The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück

How an Intrepid Band of Frenchwomen Resisted the Nazis in Hitler's All-Female Concentration Camp

De: Lynne Olson

Narrado por: Lisa Flanagan

The extraordinary true story of a small group of Frenchwomen, all Resistance members, who banded together in a notorious concentration camp to defy the Nazis—from the New York Times bestselling author of Madame Fourcade’s Secret War

“At once heartbreaking and beautifully told, this is a masterwork of nonfiction, a must-read for anyone who wants more of the incredible true story behind Lilac Girls.”—Martha Hall Kelly, author of Lilac Girls

Decades after the end of World War II, the name Ravensbrück still evokes horror for those with knowledge of this infamous all-women’s concentration camp, better known since it became the setting of Martha Hall Kelly’s bestselling novel, Lilac Girls. Particularly shocking were the medical experiments performed on some of the inmates. Ravensbrück was atypical in other ways as well, not just as the only all-female German concentration camp, but because 80 percent of its inmates were political prisoners, among them a tight-knit group of women who had been active in the French Resistance.

Already well-practiced in sabotaging the Nazis in occupied France, these women joined forces to defy their German captors and keep one another alive. The sisterhood’s members, amid unimaginable terror and brutality, subverted Germany’s war effort by refusing to do assigned work. They risked death for any infraction, but that did not stop them from defying their SS tormentors at every turn—even staging a satirical musical revue about the horrors of the camp.

After the war, when many in France wanted to focus only on the future, the women from Ravensbrück refused to allow their achievements, needs, and sacrifices to be erased. They banded together once more, first to support one another in healing their bodies and minds and then to continue their crusade for freedom and justice—an effort that would have repercussions for their country and the world into the twenty-first century.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of photos and illustrations from the book.

Grabbed my heart

Another masterpiece from Lynne Olson. Could not put it down. Do not miss this one.

A remarkable story of survival

I was in high school in the late 70s. He certainly learned about Auschwitz and World War II however I don’t ever remember hearing of Ravenbrook women’s concentration camp in my education then I surely hope that this is included in education today so that people understand that there were many many concentration camps not just the most famous ones. Also the journey of these women and how much they helped each other survive was incredible. The experiments on a group of women which they call the rabbits was just horrifying. What made plight even worse was how post World War II just wanted to move on and stop reliving the horses therefore denied these women their retribution that they were due for some 15 years. I highly recommend this book.

Their bravery

How terrible humans can b to each other and how easily others looked the other way

Lesson for us today

I enjoyed the warm voice, easy listening, helping me to learn the important lessons from the women in the French Resistance. These lessons encourage us to be aware and fight what is happening today here and all around the world.

Kept waiting for the story to begin

Kept waiting for the story to begin, but was mostly monotonous reading aloud of researched facts.