Book Review: The German Midwife

Occasionally, I read something so poignant and so profound that it speaks to my soul. Mandy Robotham’s debut novel, The German Midwife, is such a story. Set in Germany during the final years of World War II, this first-person narrative tells the tale of a midwife named Anke Hoff.

Johan Georg Herwig

On this day, 2 December 1868, Johan Georg Herwig, my spouse’s 3rd great-grandfather, passed away.

Born on 17 May 1812, in Hesse-Kassel, Germany, nothing is known of Johan Georg Herwig’s childhood, including his parentage.

Anna Barbara (Sturm) Lang

On this day, 13 July 1719, Anna Barbara (Sturm) Lang passed away. She was my 8th great-grandmother.

Unfortunately, little is known about her life. What is known is that she was born in 1654 in Schifferstadt, a town located in the Bishopric of Speyer (modern-day Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany). Her parents’ names are unknown.

Roerich Wäschenbach

Alter Flecken (Old Market), Freudenberg

On this day, 21 May 1743, Roerich Wäschenbach, my 8th great-grandfather, passed away.

Roerich Wäschenbach (also recorded as Waschenbach, Weschenbach, and Waeschenbach) was born in late March 1675, in Freudenberg, Prussia (now part of Germany). His parents were Heinrich Wäschenbach and Maria Halm.

Christian Thomas

On this day, 310 years ago, a man by the name of Christian Thomas passed away. He was my 8th great-grandfather.

Christian Thomas was born circa 1655, in Schifferstadt, a town in the Bishopric of Speyer (now Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany). His father was Alexander Thomas; his mother’s name is unknown.