The mother is the heavily-pregnant bride of a Lutheran pastor and somewhat reluctant nazi soldier. She is stuck in Rome in 1943, looked after by the local German community, while her husband has been unexpectedly sent to fight in Africa. She is very young, ignorant and evidently torn between her jingoism and her religious values. She was 1 of the most annoying characters I've encountered these last few months, but I also felt pity for her.
The book is set when fascist Italy and nazi Germany were allies, some 6 months before Italy called for an armistice and the nazis descended on the country (and the photo above was taken, presumably). 10mo