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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I tend to avoid books about the Holocaust. I’m aware of the facts of that historical event. My father served in Europe in WWII. I think it’s important to appreciate what happened and the sacrifices that were made, but I don’t especially like to read books about it.
I’m glad I read this one.
Born Survivors is a phenomenal story, not just about suffering and depravity and ‘man’s inhumanity to man’–though it does include those things. But more than that, down deep beneath the things we’d rather not revisit are stories of courage and compassion and sacrifice.
Highly recommend (with the caveat that it does include gruesome historical facts, etc). Honestly I think we should all read a book about the Holocaust every few years. It sharpens your perspective, it’s a way of honoring those who died in this terrible event, and remembering goes a long way toward ensuring it doesn’t happen again.
This is the true story of three women who were sent to concentration camps at the end of World War II. All three women are pregnant and chose to hide their pregnancies. Each woman’s journey is told separately with history of World war II interspersed into the story to make the story complete. I can’t say enough good things about this book. I was sobbing by the end.
“Born Survivors” is a must-read for everyone who is interested in the history of the Holocaust. But what sets it apart from many other books already written about it is the fact that the narration centers around three unrelated women who end up pregnant in the most unsuitable place on earth for an expecting mother – Auschwitz. What follows is the incredible story of resilience that will truly shake you to the core and make you ask, how something of this sort could happen? How did we, the supposedly civilized humans, ended up treating our fellow men worse than cattle for slaughter?
“Born Survivors” is a very detailed and meticulously researched account that provides historical insights into the events leading up to what eventually turned into a Holocaust, provides eyewitness accounts wherever possible, and relies heavily on the stories either told by survivors themselves or their children, who were lucky to survive what few adults did. What I really appreciated was the fact that the author never glossed over any gory details and showed everything exactly how the survivors themselves must have seen it – that’s the way the Holocaust literature should be written to truly demonstrate the horror of it all in order for the same horror to never happen again.
A must-read for everyone.
I’ve ready many books about the Holocaust, but none that dove straight into my soul as this one did. Holden took a true story and made it into an electric page-turning appraisal of the best and worst of mankind. I loved this book.
I am not sure how to write this because I have read a lot books about WW2 and this one especially listening to it. Took me to whole another place. I wanted to cry or yell listening to this book. I do understand why there are mixed reviews on this book. The writing style of it. I still gave this book five stars a lot of information in this book. I highly recommend this book or audiobook to listen to these three women stories and how brave they were to survive with their babies. This is a book I will remember and hold close to my heart. I will be keeping this review short because I want who ever reads this book or listen to it with open heart for these women and the people that were killed.
Oh, my, this was the most graphic, eye-opening book I have ever read about the Jewish extermination by the Nazi’s. And I have read a lot of them! This book should be A MUST READ by all teens while they are attending high school. This should NEVER be forgotten or made light of. How these babies ever survived is nothing short of a miracle. I pay my respects to them and their precious and brave Mothers. I will never forget them. Not will I forget their Fathers.
Many many sacrifices by these noble people.
This was a true account and one of the most vivid in its descriptions of the Holocaust. In this respect it was disturbing, but the strength and endurance and optimism of the three women was truly inspirational. It was an unforgettable story.
A lot of detail provided that doesn’t make it into standard histories of the Nazi atrocities. How can we be so cruel to human beings who are essentially no different from the rest of us? The three mothers are admirable. That their babies survived birth, Mauthausen Concentration Camp and being refugees is miraculous. It’s unbelievable how the SS had locals so intimidated and brainwashed that they dared not to interfere.
Three women – unacquainted – are transported to concentration camps late in WW2 because they happen to be of Jewish descent. All three are newly pregnant, a condition that was most often a ticket to the gas chambers immediately off the train. “Born Survivors” details how the three women managed to stay alive and give birth to and preserve their babies. All were eventually liberated but were still not aware of their shared circumstances, apart from hints of gossip here and there that there were “other” babies on the train that took them to their last prison camp. The book is well researched and well written, drawing extensively from primary sources. There is enough information about what happened to each woman and her child after the war/liberation/refugee camps to satisfy the reader’s unavoidable curiosity. Holocaust events present a challenge to read, always, but the book is worthwhile and does not stray into gruesome descriptions just for the sake of them.
An amazing story of three survivors and their babies. A miracle that any of them survived. I appreciated the background and context and also what knowledge of what became of these women and their babies after the war. Thoughtfully written.
I think this is the best descriptive book of the Holocaust that I have ever read. It was inspirational to see what these 3 mothers and babies had to endure at the hands of the Nazi’s. The descriptions of the death and work camps was so true to life from what I have read in previous books about the Holocaust. I would recommend this to anyone who really wants to know what really happened to people during the Holocaust!
It will take you behind the scenes of the holocaust and show you what was happening. It shows the human struggle and it is tremendously inspiring. You can’t help but feel you are there, crying at times and cheering at other times. Great book.
Well written historical account of haunting events that should not be forgotten.
Remarkable story of resilient women who survived.
Every time I read another story set in ww2 time (nonfiction and historical fiction) I continue to be shocked with the horrors that occurred. This book, although so so sad, is still so inspiring.
I live with a history buff who knows the world wars history inside and out, but I’ve no brain for it – until now. Born Survivors was an incredibly compelling recounting of women who survived the concentrations camps and gave birth to their children there. The incredible job of researching the motivations of these families, the depth of understanding of the characters is testament to the authors commitment to her topic. The writing is straightforward and the way she weaves the tale is truly incredible. This book is unnerving, fascinating, and an acknowledgement of true heroism. It will be up to the reader to decide if the endings are happy ones. I think we’ll all agree they are amazing ones. Well done. Highly recommended.
This book was so very heavy but so wonderful at the same time. I cannot imagine living during this time and having to endure what these women did. So incredible! Highly recommend
I will be eternally haunted by this book!
As someone that has studied history and continues to do so, I was awestruck by the work of this writer. This story will stay with me for the rest of my days. I have read other accounts of the holocaust and they have all been heart-wrenching, but this one stands alone. Wendy Holden did a remarkable job researching for this book and then honoring these three amazing mothers. While others in our time, abort without a care, these women risked their lives to protect the lives growing within them. I hold dear all the millions that died at the hand of the Nazis but this particular book is has a beauty of underlined hope and love. To not give this book 5 stars because it was “too hard to read or painful” is a slap in the face to what the survivors and what those that died went through. I warn you this is a tough book to get through, but it is a MUST READ!
Holden gracefully shares the testimonies of three incredibly brave women. These women endured the horrors of the Holocaust. Their indomitable spirit is such an inspiration.
Recommend to those who enjoy overcoming stories.
I borrowed a copy from my local library. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I loved this book because it was a true story about 3 woman surviving the Holocaust. It was very graphic! So was the tragedy of the 30’s and 40’s In Europe! Hopefully children of today are learning about this time and how hate can destroy a race of people. What an eye opener.