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Cradles of the Reich


Three women, a nation seduced by a madman, and the Nazi breeding program to ...
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If you were in Gundi's would you be able to keep your secret? Would you look for a way to help Leo?

Created: 10/13/22

Replies: 13

Posted Oct. 13, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

If you were in Gundi's would you be able to keep your secret? Would you look for a way to help Leo?

Put yourself in Gundi's shoes when she learns that the father of her child has been sent to a labor camp. Would you be able to keep your secret? Would you look for a way to help Leo?


Posted Oct. 14, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 1160

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

I'm not a very good secret keeper in general, so I doubt I would be able to keep myself from confiding in someone.

I'm not sure Gundi (or anyone in her position) could have done much to help Leo. Her pregnancy would have made it hard for her to do much, I'd think, and once the baby was born both she and the child would have been in extreme danger.


Posted Oct. 14, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 251

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

I think Gundi realized the danger to her child and would have done anything to protect it, especially after she learned Leo was sent to a camp. I doubt if she knew the extent of the danger Leo was experiencing, as such things were not widely known in the general population.


Posted Oct. 15, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carolt

Join Date: 03/25/17

Posts: 190

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

Yes, I think I could keep this secret. Her life and the child's life depended on it.


Posted Oct. 15, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susanr

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 222

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

She had to keep her secret - the life of her child depended on it.


Posted Oct. 16, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lindac

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 33

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

As hard as it must have been, she knew her life and the life of the child were at stake. She had experienced the power of Hitler when she was caught and brought to the home. I think she knew she was helpless to save Leo and his family, but don’t think she had any idea of the extent of the fate that awaited them.


Posted Oct. 16, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lauriz

Join Date: 09/09/20

Posts: 15

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

Absolutely 100%. While I can appreciate this question for discussion purposes I can’t imagine there would even be a question. As others have said- it was a life or death decision.


Posted Oct. 19, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Kari J

Join Date: 09/21/21

Posts: 22

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

I probably would've confided in Irma sooner than she did b/c I would have been so scared. I trust too easily most often, and therefore mistake kindness for trustworthiness.


Posted Oct. 20, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliep

Join Date: 04/07/12

Posts: 265

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

I think Gundi knew that the Germans were ruthless in their pursuit and punishment of Jews or anyone helping them. In order to save her baby’s life and protect Leo, she had to keep her secret, no choice involved. And I think most women, myself included, would act the same, except fortunately we have not been subjected to such conditions.


Posted Oct. 22, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
RRO

Join Date: 07/18/11

Posts: 51

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

Yes, absolutely in a life or death. However, if torture became involved (which it didn't here but was a realistic threat in Nazi Germany), I don't know if I could have kept the secret then.


Posted Oct. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mceacd

Join Date: 07/03/18

Posts: 147

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

Gundi had little choice but to keep her secret, particularly when she discovered Leo’s fate. Considering the circumstances, trying help Leo would have put her in even more danger until she’d escaped to Switzerland. She would have certainly tried to find a way to help, but I also think she was not aware of just how dangerous it was. I think I would have focused on raising his child rathe than risk losing her as well.


Posted Nov. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
caroln

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 135

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

What choice did she have? Knowing Leo's fate, she had little choice, her only hope was that her genes were the stronger of the two. Her escaping to Switzerland was her only hope for survival; her daughter was the only part of Leo is had left in her life. Her job was to protect her. I liked to think I could be strong enough to do the same if I were in her shoes.


Posted Nov. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gvieth

Join Date: 02/26/21

Posts: 72

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

I think I would be able to keep the secret since my child’s (& my) life depended on it but it would be very difficult not to try to find a way to help Leo.


Posted Nov. 02, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marks

Join Date: 02/25/19

Posts: 124

RE: If you were in Gundi's would ...

She really did not have a choice. I would have wanted to help if possible, but the desire to protect my child would have probably been my focus if I were in her shoes.


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