The scale of suffering in this book was beyond comprehension, whether in 1930s Texas, 1930s Berlin, or 1950s Alabama.

Also, it was rather sad that the United States was in such a race for space that they easily brushed the crimes of a lot of Germans right under the rug. He had been selected to work for Operation Paperclip, a post-WWII intelligence program where skilled German scientists, including some former leaders of the Nazi Party, were brought over to the U. She wonders if being married to Jürgen makes her as complicit as her husband when it comes to Hitler’s crimes. It’s the first book I have read by this author but if her other books are of the same calibre it certainly won’t be the last.

It was nice to see all the different points of view on this one to really get a feel for how people felt on different sides and in different countries. Perfect for reading book groups it does beg the question of what choice would YOU make in a no-win situation?

It is filled to the brim with everything from the brutality of war to friendships, to tragedy, to heartbreak and finally hope - this is such a compelling read that it will stay with you long after you have turned the final page. i enjoyed the German wife’s story so much more and the title is misleading because it’s honestly just as much about the American wife, too. Lizzie’s husband, Calvin is the General Manager of the fledgling space program, dubbed Operation Paperclip, and he has been assured that none of his talented German scientists were Party members.

some of the scenes truly made my jaw drop as i was listening… especially how the German children acted and what they were taught in school and how they changed. She’s sold more than one million books, and her novels have been translated into more than 20 languages.

If you are a historical fiction fan with a real passion for WW2 books then this needs to be on your list! However, as the narrative progresses there is increasing depth and the story develops well, with plenty of detail of the era (several visits to Munich’s iconic Café Luitpold) and the author conjures up a real sense of foreboding. I had not actually heard about Hitler’s rocket program, nor was I aware that the US had scooped up a whole heap of Nazi scientists after the war and relocated them into the CIA space program.I haven't read many of these stories where you have a pov from the Germans let alone one who was a wife of an SS doctor. I have put off writing about The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer because I am not even sure how I feel about the events described in the book.

Germany 1934 – Sofie, her brilliant scientist husband Jürgen Rhodes and their children are leading a decent life until Hitler and his Nazi party recruit Jürgen into Hitler’s ‘space’ program. There were three distinct settings…Nazi Germany in the 1930’s, a small farm in Oakden, Oklahoma during The Great Depression and the devastating dust storms and in Huntsville, Alabama in the 1950’s. Their families eventually join them, as is the case for Jurgen and his wife Sofie and their children.

After the war we follow Sofie and her children when she reunites with her husband in Huntsville, Alabama in 1950. The German Wife has a fascinating and unique premise, but unfortunately it lacked focus and felt a bit muddled. As tempers boiled, and Lizzie's anger and frustration at the situation grew, Sofie was frightened and Jurgen infinitely cautious. Contrast this with a hardscrabble family who in the 30's lost their farm during the dust bowl years and the sister and brother end up in Huntsville with hatred of the Nazi's. As an ex-journalist, historical accuracy is key, and she strives to weave her stories around real life events.