The German Child

by Catherine Hokin

Berlin, 1944. ‘No! Not my child!’ Annaliese screams, her voice breaking as she pounds the window uselessly. But no-one looks up as the man in the SS uniform cradles her precious baby and strides away…

She lies unmoving on the threadbare cot, her throat hoarse from long hours of screaming but her tears keep falling. Her heart has been cleaved in two, now the Nazis have taken the only thing she has left – her child. She is utterly powerless against them. But as Annaliese cries herself to sleep, she makes a vow - she will find her precious baby again. Whatever it takes.

Berlin, 1979. Lawyer Evie has come to the city to investigate the horrifying stories of infants torn from their mothers during the war. One of the cases is Sebastian, whose yellowing birth certificate tells a heartbreaking tale. Evie is drawn to this lost man, and vows to do all that she can to help him.

But poring through old records, it is Evie who recognises the faded photo in a newspaper article. Her heart stops as she realises her whole life has been a devastating lie – and that her and Sebastian’s pasts are impossibly, unimaginably connected…

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Fiction, Historical, Germany, Holocaust

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2024

About the author

Welcome to my author page and my novels, including the Hanni Winter series which is the newest of the pack. I write books set primarily in Berlin, covering the period from 1933 up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and dealing with the long shadows left by war. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and this period really fascinates me. Writing about it also means that I get to spend a lot of time in Berlin, which is my second favourite city - my favourite is Buenos Aires.
I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. If I'm not at my desk you'll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.
I'd love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on twitter @cathokin

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult book to review…
During WW2, thousands of children were rounded up across Europe by the Nazis, but they did not all share the same fate. The Jewish children were quickly eliminated, because they were “vermin” to Hitler. “Imperfect” children also met untimely deaths. Many children, however, did fit the Aryan ideal with their blond hair, blue eyes, and 63 other qualifications used as a checkpoint. Some of these little ones were literally kidnapped from homes and parks by the Nazis and handed over to German families to raise, their biological parents never seeing them again. One woman in particular became known as, “The Death Angel”, because when she came around, children always disappeared. Mothers quickly learned to hide the young ones when this officious doctor was in town.
These terrible activities were all part of the German Lebensborn program. Proud followers of Hitler would stop at nothing to bring his ideals of a perfect Aryan world to fruition. But what happened to these Nazi zealots when Germany was defeated and the “thousand-year reign” came to nothing?..
Excellent historical fiction; a must-read for history buffs.

[linda hole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dual timeline germany during the 1940s. And mostly in the States during 1979 1980
Such a captivating and powerful book. It broke my heart. So horrendous and warped ideas people followed and executed. It scared me. I seriously cried for the Main characters. A must read book
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book and oh my word what a book

this book kept me riveted, even though this is an historical fiction you have to know that the the nazis did do some of this and its shocking in its extreme

the ultimate race, where hitler encouraged all of germany to have at least 4 children those with the right looks blonde and blue eyed and other attributes anything else was considered not good enough and were quietly sent else where.... even to the gas chambers

and this is the story of a doctor who led with that idea and looked for the right babies and placed them in the right families with all that entails....

evie is a lawyer and has just started a new job investigation war crimes, and its there that she meet sebastian who has a tale to tell about his birth and upbringing

together they discover some horrific news

what a storyline, so gripping and real and so shockingly absorbing i couldnt put it down....

[Robin Rashcovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, page turner
At least justice prevailed in the end

[Cindy Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartbreaking story! My mama heart was drawn to this while reading the description and I couldn’t wait to see how everything played out. It was so well written and my heart ached for every character. Another beloved WW2 novel!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply extraordinary! I can think of no other way to describe Catherine Hokin's latest book and I hope I have adequate skills to write a review that will do it justice. I was hooked before reaching the bottom of the first page until I finished the last with a satisfied sigh. Although I have read many books about World War II, this one bombarded me with new and horrifying information. It is part historical fiction and part high-octane thriller with characters to love and others so vile that they made me nauseous.

This novel touches on the development of the V-2 rockets, both the German scientists and the slave labor that built them. The larger part concerns the Nazi racial purity programs, including the Lebensborn homes and the widespread kidnapping of children with Aryan attributes in occupied countries. It also addresses the large number of Nazi scientists who were brought to the United States and given jobs, citizenship, and protection. Many lived happily and successfully in the segregated South which is a stomach-turning revelation. This is accomplished in a dual storyline where the World War II characters are insidiously connected to the 1980 characters. The plot is so tightly woven, tense, and fast-paced that at times I had to remind myself to breathe. As I've already said, The German Child is simply extraordinary and I am in awe of Catherine Hokin's talent. This is a book that will appeal to everyone and it was a privilege to read it.

I'm grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.

[Chris Surikow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book.
This is a dual timeline story of WWII and 1979/80.
Annaleise is a young pregnant woman and has just been kicked out of the family house. She is eventually housed in a Lebenborn house to wait the birth of her baby. The baby's father told Annaleise that when the baby is born they will be a family of three. Annaleise gives birth to a son who is then taken away from her and placed in the care of another family.

Fast forward to 1979/80 the 'lost' son Sebastian is now a man nearing forty. He has just lost his adoptive mother and has found out some shocking information about his birth.

Evie is a lawyer how is now working in the OSI office to hopefully reunite the Lebenborn children with their right families. Evie and Sebastian eventually go East Germany looking for answers. But what Evie finds out is their are skeletons in her own life.

These are my own opinions.

[Veronica Shaw]

A true page turner. Too many forgotten chidhoods.

A very realistic drama showing how ones parents may not be what they seem. A mother who presents no feelings of love towards a child. Her only love is her fatherland and her husband. Her evil knows no bounds. Will she destroy her own flesh and blood ? A story that keeps you captivated right to thee bitter end.

[Janie Hickok Siess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Catherine Hokin published her first novel in 2016, and has since penned eight more, including the four-volume Hanni Winter series. The stories she tells are mostly set in Berlin, Germany, from 1933 to the fall of the Berlin Wall, “dealing with the long shadows left by war.” That time period is “endlessly fascinating” and permits her to spend time in one of her favorite cities. A self-professed “history geek,” as was her father, she holds a degree in history. Originally from the North of England, she resides in Glasgow, Scotland.

Hokin says The German Child is a book she has long wanted to write, The story was inspired when, while researching a prior novel, she happened upon a photograph of the Brown Sisters – Nazi child catchers. They were a group of women who were specially trained by the Third Reich and then dispatched to Poland and other parts of Europe, rounding up the children in each city or town and subjecting them to a selection process. Those who possessed the sixty-two Aryan traits specified in a physical characteristics test were forcibly removed from their families and underwent Aryanization; those who did not were either murdered or transported to camps where they were forced to perform grueling physical labor and, eventually, many also died. Some 200,000 children were kidnapped in Poland alone. Following the war, less than twenty per cent of the surviving children were reunited with their families.

The Lebensborn initiative was part of a “racially-based program of social engineering designed to redraw the face of Europe,” the architect of which was Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler. It was his “personal project” and “an integral part of the Third Reich’s ‘racial purity crusade’ to rid the world of anyone who was not deemed “pure,” designed to repopulate it with “good” families. Pregnant young women, most of whom were unmarried and socially stigmatized, were recruited with promises of financial support and medical care. They resided in one of twenty-six facilities within which at least 17,000 children were born for the purpose of furthering Germany’s goal of “securing the ‘right’ genetic future for the Reich” and handed off to be raised by Germans deemed worthy.

As The German Child opens in December 1979, Evie Ritter, a seasoned thirty-five-year-old divorced attorney, has landed her dream job with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Special Investigations. In operation for a mere six weeks, the OSI’s mission is investigating suspected war crimes and prosecuting the perpetrators. Her workload is already overwhelming, as the OSI is inundated with requests for assistance, including from parents whose children were lost during the war and adults who suspect that the family histories they have heard their whole lives are works of fiction. Were they really born in America? Did their parents or other relatives commit or participate in wartime atrocities? Evie calls those seeking such assistance “the lost.”

Evie quickly becomes enmeshed in the case of Sebastian Taylor, a curator for the Smithsonian, when he appears in her office and announces, “I am a Lebensborn child. . . . I was born to be a soldier for Hitler, a leader of the Reich.” Sebastian produces a silver christening cup on which his birthday is engraved, along with “Vom Patenonkel, H. Himmler,” meaning “godfather.” In other words, he is Himmler’s godson. He explains that he has always known he was born in Germany, but believed that his father, with whom he had a loving relationship, “was one of the good ones.” On the very day his died, when Sebastian was just twelve years old, he learned that the cold, unkind woman he grew up believing was his mother was actually his stepmother and “I was my father’s Lebensborn bastard.” On that day, Sebastian became lost, with no understanding of his real identity. And he wants the OSI to help him find his birth mother because the “scale of the Lebensborn program, and what it really intended, is just starting to leak out.’ So, he argues, even though his quest is a decidedly personal one, the OSI’s resources can be devoted to finding the thousands of others “whose lives have been built on a lie.” Sebastian also believes that at least one of the Nazi women involved in the program may be living and working in the United States, based on a comment his stepmother made about a women’s health clinic: “So Himmler’s little pet talked herself in here too. . . . God help any of those mothers she gets near; she won’t let the wrong ones survive.”

A separate narrative relates the story of Helene Tellman, a beautiful and powerful child catcher who, with the Brown Sisters’ assistance, has achieved great success and earned the favor of the highest leaders in the Nazi party. She is a true believer, committed to “ridding Poland of the children who are no use to the Reich in order to make space for the German babies who will require its land and resources,” and proud of her ability to “ferret out a hidden Jewish child in a heartbeat” when terrified parents attempt to conceal their children from her. Most of the children she selects ultimately pass the physical characteristics test. And for the few who don’t, there is “plenty of space in the ovens for small bodies.” In fact, Helene brings two of Himmler’s mobile gas vans with her so that the children she targets can be “dead and buried before their mothers have time to miss them.” Helene’s duties also include supervising the birth and placement of the thousands of children born in the Lebensborn facilities.

Helene is a thirty-one-year-old physician and her 1943 wedding to Ulrich Reitter, a handsome rocket scientist working on the weapon the Nazis believe will enable them to win the war, is a public spectacle held at the stately and elegant Edel Hotel. Himmler, rather than her “too ordinary” father, walks her down the aisle and the union of the “ideal couple” is an important element of a propaganda campaign intended to convince Germans that the war effort is not floundering. For Helene, her marriage accomplishes two specific goals. It pleases her boss, who has pressured her to marry, and ensures her continued work. Although she has no desire to have children, it is expected. She and Ulrich are deeply in love and committed to each other, as well as their roles in the Third Reich. He agrees that they will have one child, rather than the four Himmler expects, and then get on with their lives, with Helene resolving to “pay other people to be what I won’t be to it.” But she gives birth “to a useless girl in a world which only values men,” and feels she has failed. She planned to produce a son, “a soldier for the Fuhrer. . . . She could have loved a boy,” but has no interest in her daughter and resumes her work immediately. But there is now a bounty on her head. She is a target of the resistance that calls her “Aniol Šmierci. The Angel of Death.” Which makes it more challenging to carry out her operations.

Worse, as the war drags on, it becomes increasingly clear that Germany is nearing defeat, and Ulrich and his fellow scientists have displeased Himmler with their failure to perfect the V2 rocket that the Nazis are banking on to secure victory. Ulrich is assigned to work at the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp where thousands of prisoners of war descend deep into the mines every day . . . but many of them never emerge. They are simply replaced with arriving trainloads of slaves. Inside the mountain, missiles are being constructed amid fourteen miles of tunnels. But Helene and Ulrich know that the end of the Third Reich is inevitable, and they are determined to evade prison cells or, worse, death sentences for having committed war crimes. Luckily for them, the United States is willing to offer deals to scientists with valuable knowledge and skills that will help defeat Russia in the race to space. Operation Paperclip is admitting elite rocket and atomic specialists into America, providing them new identities and jobs – and obliterating their criminal histories.

Evie, the child of Helen and Alex Ritter, the director of a women’s health clinic and a rocket scientist, grew up in a wealthy area of Birmingham, Alabama, a city known for its segregation policies. Helen is admired for her work in a clinic situated in a less affluent and diverse part of town that provides services to needy women and their children. Evie has always been led to believe that her parents “fled” Switzerland, a claim that never made sense to her because that country took no active part in the war and was spared from attacks. In their home, there are no family photographs, and Evie’s parents have consistently refused to discuss family history. Evie’s innocent inquiries exasperate her mother, who insists, “Everything’s been lost. Everyone who mattered is long gone. Can that please be an end to it?” Her whole life, her parents have been cold, detached, uninterested in her and, as a child, Evie longed to be admitted into their “two-person world” and showered with the love they displayed for each other. Instead, she was cared for by others. Her contact with her parents since leaving home seventeen years ago has been sporadic, and largely a function of duty and responsibility rather than affection.

When Evie’s boss authorizes her to pursue the search for Sebastian’s mother, she travels with him to East Berlin. It is a frightening, intimidating place and they are warned that the first official visit to the American Embassy by a representative of the OSI will be monitored carefully by the Stasi, the German Democratic Republic’s secret police who do, in fact, follow and observe them. Despite complications, the trip yields important – and shocking – evidence. Perusing documents in search of information about the Lebensborn program, Evie finds a newspaper dated February 20, 1943. A front page photograph bears the images of the top leaders of the Third Reich — Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, and Güring gaze proudly at a uniformed groom and his stunning bride. Even having grown up without seeing old photographs of her parents, Evie knows she is staring at a picture not of Helene Tillman and Ulrich Reitter, as they are identified in the caption, but of Helen and Alex Ritter.

When they meet, Evie and Sebastian are immediately drawn to each other. Both wounded not just from their respective upbringings, but also their painful divorces, they are cautious and tentative with each other. Sebastian is navigating an existential crisis, searching for his birth mother, and attempting to come to terms with the truth about the circumstances surrounding his conception and birth. He is striving to reconcile his discovery of his father’s true identity and affiliation with the Nazi party with his own self-concept. Is he worthy of love? Will he be accepted when others learn he is a Lebensborn child?

Unexpectedly, Evie finds herself in a comparable situation. Evie’s sense that her parents lied to her about their identities and backgrounds is validated, but that brings no satisfaction. The photograph confirms that they had to be highly placed within the leadership of the Third Reich, raising questions about their activities during the war. Did they commit war crimes? If so, the irony is both remarkable and deeply unsettling. Their own daughter is a member of a team of government officials charged with finding and bringing war criminals to justice. Was she really born in America? If she was born in Germany, she is not a United States citizen. What will that mean for the life she has created for herself — her career and, more particularly, her position at OSI?

Evie and Sebastian’s struggles are compelling fictional representations of the real experiences of Lebensborn victims. “For too many of the thousands of children born in the homes, life has been a constant battle to find answers and overcome prejudice,” according to Hokin. “In Norway in particular, where there were ten Lebensborn homes, the ‘children of shame’ have faced a long struggle for respect and rehabilitation.” Hokin believably demonstrates that Evie’s commitment to her beliefs, ideals, and profession are as solid and unshakable – integral to her core identity — as are Helene’s. They are both indomitable women . . . but opposite sides of the same coin. One is intent on carrying out a morally abhorrent and despicable agenda, and the other is determined to stop her.

The German Child is thoroughly researched, grounded in horrifying actual events and their aftermath. Hokin’s characters are credible, fully developed and, in the case of Evie and Sebastian, appropriately sympathetic. Helene, conversely, is the repulsive embodiment of evil. Through Evie and Sebastian, Hokin examines the far-reaching “long shadows left by war” that she, like other lovers of historical fiction, finds “endlessly fascinating.” The story is fast-paced and Hokin increases the dramatic tension as Evie, undaunted by the danger in which she places herself, pursues the whole unvarnished truth and seeks justice.

The German Child is a riveting, emotional tale through which Hokin challenges readers to ponder what they would do should they suddenly discover that everything they thought they knew about their family members’ history proved to be not just false, but shrouded in appalling crimes against humanity. Like Evie and Sebastian, Hokin invites readers to explore the extent to which one’s identity is derived from family and how much of one’s self-concept is independently formed by acquired beliefs and values.

Hokin writes that the myriad ways the Third Reich’s unspeakable policies “resulted in a Europe-wide and ongoing well of suffering, continues to take my breath away.” Her compassion for the characters she creates, and dedication to evoking a strong emotional response from her readers is evident on every page and completely successful. Absorbing and memorable, The German Child is a must-read volume for fans of World War II-era historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The German Child by Catherine Hokin is an emotionally devastating tale of the unthinkable cruelties perpetrated by the Nazi regime through the Lebensborn agenda. Designed to perpetuate the Aryan race, Himmler oversaw a program stealing “desirable” children and placing them with loyal Nazi families while eliminating “undesirable” children. At the heart of Lebensborn was a woman known as the Angel of Death.

Hokin’s fictional account tells the story through dual timelines. Set in WWII Europe and America in 1979, she blends historical events with intrigue and family drama to create a fast paced, impossible to put down novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sydney Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 (there was a title change prior to publication that threw me off a little bit)

A thrilling tale of family secrets that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page!

Evie grew up believing she was an immigrant from Europe immediately following WWII. But when she gets a job with a new department of the United States government trying to find Nazi’s in hiding she unlocks secrets her parents desperately tried to keep concealed. Evie’s parents were always emotionally unattached to her yet they lived for each other. They had careers in Europe during the war but they never disclosed just exactly what they were. When a trip to Germany uncovers a photo of her parents on their wedding day with several high ranking Nazi’s in attendance…her world is sent spinning. Who really were her parents? She makes it her mission to uncover the truth in this suspenseful tale of secrets and lies!

This story kept me engaged from cover to cover. I could not put it down. Evie is such a strong character who is the opposite of everything her parents stand for and she’s determined to reveal the truth…especially if it makes a difference in the lives of others who were affected by their unfathomable actions.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookoture and Catherine Hokin for allowing me to read this thrilling tale before it hits the shelves.

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annaliese could barely speak as her face is soaked with her tears. She is heartbroken after the Nazi’s have taken her child. She makes it her mission in life to find her baby. No matter what the cost, no matter how long, she will one day find her beautiful baby. Thirty-five years later Evie, a lawyer in Berlin, is investigating the stories of the children that were separated from their mothers during the war. She soon meets Sebastian, and he desperately needs her help. As she spends endless days and nights to find out anything she can about his case, she soon realizes that the face in the photo is oddly familiar to her.

The German Child written by Catherine Hokin is an inspiring and phenomenal story. This story literally broke my heart. This is a dual time line novel, and let me just say that Hokin pulls you into the reality of 1944 in Berlin. Then, she immediately propels you into present day. This was an unputdownable book for me, even though it was a tough topic to read. I was drawn into the story at the flip of the first page and I went through an entire box of Kleenex by the time I arrived at the last page. I felt inspired by the story and the people in the book gave me hope. I was cheering them on and I knew that the truth would prevail. This masterpiece of a story is one that I highly recommend.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The German Child by Catherine Hokin underwent a name change whilst I was reading it and I have to say I do think the new title is more suitable. In this story Catherine Hokin has created one of the most vile characters that I have read about in a long time and that’s saying something considering how much historical fiction I read set during World War Two. Helene is the character in question and my immense dislike, and I’ll go one step further and say my hatred of her just grew and grew with each turn of the page. The utter animosity, lack of contempt and sheer gall of her was incredible right from page one and this never let up until the final page. Even though she is a fictional character and I have finished the book I am still thinking about her and I know if there were to be a further book (which I know there won’t be as it was concluded very well with all ends being tied up) she would be there in the exact same state of mind and would be continuing on the way she had for the entire book. But who is Helene and what has she done?

A brief introduction is provided with the book opening in September 1941. The Nazi’s are in power and rule with a stern and brutal fist. Life runs on orders and punishments. Helene is a loyal party member who alongside her husband runs in Hitler’s close circle. Himmler is her boss and she assists with clearings -removing Jewish children and other young undesirables from their villages. Her reputation proceeds her and Polish villages are being decimated of their young population. She is a woman with no feelings at all. Instead she agrees with and is complicit in wanting Germany to be strong and proud again and purged of its antisocial elements in order to make the country a commander on the world stage. She loved making room for the children with value and removing those who did not meet the criteria and she was dogged in her determination to fulfil Hitler’s wishes carrying out the programme with relish. She did not possess one maternal instinct but fulfilled her duty by having one child in order to further the Aryan race. But to say that child was met with disgust and emotional cruelty would be an understatement.

As the story moves back and forth between the war years and 1980 Helene did not alter one bit in terms of her personality or her beliefs. There was no aspect of apology or seeking forgiveness or atonement and she could see nothing wrong in the role she played in the war. She maintained the same faced throughout and her only worry was that she would be caught and therefore be unable to continue the horrific work that she had begun during the war. Evil, hideous, malevolent and malicious are just a few of the words that I would use to sum her up. I felt at times we barely scratched the surface of what she was capable of and I don’t in anyway view this as a fault as the author had to keep everything balanced without giving too much away.I had not heard of the Lebensborn homes nor could have imagined what occurred there and I feel that Catherine Hokin has done a fantastic job of enlightening me on this aspect of the war which I had no previous knowledge of. So many children lost, stolen, kidnapped from innocent people and all to comply to the tyranny and madness of one man.

The homes are where the character of Annalise is introduced and when we meet her there is an air of innocence about her. That the home is providing a stop gap where she can have her baby in peace and comfort and no prying eyes will judge given that she is unmarried and pregnant by someone who she thinks will be there for her but in fact the complete opposite occurs. Annalise’s eyes are quickly opened once she gives birth and as the blurb suggest her baby is taken away from her which in turn sets the scene for another significant part of the plot to be created and explored. I did feel though that once the awful incident with Annalise occurred that she didn’t feature enough and when she did it was too brief and explanations were given too quickly. I would have loved a few more chapters from her perspective but again I understand there was a lot to cover and some aspects had to take precedence over others.

In 1980 in Washington we are introduced to Evie who works for the government and is part of a new section called the Office of Special Investigations who are tasked with investigating war crimes which had their origins in WW2. Evie and her boss Marty are completely overwhelmed with the scale of the task ahead of them but there is no better woman to investigate those who have slipped through the net and are perhaps hiding thinking the crimes they perpetrated during the war will remain a secret. Evie is one determined woman and it was so refreshing to have someone in a role of power where she could open many doors although one particular door leads to a whole maelstrom of emotions and things get a little too personal for her liking. Leading to Evie being placed in a very difficult position and one which I initially questioned would she be able to handle? Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place but she has power, might and strength and she knows that so many people and the deeper she delves that many lost children are depending on her to bring the people who escaped to justice in the hopes that they will pay for their crimes.

The story was moving along at an OK pace and I felt I was learning a lot about Evie but yet I wanted things to go back to the war years so I could learn a bit more about Helene and then bang all of a sudden with one discovery by Evie I was sitting up and everything was turned on its head. I thought oh my god how ingenious of the author and what an even bigger can of worms has now been opened up in which everything has to be revaluated and Evie has to tread very carefully indeed as everything she thought she knew was in fact false and a façade. I am being deliberately vague here as there is so much that could be said that would give away far too much of the plot and there are many layers which need to be uncovered before Evie will find the answers and justice that she seeks. But suffice to say my admiration and respect grew more and more for Evie the further the story developed although I will say her meeting with Sebastian who was a museum director well yes it provided another interesting angle to an already complicated tale that Evie found herself the centre of but for me Sebastian I could take or leave him. Yes, I did think it was brilliant how his story connected to the overall plot but I felt the romance side of things just came too quickly and to be honest I focused more on the bigger picture at play.

Is The German Child worth a read? Yes, definitely. It’s a real eye opener into an aspect of the war that deserves to be brought to the attention of many readers. It was very clever of the author to bind the past with the present and demonstrate how in many ways the concepts and the ideas and beliefs at the time of the war had not changed over 40 years later. There are complex characters that feature and certainly some you root for more so than others. This was a fantastic read which you will want to read in as few sittings as possible and Catherine Hokin has certainly done her subject matter and the thousands of innocent and lost children justice.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first learned about the Lebensborn program over thirty years ago. But it wasn’t until further research and reading that I realized they were also snatching children.
This story evokes heartbreak and rage. I liked the time era because it’s always refreshing to read when technology didn’t rule everyone’s lives.
Helene was just vile and I struggled to read her parts of the book.
The plot has much more depth than I anticipated.
Although historical fiction, it’s steeped in fact. How terrible that thousands of people never knew or will know their true heritage.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.

[Abigail Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a riveting read.
Many people risked their lives to protect art and books.
The Nazis destroyed and stole so many parts of peoples lives. The Nazi keep very detailed records but destroyed as much as they could at the end of the war.
Even today, pieces of art are found. But it could be difficult to reunite the art with original owners/family.
The saddest part of this book is the guilt felt. It is easy to carry guilt from our childhood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The German Child is the latest novel from historical fiction author Catherine Hokin.

The story is told through a dual-timeline narrative, switching between chapters set in the USA in 1979/80 and chapters set in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War Two (WW2). In 1979/80, we follow Washington-based lawyer Evie as she investigates the Nazi Lebensborn programme on behalf of the newly formed Office of Special Investigations (OSI). I do find the work of the OSI and the history surrounding the number of former Nazis and their collaborators who ended up in the United States after the war to be truly fascinating so it was great to see this explored through historical fiction. The chapters set in the 1940s then supplement the information we’ve learnt through Evie’s investigating, in particular exploring life in the Lebensborn homes and the work of the notorious Brown Sisters who searched through villages and towns in Nazi-occupied countries looking for Aryan-looking children to kidnap and place in the homes of loyal Nazis.

I want to split my review into two sections, one focusing on the 1979/1980 timeline and one focusing on the WW2 timeline as I have vastly different views on each one.
To start with I will discuss the WW2 timeline, which was by far my favourite part of the story. The history was clearly very well researched and the compelling writing really captures your emotions as a reader and takes you on a heart-wrenching journey. Catherine Hokin does writes antagonists incredibly well and the character of Helene was a truly vile piece of work who made my blood boil whenever she appeared. The opening chapters set in WW2 were really powerful and hooked me into the story so I was disappointed when this interest was lost as the story progressed, for reasons I’ll explore below.

Unfortunately, the 1979/1980 timeline really let the rest of the book down for me. The chapters were quite try and slowly paced and I found myself longing to be back in the WW2 timeline. Evie felt quite unlikeable as a protagonist unfortunately, and don’t get me started on her beyond infuriating behaviour when they visited East Germany. Within this part of the narrative, we have a blossoming romance between Evie and Sebastian and I will say that unfortunately this was not an aspect of the book I enjoyed. Their romance felt quite forced and out of place against the rest of the story which did mean that it at times felt like it was taking away from the rest of the narrative.

At the forefront of focus in this later timeline is a big ‘twist’ regarding the connection between Evie and Sebastian but I found this to be very predictable from very early on in the story, as were many of the other twists. I did find that having predicted it so early on meant that the shock factor which gripped other readers to the story just wasn’t there for me unfortunately. But I will say that based on other reviews I’ve read of The German Child I do seem to be in the minority here.

It felt a real shame that so much of the book focused on the 1979/1980 timeline as it would have been better to structure the book in a way which focused on the more interesting WW2 timeline with then supplementary chapters set in 1979/1980 as Evie completes her investigation. Focusing so heavily on the 1979/1980 timeline meant that certain aspects of the WW2 story also weren’t explored in the depth I was craving. This is particularly true with Annaliese’s story as, despite her being implied as a main character in the book synopsis and playing such a significant role in the plot, we do see very little from her.

It's been a while since I’ve read a book I’ve had such mixed feelings about and it has taken me a week or so to process my thoughts enough to determine a fitting star rating. I was incredibly torn as for me the WW2 timeline gave the book real 5* potential but the other chapters really tarnished this rating and reduced it to a 3* read.

That being said, I do think The German Child would be good for readers who like historical fiction but want something different to your typical Second World War fiction books and are interested in a read which is predominately set in the 1970s/80s.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching, emotional and dramatic, The German Child is the unforgettable new novel by master storyteller Catherine Hokin.

Berlin, 1944 and Annaliese’s worst nightmare has come true. Despite of her anguished pleas, the SS soldier has wrenched her child from her arms and taken her baby away. The Nazis had already taken everything from her and now they’ve taken the last thing she had left: her precious child. Annaliese is completely and utterly devastated, but she refuses to be cowed or defeated. She will get her child back if it’s the last thing she does. But will Annaliese ever be reunited with her precious baby? Or will there be further heartache and devastation ahead for her?

Berlin, 1979 and lawyer Evie has come to the German capital to investigate the shocking tale of infants torn from their mother’s arms during the war. Evie immediately finds herself drawn to one of the cases of a boy called Sebastian and as she hears more of his story, she vows to do everything she can to help him. However, as she delves into this tale of sorrow and pain, Evie is stunned when she makes the most earth-shattering discovery of all: her entire life was built on a lie and her past is linked to Sebastian’s in the most unimaginable and unexpected way.

Catherine Hokin always writes with flair, assurance and sensitivity and her historical novels always linger in the reader’s heart long after the last page is turned and The German Child is no different. A powerfully told and beautifully written tale about a mother’s love for her child, secrets from the past and their devastating consequences, readers will find themselves unable to tear themselves away from this first-rate page-turner.

A captivating historical novel from a very gifted writer, Catherine Hokin’s The German Child is sure to break every reader’s heart.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Children We Lost by Catherine Hokin is a powerful dual timeline novel that completely captivated me. It is horrendous, heart breaking and powerful.
The action is set during World War II in Berlin and also in 1979/1980 America. We see the dreadful exploits of the Angel of Death in Germany during the war, continue afterwards. Far from seeing what was done as war crimes, the Angel of Death is proud of her lifetime of horrendous crimes.
We see the power wielded as one chooses who lives and who dies, who is deemed worthy and who isn’t. First it was the Jewish people during World War II, then it was the African Americans in Alabama as the white supremacists supported the horrendous acts of prejudice and inequality.
The Lebensborn program of the Nazis robbed families of children, and children of their mothers. Blonde haired, blue-eyed boys were selected for the Nazis Fatherland. Girls were not valued so highly, being viewed only as good for breeding boys. The army of drab brown-uniformed sisters were selected to blend in as they stole children. They were meant to be unmemorable. The novel is grounded in fact as the brown sisters actually existed.
1970’s America sets up a new department determined to bring the guilty to justice, and to reunite the innocent with their birth mothers. Age old secrets come to life, illuminating the horror of it all.
The Children We Lost was a powerful read. It completely consumed me, it horrified me and it broke my heart for the mothers whose babies were quite literally ripped from their arms or stolen from under their noses. We must never forget.
I received a free copy from the publishers for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Victoria Baldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The German Child by Cathrine Hokin

Evie Ritter just started a new job at the Office of Special Investigation, a newly opened department that are trying to track down ex Nazis that have committed crimes against humanity. Evie is an only child and is not close to her parents. They have never been nurturing and never seemed to have time for her or showed her any love. At a work Christmas party in 1979 Evie meets Sabastian Taylor and there is an instant spark but they only get to exchange a few words.

Soon after Evie gets an urgent call from work on a Saturday morning, Sabastian urgently needs to see her and is waiting for her in reception, can she come right away. At first Evie is very flattered, thinking this is a romantic gesture but as soon as she arrives back at the office, she realises this is much more, Sabastian reveals to her that his father was a Nazi, his godfather is Himmler and he was born in a special children’s home as part of the Lebensborn Programme, the program that encouraged the Arian race to procreate and have as many strong Arian babies to build an army for the Third Reich while rejecting any child that does not look pure Arian.

Evie agrees to help Sabastian find his real mother but she does not realise how personal this assignment will become or the dark secrets her parents have hidden from her all her life.

I enjoyed this book very much. this book is written in two timelines; 1979/1980 and 1940’s.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review

[lana wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berlin, 1944. 'No! Not my child!' Annaliese screams, her voice breaking as she pounds the window uselessly. But no-one looks up as the man in the SS uniform cradles her precious baby and strides away...

She lies unmoving on the threadbare cot, her throat hoarse from long hours of screaming but her tears keep falling. Her heart has been cleaved in two, now the Nazis have taken the only thing she has left - her child. She is utterly powerless against them. But as Annaliese cries herself to sleep, she makes a vow - she will find her precious baby again. Whatever it takes.

Berlin, 1979.Lawyer Evie has come to the city to investigate the horrifying stories of infants torn from their mothers during the war. One of the cases is Sebastian, whose yellowing birth certificate tells a heartbreaking tale. Evie is drawn to this lost man, and vows to do all that she can to help him.

But poring through old records, it is Evie who recognises the faded photo in a newspaper article. Her heart stops as she realises her whole life has been a devastating lie - and that her and Sebastian's pasts are impossibly, unimaginably connected...

Fans of The Book of Lost Names and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will be swept away by this absolutely gripping and heartbreaking World War Two novel about the extraordinary power of a mother's love.

Readers love Catherine Hokin:

'The best historical fiction book I've read this year! I was awake until the early morning hours finishing it, because I could not put it down!... Heartbreaking.' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Monali · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔹My take: 4.5/5

🔸The German Child is a gripping story based on World War II. The story is about Evie, a lawyer who is working with Office of Special Investigations on children who have been separated from their families during Nazi reign. Sebastian is a victim of such separation and while helping him; Evie tumbles upon truth after truth that she never believed existed. Being a brave heart that she is; she keeps on moving ahead on the path of revelations thereby facing life threats, separation, heart break and loss of loved ones.

💖 Wows - With dual POV between present and WWII era; the story keeps on getting interesting with turn of pages. I learnt so much about Hitler and his plans on how he meant to rule the world. Not that I have read a lot of books on WWII but this was totally unexpected. The details shared about Lebensborn project that Hitler led was unnerving. The manner in which toddlers, infants, children - an entire generation was wiped out was gut wrenching. The independence struggle has broken so many families and spirits. The torture they had gone through is something we can’t even imagine. Such books make us feel grateful again as to how lucky we all are that we are born free.

💔 Ows - I lost the plot in mid somewhere when I was unable to connect all the people in WWII era but that would be my ignorance on the subject rather than the story pace. Also, I would have preferred a longer chase sequence in the end being a thriller lover since it really kept the suspense rising.

💫 Catherine Hokin is an expert storyteller and has written many books on WWII. After reading this one, I am tempted to pick up all of her books. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thanks to @cathokinauthor @bookouture and @netgalley for sharing the DRC in exchange for honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

I am a fan of historical fiction, especially books set during WW2 and having read some of this authors books before I began The Children we Lost with high expectations. This book had everything I hoped for and really hit the mark with me. I think the authors writing style is good - it is engaging, beautifully descriptive at times and I was immediately drawn into the story which grabbed and held onto my interest and attention all the way through. The dual time lines, the way the story moved from past to present times so easily, and the different country settings make for a very, very good and moreish read. I really liked Evie and Sebastian who became alive in my mind when reading. I hated one character and couldn't wait to see them be found out and face the consequences of their actions. I think the plot line is well thought out and the authors research shines throughout the story making this a very absorbing, compelling and yet heartbreaking read at times that just pulled at my emotions. This is one of the best WW2 historical fiction books I've read this year and one of those reads that will stay with me a while after finishing it. I loved everything about this book and can't fault it at all. If you enjoy WW2 historical fiction I'd definitely recommend this to you.

5 stars

[Su Thor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this book, I was taken from the comfort of 2024 living to the world of heartache, pain, love and courage against the dual backdrop of war-torn Berlin and 1979. The characters came alive in the opening pages of this story. How does a Mother bounce back when her child is brutally removed from her arms. Yet this strong woman filled with despair is determined to reunite herself with her child.
As Catherine Hokin’s delivers the reader with this horrific tale of anguish we feel the emotions and are drawn into the danger and despair that is found in shadows of resistance. What set’s this story apart from others is the hope and resilience of Mother and daughter.

It’s a hard read but a story which it is important to tell, if for no other reason than that the world knows what happened and then we hope and pray and work so that this never happens again.

Thank you Catherine Hokin for this haunting tale, lovingly told. And to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advance copy to read and give an honest review.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already a huge fan of Catherines books, and this one did not disappoint.

I had heard of the Lebensborn programme. I knew there were young women who chose to have babies "for the fuhrer". I knew young women were effectively forced to do so in some cases. I didn't realise that existing children were stolen, at least not in such high numbers.

This book, whilst fictional, is based on real events. As such it's heartbreaking to think that these things really happened to so many.

As with her "Hanni Winter" series Catherine's portrayal of parents who care more about their belief in the Nazi party than they do their own children is chilling. I like to think that people like this don't exist in real life.

You do have to suspend belief a little when reading. What's the chances of people with the links that Sebastian and Evie have ever meeting? But then, sometimes stories need to be a little unrealistic, or else they'd be boring!

[Amanda Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was exciting, riveting and sad. It ticked all the boxes I expect from a good book and more. I loved the romance that was introduced gently and unobtrusively, I am an action packed, thrill seeking reader whose books do not have a lot of romance, but this was just enough.
I enjoyed the author's attention to detail and the historical facts portrayed. It was a time in the 2nd World War which impacted on a lot of people, but Catherine Hokin handled it beautifully and gave us a novel that had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I loved the main characters, Evie and Sebastian, they were strong, stubborn and brought me to tears and feelings of anxiety at times. This book is for anyone that loves a good, exciting story, it was so good I read it in a day, just could not put it down!

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enthralling yet heartbreaking story!
It is a very hard story to read. And, one that you will not forget. Definitely a story we should not forget.
The history aspect was an eye opener. The authors writing of this page turner World War 2 novel pulls you in ands won’t let you go.
The story duel timeline of Germany 1944 and America in 1979. The story revolves around the Lebensborn children. Such a gripping and unputdownable book.
I have to say, this is one of the best WW2 historical fiction books I have read.
Highly recommended to anyone that reads WW2 historical fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is often difficult to comprehend the atrocities committed in the past, especially those related to World War II. However, reading books about this period can help us remember these events. This particular novel features a storyline that takes place in two different time periods: Germany during the 1940s, and America during the early 1980s. Although the events portrayed in this story are disturbing and heart-wrenching, the protagonist's determination to make things right --particularly the "sins of the mother" -- is powerful. I found myself cheering for Evie's quest for justice while holding my breath at the end because I wasn't sure how it'd play out. Overall, it was a good read. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness!! What an enlightening yet heartbreaking and gripping novel, Catherine Hokin’s latest book, The German Child, is!

It’s 1979 and Evie is a lawyer who has taken a job in the newly formed Office of Special Investigations, looking into the Nazi created Lebenborsborn programme where children were selected and brought up to help create more Germans. I hadn’t heard of this before and I find it difficult to understand how this could have happened. And, frighteningly, something similar appears to be happening with Ukrainian children being kidnapped with videos appearing that show these children being taught the Russian national anthem. How can we let this go on?

Catherine has never disappointed me with her historical fiction, and The German Child is no exception. You can really see that she has done a lot of research. While this story may be fiction, it is based on real life facts. This book is a must read for everyone

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a big reader of historical fiction WW2 novels, it amazes me of how much I still learn. I had heard of Nazis “breeding” facilities but I hadn’t heard of the Lebensborn Program or the Angel of Death. The actions and cruelty of one person and those that followed in beyond comprehendible. I learnt a lot reading The Lost Children, a well written heartbreaking dual timeline in search of belonging and love.

I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is set in Germany in 1944 and also America in 1979.

Children are being taken from their homes and the streets during the war. There are rumours of a woman called The Angel of Death who is taking them. She decides which of the children live and which ones die, she has a power that no other woman has.

Evie is part of a team in America in 1979, who investigate the stories of these missing children and try to reunite families after all these years. As she tries to help Sebastian, they embark on a journey that leads to unlocking the most horrendous secrets and lies.

This is an outstanding story of historical fiction. It is plain to see throughout the book just how much research would have gone into writing this book.

A truly compelling and emotional story, that I did find difficult to read.

It is one of those stories that stays with you for a long time and reminds us of how lucky we are.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.