The book is quite well written and sensitively covers difficult topics.

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Everything is Better with Dragons

The author also took care to include both urban and rural settings as well as a cross-section of working class, middle class and upper class individuals. The stories are told through interviews as well as excerpts from personal journals and diaries. These are" herstories" of a very difficult and horrendous time in history where millions of Jews, LGBT, Roma and others were tortured and massacred.

I very much liked how the author/researcher allowed these voices to shine through without sociological theories or feminist overlays. I was very impressed with his neutral approach to this subject matter neither absolving nor condemning these everyday people who initially benefitted by Nazi machinations only to then be betrayed by their own evil and deteriorating government as well as decimated by the Allied forces.

The journals and interviews painted a very vivid picture of what life was like for various (mostly) female persons under the Nazi regime. The duties to care for children, sex lives, work and daily grind are all explored. The lack of knowledge of what was really happening, the stepping up of women to take over many traditional male roles (as male members were off at war), the cruelties done to "loose" women by other women, illicit extramarital affairs, betrayals of every kind. Also the emotional roller coaster of fortune to destitution, the hysterical adoration of a regime that relegated other races and ethnicities as deficient, undesirable and evil. The role of denial in complicity to human atrocities and the everyday survival of wanting the best for their children and hoping the best for their husbands and brothers. All these happenings are expressed in these journals and interviews. Also their own victimization by husbands, the Nazi regime, each other and in the end Allied Forces and the burdens of their complicity.

A book that adds both context and some understanding to this most brutal and evil of time periods.

NetGalley, Jaidee Deableau

This was a really interesting read, that was both informative and kept me reading. I look forward to more from the author.

NetGalley, Kay McLeer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was so interesting! I never considered what life was like for the women that were in Germany while their male family members or friends were fighting in the war. I liked how the author included differing views versus just those that were against the war from the start. I learned a lot from this well written book.

NetGalley, Cristie Underwood

The stories here give a raw, candid look at the human side of the war from the German perspective -- a point of view that is often overlooked. The book also gives voice to the pragmatic German mentality of pulling oneself up by whatever means necessary and doing what you have to do to survive.

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Rambles

I had never heard about this aspect of Nazi Germany and found this book well written and researched I finished it in one day.

NetGalley, Shelly Myers

The experiences of German women in wartime Germany have not been covered well in comparison with the lives of British women through the war years. The author provides views of women and their changing roles as the war progressed. – Highly Recommended.

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Firetrench

Interesting stories. It gives the reader insight into the hope the Germans had in the political rise of Hitler, and his great deceit of the German citizens.

NetGalley, TheBook Distiller

A part of history rarely written about Hitler’s Housewives provides an insight to the German homefront that has been lost and forgotten about over time.

This book shows in parallel the similarities and differences the women faced compared to the British women at war, from losing children in the bombing of the civilian towns and cities, to losing them to the influences and brainwashing of the Hitler Youth. It gives an insight to the brainwashing of women, from being told to step aside from their roles in work to becoming Guardians of the house to the propaganda when war broke out and they had to take up the roles of men and do their duty for Germany.

A mixture of first-hand accounts and history makes this a very useful research guide and a very easy read into the home front from the other side.

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Tastes Through Time

Now if you look around on this website you’ll see in places that I am a fan of Tim Heath’s books and a couple even made it into our top 10 books of 2019, they were Creating Hitler’s Germany and Women of the Third Reich. The reason I enjoy his books are because they are usually about the woman’s role which rarely gets done by writers who will happily write about other WW2 subjects. But I have quite enjoyed all women’s history since studying at university. So I was really looking forward to reading this book when it came.

This book is roughly written in the same manner of previous books in that the author is writing the books from actual people and families from Germany in the situations they faced or experienced which is good because were being given first-hand knowledge by the author from the primary source of evidence. So many book are rehashed books that anyone can get hold of, this book is different and which in my opinion makes it stand out against others. We learn all about the lives of women, their daughters and sons and how the role of women changed in the family during world war two Germany. In fact I can’t think of an equivalent book about British housewives during WW2, maybe someone should take me up on that idea.

The book is very good indeed, and I like the way the author Tim Heath writes because it’s always clear, balanced and informative. I do wish he’d write a book on the Hitler Youth as this is another subject that seems to rarely get written about. I would recommend this book and give it a 4.5 out 5 stars.

UK Historian

Women the world over, but particularly in the UK, in France, Belgium etc., played similar roles to the German housewives and mothers featured in this remarkable book, although the fact that more than fifty percent of the electorate that carried Hitler to power in 1932 were female is for me the most telling part of this story.

Books Monthly

Focusing on the women of Germany, I found this collection of tales from women of all ages fascinating. I think history buffs and those interested in World War II will enjoy the stories in this book.

NetGalley, Megan McLoud

I really enjoyed this collection of accounts from women and girls who lived in Nazi Germany. The accounts ranged from BDM girls, single girls and wives/widows. The accounts were very honest and no attempt was made to excuse early acceptance of the Nazi regime. These woman lived very ordinary lives in extraordinary times. Most recount the level of male dominance they encountered including rape and in some cases the constant threat of it from first their own nationality and later the invading armies.

NetGalley, Catherine Smith

This book was an interesting read. It is rare to read history from the perspective of women especially German women during World War II. In this book, journals, interviews and diaries, we the reader, are emerged in the psychs more than the life of these women. I don't think that it was a very well rounded study and defiantly only focused on a particular group of "German Housewives" but it does capture an interesting perspective of the women who lived in Hitlers country.

I would say that this is a great book to add to your study of WWII and women's history.

NetGalley, Anna Baker

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

First of all, let me say, this is not an easy read - it is powerful and emotional but so so brilliant.

Part of WW2 history I was not aware of, I learnt so much. It gives another view of WW2.

Loved it.

NetGalley, Maria Martignetti

Quite a harrowing and informative read.

Hitler’s Housewives talks about what women went through during Hilter’s reign. The sacrifices they had to make, the fear they lived in.

I learnt quite a lot with this read... Perfect for history/WW2/Fiction book lovers.

NetGalley, Georgi Black

The Author presents us with an interesting book that deals with the idea of 'Hitler's women', their ordinary lives, expectations and failures.
Women constituted a high percentage of the voters that Hitler won through the promises of order and stability. Those young enough to remember the hardships during the Weimer Republic felt grateful to the Nazis for the 'new order'.
This book is based on interviews with several German women whose memories are the canvas for the portrayal of the lives ordinary Germans led before and during WW2. The memories are honestly presented, with some dose of sentimental note, which is understandable. The initial enthusiasm gives way to disappointment as the war progresses and self-denials.

NetGalley, Beata B. Reviewer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

It was unbelievable and fascinating to read, all at the same time. I could feel for these women and girls as they lost fathers, husbands, homes.....even while they seemed to close their eyes to the horrors around them.
I highly recommend this book.

NetGalley, Rhonda Nash-Hall

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that the book was both interesting and enlightening. This book reveals what life was like for the everyday, working class women in Germany under the rule of Hitler during the second world war.

I know I seem to find my self saying this about a lot of the non-fiction historical books I read, but I will say it again, these are the type of book that should be used in school history lessons. Perhaps then we will become a better society, that remembers errors of the past that should never be repeated. I found it interesting to learn how World War 2 and Hitler affected both those Germans that supported them, those that really did not, and those that had to be seen to support them even if deep down they had doubts or different opinions.

NetGalley, Sandra Richardson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Hitlers Housewives is more than an eye opener of a read. It is the events of what really happened told by women. The book was engaging and gave me thought to how these women really did handle the war. So much more was expected of women, and even more so by themselves.

An interesting read to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Halocaust and worth the read if you are into the history.
I personally loved the read and would definitely recommend this.

NetGalley, Natalie Lonsdale

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

There are innumerable nonfiction books chronicling World War II in every aspect imaginable and it is a sub-genree of nonfiction I’m always interested in. I found this book to be different from many that I've read in the genre. Heath chronicles the rise of the Nazi party to the end of the war in Germany through the eyes of women. While there is no argument the heinous actions of the Nazis were deplorable, it is important to remember the state of Germany prior to Hilter’s rise to power.

“Germany’s females were without doubt an essential factor in the success of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Women formed a substantial part of the electorate and were partly responsible for securing his powerbase . The violence, racism and destruction, which culminated in the murder of democracy in full view of the outside world, would become the burden that many women would have to bear through the years after 1945.”

While not shying away from the gruesome realities, this book served to give a account of life in Germany throughout the war for private citizens who had no choice but the live in fear of the Third Reich. The women included in the book ranged from children to older adults, all with different experiences. The author did a fabulous job of providing a real look at life during the time period. Women were expected to be perfect housewives and mothers to as many children as possible, and later to pick up the slack when the men were forced into the military.

“Though 1939 had been a year in which many Germans had asked ‘War, what war?’ 1940 would be a very different year by its end, leaving few with any illusions as to what was coming.”

This book was wonderfully researched and told primarily in the form of journal entries and excepts from interviews between the author and survivors of the war. I would recommend this book to anyone who is hesitant to explore nonfiction because it reads like historical fiction due to its formatting.

NetGalley, Kristina Wilson

This book is really interesting. It's about a topic that's often forgotten in ww2 history. It's about the women in Germany. Their lives and what it was like for them in nazi Germany. I would recommend it for everyone who is interested in womens history.

NetGalley, Raven S

This book was honest, raw and human... Overall, this is a great addition to the historical record. It says a lot that the author let the words, the women, speak for them self rather than add page after page of analysis.

NetGalley, Philip Schuler

This was a different look at WWII. Not many books I have read have dealt with the war from the Axis civilian point of view. The story is a combination of author narrative, interviews, and letters. Not only are the memories of the “housewives” presented, but often memories from their children are included. If you are interested in the human impact of WWII, you will find this book of interest. I like the selected cover art.

NetGalley, John Purvis

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This title had me hooked. Hitler's Housewives!

Great story, read this quick on my kindle paperwhite.

I love history and this time era so this was a perfect read for me

NetGalley, Brittany Spradlin

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Very well written and put together, this book is a captivating read. I had not given much thought to the ordinary citizens (read: women), of Germany during the war. It was so overshadowed by the atrocities committed by the Nazis. This is an eye opening book and I encourage all WWII aficionados to read it. It is filled with the reality of how war touches the homefront and the courage of these women to go on in the face of adversity, pain and deprivation.

NetGalley, Joyce Fox

This book was such a good read, I couldn't put it down! The story and the characters were so well written it felt as if you were actually in the story!

NetGalley, Alicia Goeser

Dramatic account of life, death and love under the Third Reich.

Bookseller 8/11/19