The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham: Book Review

Mandy Robotham’s debut novel, The German Midwife, is a stunning look into the life of women in Nazi Germany during World War II. There are some difficult, heart-wrenching parts of this story, but it also has parts of love and compassion.

Robotham’s novel was originally published in December 2018 by Avon. In the UK it was published under the title A Woman of War.

Content Warning: Some scenes may be graphic, especially when discussing childbirth. The descriptions of the actions of the guards in the labor camp are also graphic and may be difficult to deal with.

Synopsis

Anke Hoff is a midwife who has been sent to a labor camp in Nazi Germany because she does not believe in the politics of the war. While there, and with her actions before her incarceration, she caught the eye of the Reich. Anke has been reassigned from the camp to being a private midwife. If she cooperates, she and her family will be safe. If she does not, then their survival is in doubt.

Eva Braun is pregnant. Who is the father? The Fuhrer! Will Anke work to keep the baby alive no matter the cost?

Positives

The book is well written, and easy to read. It is less than 400 pages, and could easily be read in a weekend.

The characters are interesting and intriguing. Some of them are based on actual people who were prominent in Nazi Germany, including Eva Braun. That said, there is no guarantee that the way they are written in this story is how they actually behaved. The others, like Anke, could have possibly existed, and probably did. I found myself pulled into the narrative.

The settings were vivid. Whether the disgust and rot of the labor camp to the luxury and serenity of Burghof, you felt as if you were part of the story.

Negatives

My only negative is not a negative about how the book was written, but only what occurred during the book. The way the guards treated the newborn babies in the labor camp was disgusting. I understand it was a different time, and things were different. I just was disgusted by the unceremonious way the newborns were treated. Even after you realize that many of the babies were fathered by the guards themselves.

My Opinion

I feel this is a great debut novel. One that draws you into the environment in which it is set. I look forward to reading more from this author.

While there is a romance that develops in the story, it is not the focal point of the story. It is not exactly an enemies to lovers romance, that is what I would probably describe it as.

Some of the characters in this novel are based on true people. There is speculation that Eva Braun did actually give birth, but that the child was killed as a newborn. While there is no way to truly know if the speculation is true, The German Midwife is a great what-if.

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.