Lebensborn was founded in 1935 by Heinrich Himmler. The name of the program translates to “source of life.” This is what the Nazis attempted to create with the Lebensborn program. Lebensborn's goal was to breed what Hitler saw as the "perfect" or "superior" race: Aryans or specifically people with blond hair and blue eyes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Lebensborn contributed to the creation of secret birth homes, hidden identities, and the abduction of countless children. From 1935 to 1945, the program encouraged women deemed racially “eligible” to have children and donate them to the Reich. Germany had seen a decline in births after World War I, which this program attempted to remedy so that Hitler could carry out his plan for Aryan rule to reign supreme. To achieve this, Aryans had to be bred or abducted as Germany had a shortage of people who fit the genetic criteria. Himmler, the head of the SS, led Lebensborn. In 1935 it offered women access to birthing facilities if they could demonstrate that their baby met purity standards. The facilities were comfortable, hidden and everything would be provided for the children and their mothers. Once the children were born they were entrusted to the SS. From there, children were usually placed with elite families and taught Nazi ideology. Himmler strongly encouraged the SS and German army to have children with Aryan women and eventually made it an order. The Lebensborn program evolved as the war progressed and began to abduct children. If a child was considered “racially pure,” he or she was taken away from the family, placed in homes in Lebensborn, and adopted by the Germans. In Poland alone, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 200,000 children have been abducted. All children who failed racial purity tests were killed or sent to orphanages. The Lebensborn program continued to expand and soon had more birth centers in Germany and occupied countries. Birth centers were places where mothers could escape social stigma and provide a bright future for their children. An estimated 20,000 children were born in Lebensborn homes. All these children have suffered a lot of trauma. After the end of World War II they became outcasts along with their mothers. In German-occupied countries, mothers were seen as traitors. Lebensborn children who know their origins face many disconcerting facts: their fathers - and perhaps even mothers - were devoted Nazis and have no real identity. Please note: this is just an example. Get a customized document from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayHitler and Himmler were never able to breed their perfect race to rule their empire, but their program left a huge impact on the children who came out of it. More recently, Lebensborn children have come forward to talk about their experiences coming from a birth home or the horrors associated with abductions.