Cradles of the Reich - Jennifer Coburn

 Cradles of the Reich - Jennifer Coburn

She read

The Lebensborn Society in Nazi Germany was established as part of their eugenics program to increase the population of “racially pure” Aryan babies. Cradles of the Reich tells the story of one of their maternity homes through the eyes of three fictional women. The pregnant Gundi is the prototype for Aryan beauty…attractive, blond, blue eyed…but she harbors a secret. Hilde strives to be the perfect Nazi loyalist all the while promoting her own self interests.  Irma, older and childless, is a nurse at the home.

Many of the horrors of life in the Reich are here.  The children’s books that taught hatred of the Jews.  The destruction of Kristallnacht followed by fines placed upon Jews for “causing” it.  The kidnapping of babies.  The euthanasia program for children with disabilities. The work camps. With all this occurring, pure Aryan women were being taught how to manage the home, raise their children, and tend to their husbands.  

This is a fast, engrossing read.  The ending is a bit abrupt.  I would have liked to have known the rest of the stories of these three women. I really would have liked an epilogue.  Perhaps there will be a sequel?

Do read the author’s notes at the end discussing the historical research and accuracy of the book.

There are a lot of World War II era historical fiction stories; I like to find those with varying  foci.  What they all have in common, though, is that I see them as warnings for our time.  We need to never forget man’s inhumanity to man and atrocities committed in the name of hate. We need to be sensitive to the dangers of cult like figures, hatred, and how easy it is for the unthinkable to become reality or a nation to be led astray.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #sourcebooksLandmark for the ARC.

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