This is where the information on female guards with the exceptions of suze arts and elisabeth lupka was obtained from. Sarah helms first book was about vera atkins, who worked in the. Months before the outbreak of world war ii, heinrich himmlerprime architect of the holocaustdesigned a special concentration camp for women. Located about fifty miles north of berlin, the camp was the site of murder by slave labor, torture, starvation, shooting, lethal in a landmark work of history. Ravensbruck is a camp relatively unknown because it doesnt fit the holocaust narrative. This book at last gives full voice to the women of ravensbruck, the only nazi concentration camp for women, for the very first time. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read if this is a woman.
Ravensbruck was the only major nazi concentration camp for women. The following images of ravensbruck womens concentration camp present a stark image of the brutality of the nazi regime but, more than that, they are a testament to the strength of these women, who would make jewelry, write comic operettas about camp life, and organize secret education programs to remind themselves of their humanity. Hitlers concentration camp for women ebook written by sarah helm. At its peak, in february 1945, it held 46,473 women. A masterly and moving account of the most horrific hidden atrocity of world war ii. Everyday life in a womens concentration camp 193945 jack g. A comprehensive history of the only concentration camp entirely for women, this book tells the story of ravensbr ck from the moment when the first 867 women. The female auxiliaries who assisted the ss in running the concentration camp system, isbn 0764314440. First of all the uk title comes from primo levi s book if this is a man often titled survival in auschwitz in the us.
Ravensbruck, the allfemale concentration camp, in 23. The only nazi concentration camp built for women opened in may 1939, designed to hold 3,000. She documented her ordeal alongside her sister betsie ten boom in her book the hiding place, which was eventually produced as a motion picture. Ss head and the supervisor of the nazis network of concentration camps, heinrich himmler, was a constant visitor in ravensbruck. His mistress, who he affectionately called bunny, lived in their love nest located nearby the camp and it was his practice to drop by when he was on his way to berlin.
But the story of ravensbruck concentration camp is well worth remembering. Ravensbruck, the largest concentration camp for women, was constructed in 1938 and officially opened i understood now what this book should be. Life and death in hitlers concentration camp for women by sarah helm. Ravensbruck, the largest concentration camp for women, was constructed in 1938 and officially opened the book would try to throw light on the nazis crimes against women, showing, at the same time, how an understanding of what happened at the camp for women can illuminate the wider nazi story.