Cradles of the Reich [J0255]

2023 - PB in Gift-Worthy condition. For fans of The Nightingale and The Handmaid's Tale , Cradles of the Reich uncovers a topic rarely explored in the Lebensborn project, a Nazi breeding program to create a so-called master race. Through thorough research and with deep empathy, this chilling historical novel goes inside one of the Lebensborn Society maternity homes that 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. At the Heim Hochland maternity home in Bavaria, three women's lives coverage as they find themselves there under very different circumstances. Gundi is a pregnant university student from Berlin. An Aryan beauty, she's secretly a member of a resistance group. Hilde, only eighteen, is a true believer in the cause and is thrilled to carry a Nazi official's child. And Irma, a 44-year-old nurse, is desperate to build a new life for herself after personal devastation. Despite their opposing beliefs, all three have everything to lose as they begin to realize they are trapped within Hitler's terrifying scheme to build a Nazi-Aryan nation. A cautionary tale for modern times told in stunning detail, Cradles of the Reich uncovers a little-known Nazi atrocity but also carries an uplifting reminder of the power of women to set aside differences and work together in solidarity in the face of oppression.

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "A unique read that shows the level of Nazi influence inside the youth. From a model youth to an unwed pregnancy with a Jew. From the friends who are willing to save you to the ones scared to cross the line...this book has it all."; "I loved how this book followed three different characters with different perspectives. The story was sobering to read dealing with very sensitive topics with tact and honesty."; "This book is a fascinating piece of historical fiction that takes the reader inside the Lebensborn Society maternity homes that actually existed during World War II. Written from the point of view of 3 women this book is a captivating read. "