The German Wife: A Novel – A WWII Historical Fiction Story Inspired by True Secret Intelligence Programs

This was very captivating. The manner in which the ideology and doctrine of 1930’s Germany was presented clearly shows how indoctrination can be done on a large scale. Little by little. Always claiming ‘for the betterment of the children”. Also growing ‘hate’ is never positive. Take a look at the cities around the world. Anyway, the book was entertaining insightful and absolutely love positive happy endings. Thank you

Kelly Rimmer has a remarkable way of bringing history to life through deeply human characters, and The German Wife is another unforgettable example. Rather than painting the world in black and white, this story explores the impossible choices people faced during and after WWII with empathy and nuance. While the pacing slowed in a few places, I never lost interest because I was so invested in the characters and their journeys. The emotional impact lingered long after I finished, especially the honest portrayal of trauma and the lasting effects of war. A thoughtful, moving historical novel that asks difficult questions without offering easy answers. If you enjoy character-driven historical fiction with emotional depth, this one is well worth picking up.

Interesting point of views. I really enjoyed looking at the story from different sides. This would make a great book club read

A book about a family, with an amazing Aunt, children…2 lost in the true horror of the country they are in, 2 too young. Friends affecting their lives in different ways. The husband employed in 2 countries with entire directions built, trained and driving employees too. Friends or ones around them—many searched for their beliefs, directions…a heart touching, thoughtful, look at the past…..

I absolutely love historic fiction and this writer did an amazing job with the characters and the story. I’m not sure it deserved a happy ending, but perhaps people deserve a second chance.

interesting story based on actual events

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer is an amazing story, which the author reveals to the reader by way of two women: Sophie von Meyers Rhodes, the German wife, from Berlin, Germany, and Lizzie Davis, an American from Dallam County, Texas. Rimmer does a wonderful job juxtaposing the lives of the two women through the turbulent years, leading up to and beyond World War Two. Rimmer will elucidate and explain how the Third Reich came into power, and the gradual change in the laws that led to violence and the persecution of the Jews. What is significant here is how the war and the policies and ideology of the Nazis affected the personal lives of the characters: Sofie von Meyer Rhodes, Jurgen, her husband, Adele, her aunt, Mayim, her childhood Jewish girlfriend, her children: Georg, Laura, Gisela, and Felix. And then there is Lizzie Davis and her family, her mother and father and her brother, Henry, and the millions of innocent people touched by war. No one can evade the agony of war, not even Karl and Lydia zu Schiller, and their son, Hans, devoted Nazis to the very end. You will come to realize that hate and war destroy everything it touches. This profound story reminded me of a line that I once read that said, “If you hate someone and or want revenge against someone, don’t forget to dig two graves. One for your victim and one for yourself.” Because hate and war will destroy you. Rimmer’s story is beautifully written and provocative. It will make you stop to think just how could we have allowed this tragedy to happen? How could we have stopped it before it got out of hand? What could I have done to prevent it? We know from experience and from history that standing idly by is not the answer. The story is bittersweet. It will not only bring you to tears, but it concludes in the only practical way that is possible: It will allow people to move forward (those who have survived) and to begin a new chapter in their lives, one without hate, one without war. Thus, I highly recommend this book to all readers.

This book provided a new perspective on how people can be silently forced to comply. I came to expect more understanding from Lizzie, having grown up with so little. There is a fierce loyalty to family.

I loved this book. I thought it was beautifully written. The author obviously did a lot of research when writing this and it certainly paid off. It is possible to feel every emotion while reading this book. There were times when I felt really sorry for Jurgen and Sofie but also very angry at times. I felt sorry about what happened to Sofie's children, there must have been parents in that sort of position. This is the first book I've read by this author, I will certainly be reading more.

Kelly Rimmer is such a talented author. Having already devoured 'The Things We Cannot Say' & 'The Warsaw Orphan', I wanted to continue reading more by her. The German Wife is written from a different perspective to other WW2 HF I had read, focusing on Sofie & Jurgen Rhodes. Jurgen a rocket scientist who works under the Nazi regime throughout the war in Germany and the moral and ethical decisions that that role brings. Relocated to the US at the end of the war in 'Operation Paperclip', Sofie, Jurgen and family experience discrimination as they attempt to build their new lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in WW2 HF and are looking for a story from a different perspective-you won't be disappointment.

Extraordinary. Totally unimaginable the division, dissension, discrimination that took place 70 years ago, and how all this is repeated in modern times.

This turned out to be one of my favourite books. This story weaves together a rich tapestry of historical events but manages to connect everything so well. It spans significant moments like the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, the rise of Hitler and WWII, the conclusion of the war leading into the Space Race, and the controversial Operation Paperclip between Germany and the US. At the same time, it offers emotional stories from each character and how they view the world.

I love Kelly Rimmer books and always read them quickly. I found this book a bit slow to start until about a quarter of the way through but then really enjoyed it. Great to understand the perspective of the German wife and all that they endured to protect their families.