program that existed in multiple countries during the war. It’s completely absorbing and well-paced as I found it hard to put down. Without a doubt, it was yet another horrific and chilling practice by the Nazis. I enjoyed the author’s note in the end where I learned even more. Highly recommended for hist fic readers.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Based on untold historical events, this novel brings us intimately inside the Lebensborn Society maternity homes that actually existed in several countries during World War II, where thousands of "racially fit" babies were bred and taken from their mothers to be raised as part of the new Germany. But it proves that in a dark period of history, the connections women forge can carry us through, even driving us to heroism we didn't know we had within us.”
Heim Hochland is a maternity home for unwed mothers in Bavaria during World War II where women are chosen based on the “Aryan” characteristics. Three of these women’s lives will intersect, as they narrate their stories: Hilde, eighteen-years-old, and seemingly content; Gundi, a student and secret member of the resistance, and Irma, a nurse.
Through these narratives, a complex story unfolds about the Lebensborn Program that existed in multiple countries during the war. It’s completely absorbing and well-paced as I found it hard to put down. Without a doubt, it was yet another horrific and chilling practice by the Nazis. I enjoyed the author’s note in the end where I learned even more. Highly recommended for hist fic readers.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
The Lebensborn program under German Nazis has long been a fascinating topic to me. It's hard to find solid information about it--not surprisingly, records were destroyed and living witnesses are long gone, 80 years later. There deserves to be a great novel about the program--I've read a few, but they're either poorly written or trying too hard to be an easily digestible novel.
This, alas, is also not the novel the topic deserves. It feels very much like a tentative, first novel: undeveloped, incoherent characters, a plot that simply ends, rather than concluding. It's an easy, quick read (which is OK) but doesn't really take a moral stance about impregnating young Aryan women, or stealing children from Poland, then letting German families adopt them. The moral questions here are illustrated by 'bad' Germans and 'good' people. It's just too simplistic to fully illustrate what was going on in the Lebensborn program--the grief, the deception, the entitlement.
And honestly--we deserve a world-class novel about this program (which seems to have disappeared from public consciousness). Three stars. Nice try--no cigar.
This, alas, is also not the novel the topic deserves. It feels very much like a tentative, first novel: undeveloped, incoherent characters, a plot that simply ends, rather than concluding. It's an easy, quick read (which is OK) but doesn't really take a moral stance about impregnating young Aryan women, or stealing children from Poland, then letting German families adopt them. The moral questions here are illustrated by 'bad' Germans and 'good' people. It's just too simplistic to fully illustrate what was going on in the Lebensborn program--the grief, the deception, the entitlement.
And honestly--we deserve a world-class novel about this program (which seems to have disappeared from public consciousness). Three stars. Nice try--no cigar.
To promote the growth of a desirable Aryan population, the Lebensborn program was created in late 1935. A group of homes were set up for pregnant German women to safely give birth to what Nazi authorities deemed as racially valuable children as well as to provide a means for young women to become impregnated by suitable German men. The quest for a German master-race is hauntingly fictionalized through the lives of three women in Cradles of the Reich.
In 1939 Gundi Schiller was unmarried and pregnant. As a member of the Edelweiss Pirates, a resistance group, she met and fell in love with Leo Solomon, a Jewish man, who was now missing. When she is told that she needs to enter the Lebensborn program at Heim Hochland, Gundi knows that she must protect the identity of her child's father. Single Hilde Kramer enters the program, thrilled that she is pregnant by the married and much older Obergruppenführer Werner Ziegler. She is proud to show her allegiance to the Reich. Irma Binz decides to take a position as a nurse at Heim Hochland after a life of disappointments. Unmarried and childless, she is excited to have the chance to support the women and their babies.
Through much research, author Jennifer Coburn has skillfully brought the Lebensborn program to the forefront. As with so many stories about WWII, this impactful book sheds a light on yet another dark and despicable aspect of this horrible period of history. Through historical fiction, a story of heroism and strength is told representing those who tried to make a difference amidst all the horror.
Many thanks to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read Cradles of the Reich before its publication. These types of stories are never easy to read yet they help us to never forget.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
In 1939 Gundi Schiller was unmarried and pregnant. As a member of the Edelweiss Pirates, a resistance group, she met and fell in love with Leo Solomon, a Jewish man, who was now missing. When she is told that she needs to enter the Lebensborn program at Heim Hochland, Gundi knows that she must protect the identity of her child's father. Single Hilde Kramer enters the program, thrilled that she is pregnant by the married and much older Obergruppenführer Werner Ziegler. She is proud to show her allegiance to the Reich. Irma Binz decides to take a position as a nurse at Heim Hochland after a life of disappointments. Unmarried and childless, she is excited to have the chance to support the women and their babies.
Through much research, author Jennifer Coburn has skillfully brought the Lebensborn program to the forefront. As with so many stories about WWII, this impactful book sheds a light on yet another dark and despicable aspect of this horrible period of history. Through historical fiction, a story of heroism and strength is told representing those who tried to make a difference amidst all the horror.
Many thanks to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read Cradles of the Reich before its publication. These types of stories are never easy to read yet they help us to never forget.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.