Nazi racial ideology: Promoted the belief in Aryan superiority and the need to increase the Aryan population.
Declining German birth rates: Many concerns over the Aryan, or "racially pure", German population declining.
Need for soldiers: The goal of increasing the number of future soldiers for Nazi Germany.
SS expansion plans: Heinrich Himmler's vision of growing the SS through racially pure offspring.
Wartime morality policies: Encouragement of out of wedlock births in order to increase the Aryan population.
Eugenics movement: The influence of early racial science and eugenics theories on the early 20th century.
German nationalism: A long lasting idea of racial purity and national strength.
Expansionist ideology: The belief that Germany needed a larger, racially pure population in order to successfully dominate Europe.
Anti-Semitic and Anti-Slavic policies: The drive to replace "undesirable" populations and groups with "superior" Aryan people.
Increased birth rates of Aryan children: The encouraged reproduction among "racially pure" Germans.
Forced kidnappings of children: Thousands of children from occupied territories were taken and Germanized.
Maternity homes for unwed mothers: The provided care for racially approved mothers.
Family separations: Many children were taken from their families and placed with approved Pro-Nazi German families.
Psychological trauma: Mothers, children, and kidnapped victims faced immediate emotional distress.
SS influence on society : Expanded Nazi control over personal and family life.
Increased discrimination: Anyone deemed racially inferior faced sterilization or death.
Identity crises among survivors: Many Lebensborn children struggled to find their origins and identity.
Social shame among survivors and mothers : Survivors and mothers often faced discrimination after the war.
Legal and custody battles: Efforts to reunite kidnapped children with biological families after the war were very complicated.
Psychological trauma across generations: There was lasting emotional and mental health effects on survivors and descendants.
Historical and ethical debates: Ongoing discussions on Nazi eugenics and its moral implications.
War crimes investigations: Some Nazi officials involved in the Lebensborn program were prosecuted after WW2.
Impact on adoption and eugenics policies: The program shaped post war discussions on adoption, race, and eugenics.