A haunting and original story about the Lebensborn Society maternity homes that were operated by the Nazis during WWII. The author takes the historical fact that homes were operated by the top echelon of the Nazi party to help create a superior race and makes it feel real. While the characters are fictional, their situations are not. However, the homes that that found themselves in were very much real but a still well-hidden secret historically.

The writing is superb. The characters multi-layered and intricate. At times the reader could empathize while feeling distaste for a character’s strength or flaw. The main characters come from different backgrounds with different experiences and attitudes. And yet, Jennifer Coburn can enrich them into being equally as important and interesting as the next. This is a perfect example of creative non-fiction masking as a fiction novel.


I received an ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Berlin, April 1939, unmarried Gundi Schiller discovers she is pregnant. Munich 1939, Hilde Kramer's family has an important dinner guest, Sr. Group Leader, Werner Ziegler. Frankfurt, 1939, Irma Binz breaks up with her fiance and is offered a new job. The three will ultimately meet at Ebersberg, the home of the Heim Hochland estate, Hitler's most prestigious maternity home for mothers to be. The estate is part of the Lebensborn Society where children and infants are adopted by high-level Nazi officer families and raised as a part of their families. The mothers-to- be are fed and nutured with the best of everything until their babies are born. Only the purest of children are set out for adoption. All three women, along with their nurses, eventually learn what happens in these homes and make plans for the future. If you are a fan of the WWII fiction genre, you will love this one. Heavily researched, it is full of authentic and interesting details. Though fascinating in most aspects, I found the ending unexpected , weak and disappointing. The Author's Note at the end makes up for any limitations as she details her research and basis for the story. I was intrugued with the story. I received this ARC in exchange for my opinion. Publish date was 10/11/22. I recommend it.

Cradles of the Reich was a fascinating novel to read. Based on historical events I have never heard of before. I could not put it down. I will most definitely be reading more by Jennifer Coburn in the future. I loved it this one. Five stars.

What an great story! I really hope Jennifer Coburn writes a sequel to this book. If anyone needs a book club book next month please consider this! Thank you NetGalley for sending an arc in return for my honest opinion.

Cradles of the Reich is a historical novel set in Nazi Germany in early WWII. It primarily follows 3 women who wind up at the Lebensborn Society maternity homes - something straight out of the Handmaid's Tale where Aryan women give birth to Nazi babies. There are a lot of horrifying parts of this book. But the characters were likable and well written, or not likable and still good to read! This was definitely an aspect of Nazi Germany I knew nothing about, and the book included a really helpful author's note. I want to learn more about this and was glad this book brought it to light.

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 is the story of the breeding program of the Aryan Race, and what happened to the participants.

I found it difficult to read this book, not because it was not well written--it was! But because it gave names and faces through its characters to atrocities that I knew about, but not in such a personal way. That human beings could treat others in the way the Third Reich treated not only their enemies, but their own women devastated me. The description of the horror of Kristallnacht, which always sickened me, was almost of a celebration... a party! and I'm sure those who participated felt that they were doing the right thing.
It is too reminiscent of current events, and I found myself having to take breaks. Fiction helps us understand reality, and this one broke my heart.
Four stars only because there are so many WW2 books. I kept thinking...those poor girls. Those poor babies, Poor humanity. If you want yet another perspective of that awful time, read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. Publication October 11, 2022, by Sourcebooks Landmark.

3.5 Stars
* * * 1/2
This brings to life the horror of what the true desire of Nazi war room wanted, perfect cleansed Germans that could only be bred by the Correct People. This story shows all of this and what is very sad is it is based on real places that actually existed.

🎉🎉🎉Happy Pub Day to Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn 🎉🎉🎉

Historical fiction fans this book is for you. This book followed three woman who lived in a nazi breeding home in Bavaria and shows us how strong women friendships can be even in the midst of terrifying life events.

I enjoyed this book as it once again proved that even though there are so many books set during World War II, Coburn was able to shed light on something I hadn’t heard about before.

Thank you @jennifercoburnbooks and @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to the publisher and the author for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. This if my first novel by this author and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The subject matter was fascinating to me. I know there are a lot of books set during WWII, but I have to say I really enjoy reading the stories about the German citizens living during this horrible time period. This was one of my favorite parts of the book, was getting to see the different perspectives from three different women in three different positions. Despite how cruel and awful it was, I actually really enjoyed reading from Hilde's perspective, I thougth Coburn did a good job of trying to get the reader to see what was going through the minds of someone who was pro-Nazi party. I actually wish we could have had one more chapter regarding Hilde's story and what she ended up doing in the end. I did also really enjoy reading about Gundi's and Irma's chapters, the last couple of chapters had me on the edge of my seat I actually stayed up way too late to finish the book.

I also enjoyed reading about the research that the author did and what inspired her to write about the Lebenborn program in the first place. Again it kept me away even until the wee hours of the night.

Oh, what a story. I have read many works of fiction based on true historic events during World War Two. This is one of the disturbing sideline activities undertaken by the Nazi regime during their drive to dehumanize certain peoples, especially the Jews and create their own self-aggrandized superior race.
Author Jennifer Coburn takes us into the secretive Lebensborn Society with well-researched material and true tidbits along with historical figures documented as taking part in the true but unbelievable things that went on. Young German women, pregnant, engaged or unmarried, who were deemed perfect to mother the Aryan race were cajoled, tricked or forced to have liaisons with SS officers to produce racially fit babies to be adopted by German families to be raised in a certain way. These young women, some high school age, were housed in special compounds with all the amenities and an abundance of foods to nurture a healthy pregnancy.
Gundi is a beautiful college student, and a member of a secret Nazi resistance group is pregnant. Her story is intense and being unwed and pregnant is just the beginning as she is caught in the Society's web. Hilde is a naive eighteen-year-old high school student who is a devotee who intends to climb the ladder as a Nazi woman. She pushes forward to mete her goals totally blinded to what she is stepping into. Irma is a nurse who is having problems in her personal life and desperately switches her career to work with the Society and be a caregiver for pregnant women. Coburn weaves a very well written story that is a good representation of what happened and how these women could easily be caught up in the madness. In some ways this is a hard story to read but anyone who is trying to understand how such atrocities could ever take place, here is another fictionalized account of what may have been on a personal level.
I received an advanced readers' copy of the book from the author, publisher and NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited opinion of this intense story. It is a good read with historical accuracy. It caused me to think about these girls, the babies, the kidnapped babies and what kind of life they endured. I can't help but wonder if the author will choose to carry the stories further with these characters. I would find it very interesting. Definitely a solid five of five.

MY THOUGHTS

This book is a very compelling read. Set in Germany at the start of the second world war. There is a lot of history here that I'm glad I read about. It's not pretty or sugar coated but it is important. This is the story of some young women and what they did during this awful time. Some were not so good. Some were in my opinion heroes. In many ways this book reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale. Not that they are the same in any way but that men used women for their lusts and to make babies. What they would call "perfect babies." There is no such thing except in our minds as mothers. Of course our babies are perfect. But that is a different kind of perfect. Hitler wanted to create the perfect world. With only the best of the best. Even though he had dark hair and had a deformity himself. He wanted and tried to create a world that would never exist. So be careful what you wish for. Be careful who you trust. Even now things can go bad in a heartbeat. Don't you think these people. The Jewish people thought they were safe. That nothing like this could ever happen to them. It did and again it could happen to anyone if we don't keep remembering and stop things before it does.

This book is about three young ladies. Two young pregnant and one who was a nurse. Their story will touch your heart. It will make you cry. Make you stop and think about life. It should make you appreciate that you have such freedoms. The right to live your life in a free nation. Not be a, well basically a call girl for Nazi soldiers. Not a baby making machine for the perfect world. Freedom to love who you want no matter their race, religion, color, religious beliefs. True freedom. These three women were not given that. Two took it. Two decided to make a life. To have a life. To help the Jewish people in their plight. One was a bit selfish in my opinion. She only seemed to care about herself and what she wanted. She was a bit cold and uncaring. She was all in for the Nazi party and doing whatever it took to make her happy. Even at the expense of others.

This book is very well written and researched. If you read the "author's note" you will learn a lot more. How she came to write this book. Where she got her information from. Who she talked to. Who these people really were. It's very interesting so please read that part too. This book made my skin crawl in many parts. Made me weep in many also. What they did to children was unbelievable. To imperfect children. What they did to these women was horrible. Even if the girls agreed to sleep with these Nazis you know it was not truly a choice for most. Do this or lose your whole family. To think of all the children who were orphaned. Their families murdered so they could take these children and let them be adopted. The children from Poland. The families that were sent to the camps and ended up dying. It's horrible to think about but don't forget that it really did happen. It is a fact.

Thank you #NetGalley, #JenniferCoburn, #SourceBooksLandmark for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

5 stars and a high recommendation.

I’ve enjoyed numerous historical fiction novels about Germany and the Holocaust, but until reading this new novel by Jennifer Coburn, I wasn't aware of the Nazi breeding homes. The author gives a personal glimpse into the lives of three women who find themselves in residence at one, all for different reasons. If the women pass the Nazi standard of good breed, and if their baby’s father is of the same high caliber, they are coerced to live in the breeding home. What they don’t realize, in most cases, whether they want to keep their baby or not, the baby will be given to families of the Nazi hierarchy. The ceremony for this transfer is blood curdling and heartless for the new moms. And if the baby is born with the wrong shade of skin, eyes, or disproportionate nose, they are “disappeared”. The worst aspect of this home is how the girls are treated as concubines for Nazie soldiers. What better way to ensure the baby’s genetics?
This is an eye-opening and historically accurate book for readers interested in learning more about the horrors of the Nazi regime. Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Having read many historical fiction novels centered around WWII, this was different in so many ways. There was a lot of new-to-me information regarding the Lebensborn program that I have never heard of. I appreciate getting to learn about this program and what it's mission was. I must commend the author on her ability to delve into this murky past and get into the mindset of characters like Hilde. This may be the first I've read from a perspective of a Nazi supporter and it was informative and nauseating. Hilde was written in such a believable way that she hardly seemed fictional. I hated her and pitied her ignorance. I'm accustomed to HF being about characters and the conclusion being the conclusion of their journey. But this was different, as I've stated. While I wanted to know more about the characters I was comfortable with the ending being a full arc of the program and what it aims to accomplish from entering pregnant to leaving not pregnant. And the book gives a variety of what that may look like. There's also minor storylines about the other aspects of the Lebensborn program like placing "orphaned" children in German households and matching young German women to higher ranking SS for the purposes of procreation. This was not an easy read (I wouldn't consider any WWII HF easy) but I do think the subject matter is valuable. There's a lot to learn from this situation.

3.5 rounded down.
I wasn’t aware of this secret Nazi Program and it was fascinating/awful to read about. This reminded me of The Foundling/Ann Leary in the was that it was compulsively readable but often had me rolling my eyes (esp one scene involving a pubic hair). I agree that it ends rather abruptly - but if it didn’t it could’ve gone on for hundreds of pages, so much story left for those 3 women.

From my blog: Always With a Book

For as much historical fiction as I read set during WWII, I feel I am always learning something new and that is certainly the case here with Jennifer Coburn’s latest novel. This is a harrowing, emotional story based on historical events that make is all the more disturbing.

Told from the points of view of three women, this story is quite powerful, and I found myself totally absorbed by the events that took place in this book. I had never heard of the Lebensborn Society prior to reading this book, so you know that sent me down a rabbit hole of research once I finished and I greatly appreciated the author’s note at the end. This is definitely a book that will have you feeling a range of emotions – and not all positive.

This is a powerful, challenging read. It really makes you wonder what made the Nazis believe they had the right to start this type of program in the first place. It’s disturbing but also quite enlightening and the clearly did her research and was able to deliver a story that I know will stay with me for quite some time.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 3,5/5
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Historical Fiction WW2

So sorry it took so long to post my review, but real life, work and Covid got in the way!

I sincerely thank @jennifercoburnauthor and #netgalley for sending me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. We read it as a buddy read and were really excited to learn some facts about the Lebensborn programme that was set up by the Nazis during WWII. An institution so notorious that it was portrayed as the flagship of the Third Reich! In reality it was a breeding programme where the perfect unmarried Aryan girl was impregnated and then after giving birth, gave the child up for adoption. It was really shocking to think that these women agreed to all this without realizing how they were being used. And even more shocking that they were proud of it. It is really scary to see how far a brainwashed society can go.

The story revolves around three young women who for some reason all end up in the Institution Heim Hochland in the Bavarian Alps. Hilde, an idealistic and somewhat foolish girl who believes her pregnancy will propel her into the high ranks of Nazi society. Then there's Irma, who I particularly liked, a 40-year-old nurse who thought she was doing something good but ended up as shocked as the reader by what was going on. And then Gundi, the perfect Aryan blonde who was expecting a child from her Jewish lover.

While I enjoyed reading about the Lebensborn programme (which, by the way, was mentioned in Man in the High Castle - I loved that show), I think the writing could have been improved. Some sentences were a bit awkward to read and perhaps a bit too descriptive. I would also have liked to know what happened to some of the people we heard about but ended up not being mentioned again.

I'm a huge fan of reading about the unseen heroes of WWII even though it brings out the horrors of the war as well. The horrors Gundi, Hilde and Irma experienced at the hands of the Germans in the hopes to create the "perfect race" is horrific. It is clear that Jennifer Coburn did a lot of research in writing this book which I can appreciate. Unfortunately, the story didn't totally work for me and I found parts to be choppy. There was a bit of a time jump at the end which made the ending seemed rushed.

This is one of the best historical fiction books I have read in a long time. Not only was the storyline amazing, I was also educated on a project that I never new existed. The story follows three German women, in WWII, and their experience at a breeding facility for the Reich. All three women have different views and stories, yet they all fit together nicely. I feel like the book ended on a cliffhanger and definitely wanted at least another 50 pages to find out the fate of the women. An enjoyable and very eye opening read, especially with the times we live in.

One of the reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction is the educational part. Not that I don't love a good story but when mixed with some unknown pieces of the past just provides double the pleasure. Cradles of the Reich is one of those books that took me by surprise in the educational department. I know I shouldn't be surprised as to the things that took place during WW2 but this Nazi breeding home was something I knew nothing about.

Cradles is the story of 3 women who meet at one of these home that are part of the Lebensborn Society. While each of them are unique in their backgrounds and purposes that bringing them together I did struggle to connect. The tension I craved just wasn't enough to feel an emotions for them. The ending felt abrupt and left me with questions and not enough closure.

It was obvious the author has done her research and has a passion for this time period and story. With the gorgeous cover, enticing blurb and social media buzz I was hoping for a captivating story. Like I said the social media buzz is strong, which makes this a'me' issue.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.