Did you learn anything new from the book, and if so, what? What surprised you?

Did you learn anything new from the book, and if so, what? What surprised you?

Despite having read many books of this genre, I knew nothing of Lebensborn Society. Now I'm obsessed with researching and learning more!

I had not heard of Lebensborn. My idea of eugenics prior to reading this book was the killing off of people the Nazi party saw as undesirable. I had not heard of trying to produce more of themselves. And how they saw that as an attractive thing totally amazes me, as they were clearly a immoral and degenerate bunch of people.

I had never heard of Lebensborn. I googled it while reading the book - it was another horrific thing related to Nazism.

I read a lot of books set in this time period and had never read about Lebensborn.

I thought I had read or knew about “everything” around World War II, Nazi Germany, Europe during that time period…..but I did not know anything about the Nazi Breeding program, the Lebensborn Maternity homes…..
This book was an eye opener on many levels……well researched and written with the reader in mind.

I did not know about this project so learned a great deal. Frightening that these women were easily brainwashed and didn't understand they were really in a brothel. To live like that and then have your baby stolen, I can't imagine the horror and heartbreak.

I found this to be a good historical fiction novel, and I don't feel I was surprised by anything included within the story.

Like others in this thread, I read this genre all the time and had never heard of Lebensborn. In fact, it was only recently I read in another book about German families being rewarded for having large families. Often this genre deals with those who were in the Resistance. There are always more sides to a story.

No, but despite reading a lot of WWII historical fiction, I have not seen Lebensborn developed before and that is definitely a plus.

I think I knew of the Germans attempting to produce, or reproduce, the perfect German children, but I didn’t know specifically about the Lebensborn Society. I also hadn’t really read about getting German mothers to adopt more children, specifically the children of those who had died at the hands of Nazis. I had never heard of the award given to German mothers who had more than four children. All of that was horrifying.

I had heard of the Lebensborn Society, but I did not know any details except for a generic understanding. I knew they were trying to create a Master Race by eliminating less perfect humans and by selecting perfect partners to procreate. But the incredible details of their depravity in accomplishing their goal was shocking. The more I have learned about the Third Reich, the more I am convinced we must never allow this kind of society again. Yet I fear some of it may be starting, perhaps more than starting. Don't think of me as a conspiracy theorist, or alarmist. I am not. However, the Third Reich did exist, the depravity of their institutions existed and much we probably will never now. Therefore, I believe it's possible that there are societies existing today with many similar behaviors.

The most frightening part of Lebensborn is their rationale that they could create a perfect society through breeding, allowing them to eliminate those less than perfect. How far down the line would this thinking carry them? How many people would die?

I had no idea the Lebensborn existed. I found the entire concept to be fascinating - not only did the house expectant mothers who were unwed or putting their babies up for adoption, but they also essentially served as breeding facilities by having young, unmarried women who would sleep with visiting soldiers live there as well.

I have read many historical fiction books about WW11, but this is the first book I have read about Lebensborn. I was aware of the Nazi eugenics, but never the Lebensborn program.

I have read several historical fiction novel covering WWII and the Nazi party. I was not aware of the Lebensborn Program that housed expectant unwed mothers that provided children to populate Hitler's Master Race.

As with many others who read this book, I was not aware of the Lebensborn Program. I was revolted by the concept and horrified that so many women got sucked into this program with gifts and promises.

The whole concept of the Lebensborn program was new to me - I was most surprised that they actually kept young girls there to get pregnant or just have sex with the German soldiers.

As many others have pointed out, I knew nothing of the Lebensborn Society. I, too, have been reading a lot of historical fiction, and this is what I enjoy most about books like this. Just reading the author's note at the end made me appreciate how much research was involved in crafting this book. The historical accuracy of the story also serves as a chilling reminder of what life must have been like for so many people back then. I couldn't read the final chapters fast enough!

I was aware of the Nazi's desire to create a "master" race through women giving birth to Arian babies. I was not aware of the awful process they used to acquire these babies. I felt close to these babies since I am of the same age group. What have their lives been like? Do they carry this knowledge with them and throughout their lives? It chilled me.