The Nazis murdered their husbands but concentration camp prisoners Priska, Rachel, and Anka would not let evil take their unborn children too—a remarkable true story that will appeal to readers of The Lost and The Nazi Officer’s Wife, Born Survivors celebrates three mothers who defied death to give their children life.
Eastern Europe, 1944: Three women believe they are pregnant, but are torn … women believe they are pregnant, but are torn from their husbands before they can be certain. Rachel is sent to Auschwitz, unaware that her husband has been shot. Priska and her husband travel there together, but are immediately separated. Also at Auschwitz, Anka hopes in vain to be reunited with her husband. With the rest of their families gassed, these young wives are determined to hold on to all they have left—their lives, and those of their unborn babies. Having concealed their condition from infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, they are forced to work and almost starved to death, living in daily fear of their pregnancies being detected by the SS.
In April 1945, as the Allies close in, Priska gives birth. She and her baby, along with Anka, Rachel, and the remaining inmates, are sent to Mauthausen concentration camp on a hellish seventeen-day train journey. Rachel gives birth on the train, and Anka at the camp gates. All believe they will die, but then a miracle occurs. The gas chamber runs out of Zyklon-B, and as the Allied troops near, the SS flee. Against all odds, the three mothers and their newborns survive their treacherous journey to freedom.
On the seventieth anniversary of Mauthausen’s liberation from the Nazis by American soldiers, renowned biographer Wendy Holden recounts this extraordinary story of three children united by their mothers’ unbelievable—yet ultimately successful—fight for survival.
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Amazing story, extremely well written.
True story of the horrible crime to the Jewish people, The Holocaust
This book, which is based on actual events, follows the lives of three young Jewish girls living comfortable lives in Europe just prior to the outbreak of WW II, and the horrors they faced as they become caught up in Hitler’s “final solution”. Each of them are in the early weeks of their pregnancies when they are first incarcerated and their lives become a living hell as they are transported in cattle cars from one concentration camp to another as the war progresses. They’re faced with hiding their pregnancies while living in filth, being beaten and starved, and attempting to avoid the gas chambers and the irrational and cruel wrath of their Nazi captors.
As the father of 3 daughters the author’s vivid description of what these young women – and their families – faced, brought tears to my eyes: But despite my tears, I found that their strength, and determination to survive and carry their babies to term, inspirational.
True story of strength, hope, and love. Historical impact like no other.
I knew I would have a hard time reading this book due to its content. It is truly heart wrenching and makes me thankful for the wonderful life I have been given. These women were so incredibly strong and loving in a most horrific time in our world history. They have left behind a wonderful legacy for their families that they will cherish.
I am second generation Holocaust survivor. I know intimately the details of how the Jews were treated and the physicial and emotional abuse. This is an extremely important story that the general public should read and gain more knowledge of how much a woman would indure and the lengths they would go through for their child. The story revolves around three women who had something in common that was so rare during the Holocaust. Each woman’s story start before the Holocaust began or very soon after. It takes the reader through their strength, sorrow, emotional and physical pain under the worst of circumstances that few including myself would have survived. My father was a Holocaust survivor and he and my aunt were the only family that survived. Some parts were difficult because it aligned so close to my aunt’s life in some of the same places. The author was able to tell the stories of each woman in great detail but with restraint that would make it otherwise difficult to read and believe.
Loved the book! The survivors have their own chapters so it is easy to follow their happy and harrowing journeys. Much, much research brings the history and these women to life. Everyone should read this book as to not forget how evil can take over parts of the world and eventually be overcome by good.
I enjoyed it I have spoken with actual people who survived so it was interesting to me. Good for people who don’t know anything about the horrors that happened to real people.
Loved the book and admire the women who were so determined that their babies survive. Four stars as the book skipped around and was sometimes hard to follow the sequence of events. What a tragic period of German history.
I’ve read many fiction and historical fiction books about the Holocaust, but this one is a non-fiction book about four women who try to save their babies from Dr. Mengele and other Nazis. Non-fiction is normally slow reading for me, but this one kept me reading until 2-3:00 in the morning. I learned so much. and truly got an understanding of how the prisoners actually spent their days and nights. I felt as if I was right there with them! It was a great read!