Christian Hardinghaus
GERMAN WOMEN IN WWII: THE FORGOTTEN VICTIMS OF NAZI GERMANY
Dr. Christian Hardinghaus reveals the untold stories of German women during World War II—caught between Nazi exploitation and Allied retribution. Based on thirteen exclusive interviews with the last living witnesses, this work documents the reality of millions who suffered as civilians in Hitler's Germany.
Initially glorified as homemakers, women were later forced into dangerous war labor, with 1.5 million serving as Wehrmacht auxiliaries. They comprised most of the 600,000 bombing victims, while 2 million suffered sexual violence during the war's end.
Hardinghaus navigates this history with scholarly precision, acknowledging Nazi crimes while showing how many women became victims of totalitarianism. Featuring 50+ unpublished photographs, this book fills a crucial gap in WWII history.
Order the book featuring the last female voices of World War II
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German Women in WWII: The Forgotten Victims of Nazi Germany
In this powerful historical narrative, acclaimed historian Dr. Christian Hardinghaus unveils the silenced experiences of German women during World War II—civilian victims caught between Nazi exploitation and Allied retribution. “Hitler’s Betrayed Daughters” draws from extensive research and thirteen exclusive interviews with surviving witnesses, presenting a crucial perspective largely absent from mainstream Germany in WWII historiography.
The Forgotten Female Experience in Nazi Germany
The collapse of the Third Reich left 14 million Germans forcibly displaced, over 2 million dead, and countless women bearing the physical and psychological scars of unprecedented violence. While history has extensively documented military campaigns and Holocaust atrocities, the specific suffering of ordinary German women in World War 2—many of whom were coerced into supporting the Nazi war effort against their will—remains largely untold.
Through meticulously documented testimonies, Hardinghaus reveals how these women became the forgotten victims of Nazi Germany:
- Despite Nazi propaganda glorifying women as homemakers, millions were compelled into dangerous armaments factories across Germany in WW2
- 1.5 million served as Wehrmacht auxiliaries, field nurses, and communication specialists directly in combat zones
- Women comprised the majority of the 600,000 victims of Allied bombing campaigns on German cities
- At least 2 million women and girls suffered sexual assault during the war’s chaotic final phase and subsequent occupation
“After the bombs came the strafing planes. Some fired machine guns at the women, forcing us to stay down. I warned my friend not to get up too soon, but in that moment, she fell dead.” —Marta, Remscheid July 1943
Beyond Victimhood: Complex Historical Truths of Nazi Germany
This groundbreaking work on Nazi Germany history challenges simplistic narratives by examining women’s complex positions within the Third Reich—from passive bystanders to reluctant participants, active resisters to true believers. Hardinghaus skillfully navigates this difficult terrain, acknowledging German responsibility for Nazi crimes while illuminating how many women were themselves victims of totalitarian manipulation.
A Vital Contribution to World War 2 Civilian Stories
Featuring over 50 previously unpublished photographs and personal accounts, “Hitler’s Betrayed Daughters” fills a significant gap in our understanding of the WWII German perspective. This essential reading offers:
- First-person testimonies from the last living female witnesses to Nazi Germany
- Analysis of gender-specific war trauma and its transgenerational impact
- Examination of post-war silence surrounding female German suffering
- Critical context about displacement, ethnic cleansing, and civilian targeting as warfare strategies
For readers of “The Unwomanly Face of War” by Svetlana Alexievich and “The Women Who Wrote the War” by Nancy Caldwell Sorel, this meticulously researched account provides an unflinching look at World War 2 civilian stories through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand—and challenges us to preserve these testimonies before they vanish forever.
The books “The Cursed Generation” and “Hitler’s Lost Boys” are also part of the series called “WWII from a German Point of View.”
