In Nazi Germany in 1939 the lives of two young women, from very different backgrounds intersect. After Hanna Rombauer's mother was killed, her father sent her to Berlin to live with relatives who were well off and Nazi party members. Suddenly, she was thrown into an unaccustomed life of luxury and eventually, she became engaged to an SS officer. In preparation for her life as a good German wife, she was sent to a school where she would receive proper instructions. While there, she encountered Mathilde Altman, a German Jewish woman who had once made clothes for her. However, Mathilde was not on the property to sew and the events of one night would stay with them for life.
There is a high level of tension throughout the entire length of the novel. Set during one of the worst times in history, the author excels at creating drama and emotional scenes. The author has crafted two fascinating characters. Hanna and Mathilde are strong and resilient young women who had already suffered great loss before they met. While the circumstances were different, the impact was heavy. When least expected, a shocking revelation was made.
I found THE SCHOOL FOR GERMAN BRIDES to be a profound, moving and memorable story. Skillfully told and well plotted, the narrative is engrossing. For those who enjoy historical fiction, this book is well worth reading. Highly recommended.
In this intriguing historical novel, a young woman who is sent to a horrific “bride school” to be molded into the perfect Nazi wife finds her life forever intertwined with a young Jewish woman about to give birth.
Germany, 1939
As the war begins, Hanna Rombauer, a young German woman, is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death. Thrown into a life of luxury she never expected, Hanna soon finds herself unwillingly matched with an SS officer. The independence that her mother lovingly fostered in her is considered highly inappropriate as the future wife of an up-and-coming officer and she is sent to a “bride school.” There, in a posh villa on the outskirts of town, Hanna is taught how to be a “proper” German wife. The lessons of hatred, prejudice, and misogyny disturb her and she finds herself desperate to escape.
For Rachel Altman, a German Jewish woman, the war has brought more devastation than she ever thought possible. Torn from her work, her family, and her new husband, she fights to keep her unborn baby safe. But when the unthinkable happens, Rachel realizes she must hide. The risk of discovery grows greater with each passing day, but she has no other options.
When Hanna discovers that Rachel hiding near the school, she knows she must help her however she can. For Rachel, fear wars with desperation. The women must take extraordinary risks to save the lives of mother and baby.
Will they both be able to escape with their lives and if they do, what kind of future can they possibly hope for?
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