Lebensborn

A visual research about birth politics in the Third Reich and more specifically the Lebensborn program; a program to ensure them of enough Aryan citizens.

On December 12, 1935, a program was started in Germany to provide the Third Reich with the new generation of leaders and SS officers; Lebensborn (“Source of Life”). The birth rates had dropped dramatically and something had to be done to prevent abortion. In several clinics spread over Germany, Norway, Belgium, France and Poland, (married and unmarried) women, if they met the requirements of the Aryan race, could give birth to their children. Outside of Germany it was mainly the case that German soldiers had relationships with local women. SS-officers were encouraged to reproduce as much as possible, including out of wedlock. The architect behind this plan, Heinrich Himmler, aimed to improve the ‘racial quality’ in the new empire to be built on a National Socialist basis with these blue-eyed, blond-haired and light-skinned children. When it turned out that this program did not bring enough new Aryan souls, children with blonde hair and blue eyes were kidnapped from Eastern Europe and taken to German homes to ‘Germanise’. After the war, the children from these homes and families were often stigmatised and sometimes even mistreated or sexually abused. Many grew up with secrets, the past should not be talked about. The Lebensborn homes were thought to be brothels or ‘stud farms’ for SS men, as quite some (B)movies implied. None of these stories were true.

The purpose of Lebensborn is so unreal and horrific that I believe it should never be forgotten. In view of our society that increasingly flirts with nationalism, I think it is important to document and tell these stories from the past. It is the ultimate example of a scewed sense of superiority. For the project I tracked down these 'children' who are now in their 70s and 80s to interview and portray them. I did archival research and I have photographed relevant objects and documents such as birth certificates to visualise the system that was behind the program. In addition, I visited several homes (where women could give birth to their Aryan children) in Germany, Norway and Austria. Landscapes are a part of the project as well, they were made in the vicinity of the homes. These landscape take on a completely different meaning when these images are combined with stories, portraits and archive images that tell about its history. The project is now a book designed by Rob van Hoesel and published by The Eriskay Connection. Release April 2024.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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The frontpage of a folder that is given to women that are thinking of having their babies in a Lebensborn home. It gives information about the different homes, the rules and regulations a mother should comply to.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Arolsen Archives, Bad Arolsen, Germany, November 2022Photographed archive image. A signpost pointing the way to a nearby Lebensborn home: Heim Kurmark.

© Angeniet Berkers - A tree in a German forest near heim Hochland
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A tree in a German forest near heim Hochland

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Due to the low birthrates Himmler ordered his SS-men, who were seen as racially superior, to procreate as much as possible, also outside of the marriage.

© Angeniet Berkers - A device to measure eye-color. These would fit within different categories. Blue would be the Aryan category.
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A device to measure eye-color. These would fit within different categories. Blue would be the Aryan category.

© Angeniet Berkers - The remains of a fountain near Heim Hohehorst.
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The remains of a fountain near Heim Hohehorst.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Paul-Erik Vollmerhaus was born in Heim Geiloo in Norway in 1943. His parents met in 1940 on a local party, his dad (who was only 21 years old) was stationed in 1940 in the north of Norway with the task of communication.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Hønefoss, Norway, October 2019Photo from archive image. Paul-Erik Vollmerhaus' father at the age of 21 in his Luftwaffe uniform.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Gisela Heidenreich's mother worked for the Lebensborn program and got pregnant from an SS-officer who she had an affair with. Gisela was born in Norway in a Lebensborn home, to keep the pregnancy hidden.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Seefeld, Germany, April 2022Photographed archive image. Gisela tells me there are many Lebensborn children with photos similar to this one. The babies are held proudly for the photographer, even though she never felt her mother was proud of her. The photos look like propaganda posters and may have been taken with that intention.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Osnabrück, Germany, November 2022Portrait in the living room of Ingrid von Oelhafen. Born in Slovenia, Ingrid von Oelhafen was 1 of the 'Bandit Children' (her parents were Partisan) who were looted by the Nazis. Families were asked to come forward after which all children who met Aryan characteristics were taken to children's homes in Germany and elsewhere to Germanise.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Even though the relationship with her mother was cold she did keep a diary from the beginning of Ingrid’s stay. There was a small pluck of blond hair to be found in it from when Ingrid was still a child.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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It was not until 2008 that Michael Sturm started digging into his past at the prompting of his son. He could never have imagined that he would unearth such a fraught past. His father turned out to be a high-ranking officer in the Wehrmacht.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Grünheide, Germany, December 2019. Photographed archive image. Michael Sturm was born in Bad Polzin, which is now Poland. He was conceived out of wedlock. He stayed in the home for a while, until he was placed in Heim Sonnenwiese. His grandmother took him thereon, where he stayed until 1948. His mother always told him that his father had died in the war but in 2008 he found out that this was a lie

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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A teddy bear from a Lebensborn home. The bear is now part of the collection of the USHMM in Washington, where this bear was also photographed.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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A device to measure the size of the head. A child’s “racial value” would determine to which of 11 racial types it was assigned, including points assessing body proportions, eye color, hair color, and the shape of the skull.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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A dagger that was in the possession of someone from the SS. The blade reads: “Meine Ehre heißt Treue” (my honor is called faithful). The motto of the SS. SS daggers were used in the baptismal ritual of the Lebensborn babies.

© Angeniet Berkers - The view from Lebensborn children's home Stallheim in Norway.
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The view from Lebensborn children's home Stallheim in Norway.

© Angeniet Berkers - Image from the Lebensborn photography project
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Heim Sonnenwiese, in Kohren Sahlis. Children from Norway and looted children from Eastern Europe and the so-called Bandit Children ended up there. The children were between 3 months and 6 years old.

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