The Nine by Gwen Strauss
2021 / 317 pgs. (84,000~ words) History

This is a deeply emotional narrative. It is a true account of the lives of nine young women, aged 18-26, who served in the French Resistance, were captured, and then sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp—only to escape during a death march at the end of the war.

The book is not just about their survival; it is a deep dive into who each of these women were. It explores why they joined the Resistance, how they were captured, and the torture they endured at the hands of the SS. It details how they kept their spirits and morale as high as possible in the camps, and how they formed their bond, as they didn’t all meet until they arrived at Ravensbrück.

There is also a wonderful narration of their escape—journeying through village after village, constantly fearing discovery by German soldiers or the SS, which would mean execution. The final section covers their lives after the war and how they were treated—or often forgotten—by the French Government despite their service.

The story is fascinating because, while many have heard of the Holocaust, people often forget the sheer variety of people put into concentration camps. The book mentions several groups often lost to history: the asozial (prostitutes, homosexuals, Sinti and Roma, and common criminals). It describes how this group survived in the same block and how they interacted.

As a person who has visited Dachau, this book really brings into perspective the number of people that Nazi Germany didn’t want in society.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s a really good book. Just be mentally prepared for what these women went through to survive. It can be heartbreaking.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a delightful book!

Lopaka