Angeniet Berkers

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 it should never be forgotten. In view of our society that increasingly flirts with nationalism, it is important to document and tell these stories from the past. It is the ultimate example of a skewed sense of superiority.

For the project Angeniet Berkers tracked down these 'children' who are now in their 70s and 80s to interview and portray them. She did archival research and photographed relevant objects and documents such as birth certificates, to visualise the system that was behind the program. In addition, she visited several homes (where women could give birth to their Aryan children) in Germany, Norway and Austria. 'Guilty' landscapes, taken in the surroundings of the homes, are another part of the project. The old trees and surroundings were the silent witnesses of the program.

The project resulted in a photobook that was published in April 2024 by The Eriskay Connection and designed by Rob van Hoesel. Lebensborn will be exhibited in Kunsthal Rotterdam in spring 2025 and at Encontros da Imagem in fall 2025.