Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn

A Four-Star Book Review

As I’ve shared before, historical fiction is one of my most-loved genres, especially when I learned something. In the case of today’s book, Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn, I learned about a silenced part of the Nazis’ despicable, evil actions with Germany. This book was powerful because of its subject matter, and while not perfect, it will be one that I will think about for a long time.

Summary of Cradles of the Reich (No Spoilers)

Cradles of the Reich is set in late 1930s Germany and told from three women’s points of view. Because of different situations and choices, Gundi, Irma, and Hilde arrive at Helm Hochland, what they are told is a home for expectant mothers and a training school for girls planning to be wives. Soon, as the women’s experiences progress, they learn that Helm Hochland is more than that. It is part of the Nazi breeding program designed by Heinrich Himmler to advance the evil, reprehensible regime.

What I Enjoyed about Cradles of the Reich

Ms. Coburn explains that the Nazi breeding program was kept secret for many years. While I knew about the eugenics activities Nazis forced on Jews, I was not aware that Nazis would seek out young women who represented the “true Aryan blood” to create a “master race” (vomit). As this time period and the atrocities that happened therein are a most intriguing period of history for me, I really enjoyed learning about what happened, and I appreciated how Ms. Coburn explained that her main characters were based on real people or amalgams of them.

I enjoyed the characters’ evolutions as well. Gundi was my favorite main character as she seemed the most innocent from the beginning and had a true, kind heart. Pregnant when she arrived at Helm Hochland, Gundi quickly observed that something was wrong. She was the most aware of what evil acts Nazis were committing already, and that awareness impacted every action. Irma was my second character. She is indifferent to the Nazis takeover and the plight of the Jews, and she is a very selfish person at the beginning of the novel but slowly developed a deeper, more empathetic view. However, Hilde is a deeply flawed main character because of her actions and motivation, and I didn’t sympathize with her plight. She blindly follows the Nazis because she believes it could advance her own status. I can’t give spoilers for any of these characters’ resolutions, but I think Ms. Coburn did a good job.

What I Wish Was Different about Cradles of the Reich

I caught some inconsistencies and editing misses in the book. While not too massive, I did find them distracting.

My Final Thoughts about Cradle of the Reich

I read Cradles of the Reich in 24 hours, so if you’re looking for a fast-paced historical fiction novel about a hidden part of history, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.