A Goodreads Choice Awards NomineeAn Amazon Best of the Year SelectionThe untold story of some of WW2’s most hidden figures and the heartbreaking tragedy that unites them all. Readers of Born Survivors and A Train Near Magdeburg will devour the tragic tale of the first 999 women in Auschwitz concentration camp. This is the hauntingly resonant true story that everyone should know. On March 25, … story that everyone should know.
On March 25, 1942, nearly a thousand young, unmarried Jewish women, many of them teenagers, boarded a train in Poprad, Slovakia. Believing they were going to work in a factory for a few months, they were eager to report for government service and left their parents’ homes wearing their best clothes and confidently waving good-bye. Instead, the young women were sent to Auschwitz. Only a few would survive. Now acclaimed author Heather Dune Macadam reveals their stories, drawing on extensive interviews with survivors, and consulting with historians, witnesses, and relatives of those first deportees to create an important addition to Holocaust literature and women’s history.
“Intimate and harrowing. . . . This careful, sympathetic history illuminates an incomprehensible human tragedy.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Against the backdrop of World War II, this respectful narrative presents a compassionate and meticulous remembrance of the young women profiled throughout. Recommended for all collections.”
—Library Journal
“Staggering . . . profound. [Macadam’s] book also offers insight into the passage of these women into adulthood, and their children, as ‘secondhand survivors.’”
—Gail Sheehy, New York Times bestselling author of Passages and Daring: My Passages
“Heather Dune Macadam’s 999 reinstates the girls to their rightful place in history.”
—Foreword Reviews
“An important addition to the annals of the Holocaust, as well as women’s history. Not everyone could handle such material, but Heather Dune Macadam is deeply qualified, insightful, and perceptive.”
—Susan Lacy, creator of the American Masters series and filmmaker
“The story of these teenage girls is truly extraordinary. Congratulations to Heather Dune Macadam for enabling the rest of us to sit down and just marvel at how on earth they did it.”
—Anne Sebba, New York Times bestselling author of Les Parisiennes and That Woman
“An important contribution to the literature on women’s experiences.”
—Dr. Rochelle G. Saidel, founder and executive director, Remember the Women Institute
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Almost one thousand young Jewish women, some no older than sixteen, were rounded up across Slovakia in the spring of 1942 and told that they were being sent to do government work service in newly occupied Poland, and that they would be away no more than a few months. Very few returned. Macadam has managed to recreate not only the backgrounds of the women on the first convoy but also their day to day lives — and deaths — during their years in Auschwitz. Books such as this one are essential: they remind modern readers of events that should never be forgotten.
999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam is a Historical account of the Holocaust.
The author did exhaustive research and used this research to reproduce conversations, events and scenes in this book to make it more realistic. Before I choose a book to review I like to research the author and any previous books if available. I was pleased to find Ms. Macadam had written a previous book that focused on Auschwitz Rena’s Promise: A Story of Sisters in Auschwitz. I read a sample of it, immediately purchased it and requested her newest book 999 to read and review. Her writing style has understanding, warmth and empathy for the lives of those she portrays. This book is well written with excellent descriptions, extensive details and some photos of the families, homes, religious practices, and Nazi concentration camps. In this book there many heroic actions and I found the brave endurance of the Holocaust victims incredible. Holocaust tories are so important to history, therefore we must hear as many as possible before they are lost forever.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
The history of the Holocaust of World War 2 is fading amongst the younger generations which is detrimental to us repeating the past. 999 needs to be read in classrooms all over the world.
I love true stories and am so often amazed by the will power of ordinary people. They were just a bunch of young girls, talked into believing they were going to help in the war effort working in factories. Instead, they were shuffled from train to train and even the few small pieces of clothing, money and personal items were taken from them. Even when they arrived at Auschwitz they became quite cunning, getting themselves into some of the better working venues. They began to barter bits of food and jewelry to get medicines, helping each other stay alive. Yet in the midst of all of this friends died terrible deaths at every turn.
This is such an inspiring book to read. We must remember all our history and put these women on a lofty pedestal and in our highest regards.
A unique look at the first transport. Illuminating and helps to answer the question of why and how the Nazis were able to do what they did. The author has clearly done her research and the interviews with the women and their families bring this horrific time to life in a way other books on the Holocaust don’t quite portray. The courage of these women is immense – and to think they were mere girls when they were shipped off. A must read!
Real history that can’t be denied. A difficult read because of the subject matter but we must know and understand if we are to try to prevent it happening again.
I thought I had read all there was of Auschwitz first hand accounts . But this book , despite not shrinking from describing daily horrors , personalized the stories of these teenage girls from the moment they were duped into thinking they were going to be sent to work, to the remaining few being freed 3+ years later . But it doesn’t end there, which makes it so much better than many accounts that stop at the Allies tearing down the fences and being appalled at what they found. Some girls had to walk hundreds of kilometers to get home to , often , absolutely nothing. People living in their previous homes slammed the door in their faces. One girl’s father merely looked at her and asked her if she had lice. The book is an account of the 999 girls on the first Jewish transport into hell , how some survived, and what they had to do to accomplish that. It’s an inspiring read.
It is so hard to imagine what Nazi prisoners went through during those horrible times. This book is written with clarity and a feel for the people and their stories.
Excellent writing. Difficult subject handled with compassion and facts. Read many books about survivor accounts and this is one of the best. Highly recommend
“‘It is very important to take the kids back to camps with survivors to teach them the Holocaust is not a hoax. You should study and learn as much as you can. Carry on and be active in organizations. After I am gone, it’s all going to be forgotten. Who will remember?’ [Bertha] asks.
You will, reader. You will.”
I’m almost rendered speechless as I reflect on what I’ve just finished reading. The horrors these women (and all who were at concentration camps) faced are abhorrent. People who knew I was reading this book asked why I would want to read about such a depressing time in history. The reason is just what Bertha, one of the survivors featured in the book, stated above. It’s important to remember. It’s important to make sure this never happens again.
I will remember, Bertha.
Thank you, Heather Dune Macadam.
A staggering narrative about the forgotten women of the Holocaust. In a profound work of scholarship, Heather Dune Macadam reveals how young women helped each other survive one of the most egregious events in human history. Her book also offers insight into the passage of these women into adulthood, and their children, as ‘secondhand survivors.’
However much one reads about the Holocaust there is always something more with the power to shock. The story of these teenage girls is truly extraordinary. Congratulations to Heather Dune Macadam for enabling the rest of us to sit down and just marvel at how on earth they did it.
999 by Heather Dune Macadam is a fabulous book that brings to light the stories of the almost 1,000 women that were taken in the first transport from Slovakia to Auschwitz on 3/25/42.
This compilation of accounts of these precious Jewish women whom were taken against their will to this atrocious destination is gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. Yet, the reader is left with a sense of courage, hope, friendship, and love that knows no bounds and is not suppressed despite the trials and tribulations that these women were unjustly taken into.
The author clearly has done her research, as the amount of material, documents, and interviews that were needed to give these women a voice is astounding.
As someone whose distant family perished in this horrid place, I read this with emotions that leaked into my very bones and being. This is a stunning remembrance and book that will stay with me forever.
5/5 stars