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.

This is a fictional account of the Lebensborn program in Nazi Germany. To create a master race, young “perfect” women were brought to homes to have babies with German officers. Unwed mothers also gave birth in such homes. If their babies fit the desired profile, they were adopted by Nazi supporters. Coburn tells the story of two of the mothers and a nurse at home. I had no idea that any such program existed. I found the book both fascinating and frightening. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Jennifer Coburn has written a compelling and frightening account of the Lebensborn Society inspired by actual events and people. The realistic characters demonstrate a diverse range of beliefs, from those supporting the German government program to those supporting the Resistance. I did feel the ending was rushed and lacked closure as to what happened to the main characters. Even so, it was a good read and I would recommend it. Thanks #NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark #JenniferCoburn

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

A solid 4 star read! This was a terrifying program and a difficult subject to read about. It is also one we must never forget about it.

“You, my dear, are perfection,” he said. “I have been waiting for a girl with your features since we started the program four years ago.”

Jennifer Coburn’s, ‘Cradles of the Reich’ is a well written and memorable novel depicting a disturbing aspect from the Nazi Regime. As the author states: ‘The Lebensborn Society, which translates to “Spring of Life” in English, existed in the same world as Nazi death camps. In its ten years, approximately thirty homes were in operation by the end of the war and had produced nearly twenty thousand children.’

This is an informative WWII historical fiction novel based on actual events. Through three distinct narratives, a complex tale is told about this Nazi breeding program. These contrasting viewpoints bring a unique and not well documented occurrence to light that some readers may not be familiar with. Jennifer has undertaken in-depth research to provide solid historical details told through both inspiring and unlikeable fictional characters. Through these viewpoints readers can witness how seemingly ordinary Germans justified events happening around them.

‘When she left Heim Hochland, she could tell the world about this secret breeding program. Surely, they would be disgusted and would intervene on behalf of these sexually exploited young women.’

The author's notes and personal insights at the conclusion are equally enlightening. This would make for a wonderful book club selection as it would be sure to generate much discussion. Recommended for readers of historical, WWII and even women’s fiction, as the author states: ‘Cradles of the Reich covers a dark period of history, but I hope readers will be heartened by how the connections women forge can carry us through the most harrowing of times and sometimes even drive us to act with heroism we hadn’t realized we were capable of.’

“I don’t think …” Gundi began. “No, you don’t.” Dr. Ebner chuckled. “Which is exactly how you got yourself into this situation.”








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This one is about a Nazi breeding home. It intertwines the stories of three very different women and their connections to the breeding home. Gundi is pregnant and secretly a member of the resistance. Hilde is a true believer in Hitler’s cause and thrilled to carry an Aryan baby. Irma is a nurse who is just trying to make a living after some personal losses.

The author does a fantastic job of differentiating between these three very unique and individual characters. This is a great piece of women’s fiction - embracing the strength of women and their relationships.

At Heim Hochland, a Nazi breeding home in Bavaria, three women's fates are irrevocably intertwined. 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. All three have everything to lose.

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. Even amongst this depravity, the connections women forge can carry us through, even driving us to heroism we didn't know we had within us.

Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn is my first book by this author. First let me say that I totally enjoy Historical Fiction because I come away learning about something that I knew little about or did not know anything about before. The book is told from several points of view.
I felt that this book has been thoroughly researched. It is abundantly clear that Ms. Coburn had to really do her homework for this book. Ms. Coburn is an excellent writer. Her plot is original and she creates a story with depth and interest. This novel takes place in WWII Germany. I knew a bit about Hilter believing in and creating an Aryan society but I had absolutely no knowledge of the Lebensborn Society. It was a program paid for by the Third Reich that screened unwed mothers for their skin, eye color and ‘Aryaness’. If they met the criteria, they would be taken care of completely while having the best maternity care, the best living conditions and the best food. The unwed mothers are living in mansions throughout Germany. The one in this story is named Heim Hochland.
I knew nothing about these homes let alone how prevalent they were throughout Germany. As part of Hitler’s development of a master race these babies would be taken away from their birth mother and they were then adopted by approved German Families. Some young women who were ‘ideal’ Aryan specimens were brought to these homes and were basically whores who were impregnated by German soldiers. The Lebensborn Homes had a dual purpose. It acted like a Brothel and an unwed mother’s home. The sole purpose of the Lebensborn Society was to have a child for Hitler.
It was a true learning opportunity to delve into the Lebensborn Society. As bazaar as the Nazi mentality was, this was just astonishing. There were so many Germans willing to help the Lebensborn Society in one way or another. Part of the Lebensborn Society gave awards to mother’s who raised four or more children for the Reich.
The character’s were well done. Some were deep and others not so much. I will say that there was a decent amount of characters to keep track of. If you are a Historical Fiction fan and love to learn about lesser known things that occurred during that time period, you will enjoy this book. Well done.
I would like to thank Ms. Coburn, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love historical fiction and learning about something I didn’t know about before. This book is told from the fictional view points of three women during WWII but is based on true events of what happened at the Lebensborn Society. Women gave birth to babies who were mostly adopted by German families, all for building the German race for Hitler.

In the story, we follow Hilde who is a Hilter girl having an affair with a high ranking official. She finds herself at the breeding home, Heim Hochland, pregnant and excited. Gundi is a young beautiful girl pregnant by her Jewish boyfriend. She is terrified of what will happen if her secret is found out. Irma is a 42 year old nurse at the home who has lost a live and is trying to do the right thing. She starts to discover secrets about how things are done at the home.

I enjoyed the characters and was horrified to learn girls in the home were there to have sex with the soldiers and birth children to be put up for adoption. Some babies were stolen and then adopted by German families who were given awards for raising 4 or more children for the Reich. 🤯 I think the ending was a bit abrupt and would love to know more about the girls stories and how they ended up after the war.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for the arc for an honest review.

This one was an interesting story with multiple POVs that eventually converged into one set location where the characters overlapped. However this one felt a little lopsided with the character development. Thankfully the character I cared most about got the most airtime, but I felt like the novel might have been more cohesive if it didn’t try to focus on multiple characters. Additionally I would’ve liked a bit more closure with some of the characters than I received. I learned a lot about the society and history, which is something I really appreciate about most historical fiction books including this one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review in exchange for this ARC!

A chilling fascinating novel that I couldn't put down. This book is a excellently researched, and it is clear that Jennifer Coburn is a scrupulous historian alongside her authorship. Wonderful, captivating writing and original plot gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. It is an excellent addition to the growing WWII genre that deals with the lesser known Lebensborn program. I highly recommend this - it was nothing less than fantastic. I can't wait to own this novel in print.

This was a good historical novel, in that it gives many points of reference and tells the story from multiple points of view. It also addresses a part of history that has not been written about to my knowledge. I enjoyed the writing and the characters, and despite the fact that the characters were primarily women, they showed strength in different ways and for different reasons