A memoir about the realities of women's lives in everyday Nazi life.

© Stadtarchiv Augsburg | Alex Schönfelder

The Daughters of the Pinecone is set in Augsburg during the Second World War. However, the focus is less on the historical event itself and more on the devastating impact the war had on families.

The novel follows Karla, a woman from Augsburg, who seeks her own path in a time characterized by fear, control, and ideological constraints. Torn between a sense of duty, conformity, and the desire for self-determination, she tries to make the most of the limited scope of action available to her.

Between personal fate and social context

The narrative intertwines individual life stories with the upheavals of an exceptional historical situation. Augsburg is portrayed as a conservative, Catholic city where societal expectations and political constraints shape everyday life.

Topics include:

· the conflict between family loyalty and one's own convictions

· dealing with forbidden relationships

• the influence of social norms on personal decisions

• the long-term consequences of actions during times of oppression

The novel does not exaggerate, but shows how complex and contradictory decisions are in such situations.

A forgotten piece of German-French history

A central theme is the question of the lasting impact of history. How does a war shape subsequent generations across borders?

In The Daughters of the Pinecone, granddaughter Charline from the French Ardennes explores this question by using her grandmother's found diary to trace her family history, bringing it to life, processing historical events, and embarking on a journey of discovery into the past.

A nuanced view of a complex era

The novel is based on a true story and portrays an extraordinary family drama with emotional depth. It presents a nuanced picture of a time, leaving room for individual reflection.

It is a text that makes complex connections visible, deliberately not simplifying them – and thus shows how National Socialism influences personal life decisions that resonate far into our generation, because history is never truly over.

This novel is addressed to those who can no longer speak and to us, who should finally listen.

The Daughters of the Pine Tree will be released on October 14, 2026

Novel published by Gmeiner Verlag

Pre-orders expected to start in September 2026