La fille à la robe rayée

Women and the Holocaust #3

by Ellie Midwood

Germany, 1947.

A strange case scheduled for the Denazification Court lands on the desk of an American psychiatrist currently serving in Germany, Dr. Hoffman.

A former Auschwitz guard, Franz Dahler, is set to appear in court, and he has requested to bring the most unexpected witness to testify in his defense - one of his former inmates and current wife, Helena.

As soon as one of the newly emerging Nazi hunters and former Auschwitz inmate, Andrej Novák, recognizes the officer’s name, he demands a full investigation of Dahler’s crimes, claiming that the former SS man was not only abusing Helena in the camp but is also using her as a ploy to escape prosecution.

Silent, subdued, and seemingly dependent on her husband’s every word, Helena appears to be a classic victim of abuse, and possibly more of an aid to the prosecution instead of the defense.

As she begins giving her testimony, Dr. Hoffman finds himself more and more confused at the picture that gradually emerges before his eyes; a perpetrator is claimed to be the savior and the accuser, the criminal.

The better Dr. Hoffman gets to know each participant, the more he begins to question himself; whether he’s facing a most unimaginable love story, or a new and still-nameless psychological disorder affecting the very manner in which Helena sees the events of the past.

Partially based on a true story, this deeply psychological, haunting novel will take you back in time to the heart of Auschwitz and post-war Germany, and will keep you guessing the true motive of each side.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Holocaust, World War II, Fiction, Historical, Romance, War

480 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2019

About the author

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author, whose works have been translated into 20 languages. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, "The Girl from Berlin." Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her husband and their three dogs.

Reviews

[Marialyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I am a big fan of well-done historical fiction stories where the historical greatly outweighs the fiction. I have found that in the book The Girl In The Striped Dress written by Ellie Midward.

The Denazification Court has convened and a different case is being presented, that of a young SS officer stationed at Auschwitz who fell in love with a Jewish girl, Helena. We all are aware that to care about Jews is a crime according to the Nazi way of thinking, so when Dr Hoffman and American psychiatrist, is called in to render his opinion about the case, he is entranced by the very thought of it.

Franz Dahler, the SS officer is brought to trial bearing with him a most unusual witness his wife, Helena. As the trial proceeds we learn of how Franz first met Helen as she was pulled from the gas chambers. Listening to her signing at his birthday celebration, he feels drawn to her, and then embarks on a way to keep her safe. That way is to place her in the Kanada area where women and men separate clothes and baggage collected from the many victims who are brought to Auschwitz. It's a prized position where people are permitted to wear regular clothes, women's hair was not shorn, but life was still hard and hazardous with evil and vile men and women in control.

All of this adds up to much danger for any burgeoning romance, although both Franz and Helena are drawn to one another. Their love seems to be their fate.

By the time of the trial with a Nazi Hunter looking for revenge, it seems like Franz might find a prison cell awaiting him.

This book, based on real people, was intense with many graphic scenes of what hatred does. If people are indoctrinated to hate and believe others are terrorists, deplorables, and vermin they will eventually believe. If newspapers, radio, and speeches are inflammatory placing all of life's ills on a particular group of people, what else can we expect when instead of understanding and respect for others, we are taught animosity and hatred?

Interestingly, there might be a term for what Helena experienced called the Stockholm Syndrome when a captive falls in love with a captor. However in Helena's case, it just might have been that Franz became the rock on which she built her life upon.

Franz, through Helena, learned a most important lesson for love will always win against hate.

Thank you to Ellie Midwood, Bookuture, and NetGalley for this most powerful story. It has already published.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

”He was an SS man and she was an inmate and a Jew.”

Franz Dahler is a former Auschwitz guard and is on trial for his role one of the most horrific times in history. The story is mostly told from his wife Helena's point of view.

In this tragic, unsettling story, we learn how this unlikely pair met, fell in love and eventually married. But, the cover alone, as well as the description above, will tell the reader that this is no easy love story. Not in any way imaginable.

Their story begins with Helena Citronova, a Slovakian Jew, who is 24 hours away from being gassed. The night before, she is picked, along with a few women, to sing in front of an SS guard for his birthday. The man is Franz Dahler, and he simply fell in love. He saved Helena from the gas chamber, and many more times after that. During these horrendous times, through unspeakable experiences, Helena and Franz grew very close.

Their time together was not idyllic by any means, but as it turns out, it was something grown out of shared trials and experiences that created an unbreakable bond. This is just one of the reasons that Franz is on trial. While there was an ongoing crusade to destroy millions of Jews, and countless others, during World War II, afterward there was something else being done entirely. This itself was the Denazification Court. As many war criminals as could be rounded up and tried, these trials went on for several years. Franz Hahler (whose name was changed for this book) was one such man. His case was exacerbated because he married a Jew.

This was something that was fought tooth and nail during the war, and the trial by a former Auschwitz inmate, Andrej Novak. He made many claims against Franz, including stating that Franz and Helena were not in love, but instead that Franz forced himself on Helena and that he would forever be a danger to her.

What an incredible story! We witness many, many things in this book, such as the tragedies the prisoners suffered were rather vivid. Also, the fact that Helena dealt with survivor's guilt. She lived in a camp different from many, and although she suffered greatly, she had many advantages. We also got to see that those loyal to Hitler at that time could indeed be human, as was the case with Franz.

It is impossible not to imagine how we would have dealt with matters if we were there. It makes you really appreciate the life that many of us have now. Most of us deal with first-world problems, did I charge my tablet last night? I feel like ordering out tonight, what do I want?

I really appreciated two things in the Authors Note, actually pretty much the entire note, but two things really stand out. The first thing is a comparison between Stockholm syndrome and love vs. hate. Love won out in this case with Franz and Helena. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Reading this book, as incredibly difficult as it was, proved to be an amazing case of seeing things from a different perspective that in all my of reading historical fiction about World War II and Auschwitz, I never thought I could come remotely close to understanding how such a love could be formed.

It is usually quite easy to read a three or four hundred page book in one sitting, and in just a few hours. Very often, in fact. However, this book was extremely difficult and very hard to assimilate. I had to put it down several times, but I am very glad that I read it in order to gain a different perspective, as well as knowledge.

Lastly I want to commend the author for the respect that she showed towards Jehovah’s Witnesses both in the story and in the end note, because they were victims along with many others in addition to the Jews.

Many thanks to Historical Fiction Book Tours and to Ellie Midwood for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE HOLOCAUST

I have read a lot of World War II fiction in my time - and I will continue to read a lot more in the future. There are so many fascinating and heart breaking stories yet to be told and there are so many takes to take on this piece of our history. I loved how this book explored both the concept of good vs. evil and the psychological effects of the Holocaust after the war.

"It was our common belief that we had arrived at a place, which one could only leave through the chimney."

👍 What I Liked 👍

Psychology: It's no surprise that living through a traumatizing event like the Holocaust that you are going to come out on the other side with some psychological scars. However, I have never seen another book go this far into exploring those scars. Here, we see three different survivors, who each have their own way of coping. We also see an SS officer, who has to find a way to live with what he's been a part of. And through it all, we get the psychological evaluations of an actual psychologist. It really got me curious and made me feel like I learned something, which I always enjoy.

Good/evil: When we think about the Holocaust, it's easy for us to say that all the Germans and Nazi supporters were the bad guys. And in the large scheme of things, there's no denying that. But if you go to each individual person, the truth is hardly ever that clear or clean-cut. Yes, there's definitely a degree of evil in any person who can stand idly by and watch the atrocities that unfolded in places such as Auschwitz. But this book shows that there's another side to the coin. In Dahler, we have the perfect example of the grey areas of human evilness. At first there's no doubt in your mind that this guy is evil. But slowly you see another side, you see little acts of kindness, you see him putting himself in danger and sacrificing for another person. And you see a conscience. I really loved this revelation and evolution of Dahler's character.

Timelines: This story takes place both in the Holocaust years and during Dahler's trial in 1947. I found this to be a really creative and great way to get the story across. In the 1947 bits, a lot about the characters were revealed and showing their psychological after-effects of their experiences. It was also a great way to move the plot along in a different pace than the Holocaust parts.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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[Marquise · Rating 1 out of 5]

UPDATE 7/12/2021:

For more on the real story, I'd recommend you watch the newly released documentary Love It Was Not, available on Amazon Prime since last week. It had some new details not even I was aware of, and you'll understand what I meant that the real story is far more interesting than the romantic fictionalisation in this novel.

____________________________________


The real story is vastly more fascinating than this fictional rendition of the story of Jewish concentration camp inmate Helena Citrónová and SS officer Franz Wunsch, but it wouldn't allow for the type of topic exploration this novel delves into because they didn't get married and feelings were rather one-sided, as per Helena's account. Unfortunately, there's no book entirely on these two but mentions and chapters scattered throughout a number of history books and a documentary, and even more unfortunate, the only other novel about the Citrónová/Wunsch case, which does stay true to how it was in reality, is in Spanish and untranslated.

So readers are left with this very different rendition, in which the concentration camp parts are true to fact but the relationship and its outcome aren't. There's a preface and an afterword by the author that readers should read and pay attention to in order to avoid confusion, but that don't seem to have explained it all that well to some, to judge by some reviews and questions in which readers seem to indicate they thought Helena and Franz did indeed have a love story and ended up married in real life. Might be the wording and the digressions in the afterword contributed, too, for it isn't as succinctly clear and specific as it could've been.

In another of Midwood's novels, Franz is mentioned by his real surname, Wunsch, so when I picked this book up I sure expected it to tell the real story, and personally was deeply disappointed in the rendition. As I said, I find the real story vastly more fascinating in every sense as it was, without changes and alterations to the outcome. I've known this story for years, and when I've talked about it with others, I've been asked if I think or wish these two ended up together post-Auschwitz, so I'm familiar with the What If? scenarios for this case. As someone in the field, if the psychological "study" needs for the real facts to be altered, then it's neither enlightening nor productive. From a psychological (and even philosophical) standpoint, it's immensely more interesting to explore the reality of this uncommon story than speculate on an artificially-created alternative reality. And this is, in a nutshell, why I couldn't get into nor appreciate this alternate history version.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a well written and well researched story about Helena and Franz, an unlikely love story that must be shared with everyone. This is a remarkable story of a young SS guard Franz who saved Helena and her sister from the gas chamber. How these two end up falling in love, when their utmost being was taught to hate each other, in the circumstance they were in, where sickness, brutality and murder are happening at every turn.

I felt that this story gives a glimmer of hope, and highlights the miracle of love that can come from the horrors of the WWII death camp, Auschwitz. Midwood crafted beautifully, and with utmost care and compassion, a fictional tale based on true stories. I was moved by her writing though the circumstances were horrifying and unimaginable. In Helena's words, "we should never forget".

This was an amazing read for me and one that a highly recommend.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Ellie Midwood's heart-rendering tale THE GIRL IN THE STRIPED DRESS.

Where do I even begin to outline my thoughts the horrors that Ellie Midwood has recounted in this spectacular and beautiful story? How does one review such a telling and heartbreaking tale? THE GIRL IN THE STRIPED DRESS is a fictional tale based on the true story of an SS officer at Auschwitz and the young Jewish woman he fell in love with.

"He was an SS man and she was an inmate and a Jew."

Germany 1947: American psychiatrist Dr Hoffman is in charge of the Denazification process of former officers facing imprisonment for their crimes when a former inmate of the death camp Auschwitz has brought to his attention a guard who was brutal in his punishment of a particular inmate and even now continues his hold over her.

Now two years after the war ended, Dr Hoffman is present to witness former SS officer Frank Dahler brought to trial for crimes against humanity with his wife as his only defence. Is he innocent of the crimes for which he's been charged? Or is he a monster who has hidden his savagery well with a cruel hold over the woman who was once a prisoner and is now his wife? As he clasps her hand and gives it a squeeze, is it an element of control or a gesture of love? Those present at the trial have no idea of the torrent that is about to unfold as Dahler's wife begins to testify in his defence. The tangled web of love, dependence and heartache within the confines of Auschwitz of something so forbidden that could have seen them both shot.

Appearing pliant and incredibly timid, Helena Dahler leans heavily against her husband relying on him for support. Her eyes are downcast and she barely looks up throughout the court process. Dr Hoffman is puzzled by her demeanour and yet he finds her behaviour to be fascinating. Is she a victim of abuse being controlled by her husband? Is he a monster or was he a shelter from the storms that ravaged the death camp, keeping her safe from harm? Had she learned to seek him as her only source of strength and comfort? Did she marry him out of fear or repayment for his kindness? Did she truly love her husband or was she with him out of fear?

Helena is a Slovakian Jew who arrives at Auschwitz in March 1942 to be gassed the following day along with the many others with whom she has travelled. However, the night before she and a few other women are chosen to sing for an SS guard for his birthday. The officer, Franz Dahler, was enamoured by the young woman from the first moment he set eyes on her. Although she was scheduled to die in the gas chamber the following day, Franz had her seconded to his work detail in Kanada. Here life was not as harsh as in the rest of the camp. The inmates got to keep their hair, they ate marginally better and their lodgings were slightly improved. But they were still subjected to punishments from the whip if they so much as stepped out of line.

At first Helena rebuffed Dahler's kindness, believing him to be just another Nazi. He wrote her notes which she destroyed in anger, he hovered over her workstation which she found unsettling, he spoke to her with kindness which she saw as a trap. His behaviour toward her was disconcerting and she refused to be taken in by him. But then over time, she discovered that Franz Dahler was not like other SS guards. His kindness was not laced with malice. Nor did he have an ulterior motive. And not once did he force himself on her when other guards took their pleasures where they chose.

Over the course of her imprisonment, Franz saved her not once but three times from the gas chamber and through their shared experiences they formed an unbreakable bond. And in a place where there is so little hope, love blossoms. This is one of the reasons that Franz finds himself on trial. An SS guard, a sworn officer of the Reich, who was taught to be a natural Jew-hater...finds himself helping inmates and in love with a Jewess. This only exacerbated his case.

Brought to the attention of the court via Dr Hoffman by a former Auschwitz inmate, Andrej Novak who was also Slovakian, he fought against Dahler and Helena's supposed relationship and marriage believing Helena to be under duress and that Franz would forever be a danger to her. He presented evidence of many occasions in which Dahler had whipped or abused Helena in front of other guards and inmates, humiliating her. He also firmly believes that the couple were not in love and that Dahler forced himself on Helena with her timid behaviour currently evidence of his control over her. But as Hoffman listens and observes the actions of both Franz and Helena, he is not so sure.

Previously published as "Auschwitz Syndrome" , THE GIRL IN THE STRIPED DRESS is a powerful tale of true love surviving against all odds. In a place where there is no love, no hope, no kindness...Franz and Helena defied those odds. And while it is a heartwrenching love story, it will not be the only memory you will take away with you upon turning that final page. I have read many books set in death camps like Auschwitz but this one is not like any of those. Yes, we see the brutality of the guards and overseers, the hunger, the sickness, the stench of incinerated bodies, the propaganda of lies and deception, the inhumanity of it all...but in the midst of it, is a love story like no other. A forbidden love that would have seen them both put to death.

I cannot begin to describe the huge range of emotions that flooded through me as I read this book. Having not read Ellie Midwood before, the experience is such a powerful one that will have me seeking out further tales from the Holocaust that I know she has told.

THE GIRL IN THE STRIPED DRESS begins with the Denazification Tribunals in which Dr Hoffman plays a part afterwhich follows Helena's testimony of her time in Auschwitz told in her first person narrative. Throughout the story, intermittent chapters from Franz's trial is inserted as Hoffman seeks the opinion of another psychiatrist. There are a couple of chapters told by Franz with which Helena was not privy before the verdict is handed down in the final chapter. The plotline was cleverly presented through the various perspectives that unfolded skillfully through Midwood's capable hand.

This heartwrenching tale of true love that is based on the true story of Franz Wunsch and Helena Citronova, with their surnames changed for the book, is one that will remain with me for some time. Amidst the horrors, the heartbreak and the unimaginable inhumanity, a glimmer of hope shines with the miracle of love found between two unlikely people.

This is an amazing read that I highly recommend. Pick it up. Read it. You won't be sorry.

*Previously titled: Auschwitz Syndrome

I would like to thank #EllieMidwood, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGirlinTheStripedDress in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Perhaps that was the very thing that had happened. I had gone mad and didn’t notice?”

През последните няколко години се наблюдава изобилие на сюжетите “концентрационен чик-лит” или “военновременен чик-лит” предимно от времето на втората световна война. Любовните романи постепенно превземат и тази територия, размивайки все още прясната в исторически аспект рана в нещо доста по-смилаемо, по-сантиментално и по-безопасно. Историческият фон се превръща в пъстър сценичен декор - нещо от прашните книги, без болезнената пряка връзка. Тъй като съм от поколение, чувало живи свидетелства за това време, ми е трудно да преглътна драстичната разлика на сантименталната фикция с чутото или прочетените спомени на свидетели. Но все пак някои от тези заглавия си имат достойнствата.

Този конкретен екземпляр се оказа доста по-шизофренен от очакваното, което си е чисто достойнство. Абсурдната комбинация от любовен роман с жестоки исторически свидетелства се оказа удачна за конкретния сюжет. С уговорката, че макар авторката да твърди, че всичко е базирано на реални личности, то шансовете историята някога да се случи тъкмо така при конкретните обстоятелства клони към отрицателни стойности. (След проверка в нета - не се е случила точно така). Но пък на човек му се ще да се надява, че може да се случи.

През 1947 г. един от последните американски трибунали по денацификация и участващият психиатър се сблъскват със странен случай. Обвинен в пряко убийство и изнасилване бивш надзирател от Аушвиц призовава за свидетел на защитата бивша концлагерничка, която е…настоящата му съпруга. А в Аушвиц през 1942 г. се срещат 20-годишни момче и момиче. Само че тя е депортирана словашка еврейка, а той е от СС, прехвърлен заради рана от източният фронт. Тя е умна, но с отчаяна и обсебваща нужда да обича някого, а той е с промит мозък, но все още достатъчно млад да кривне от индоктринирането.

Така започва ужасът, прерастнал в любовен роман в главата на Хелена, което е чисто и просто недостатъчно изследваният и неназован все още (чак до 70-те) неин Стокхолмски синдром. Когато психиката се счупи, всичко е възможно. Дори да възприемеш като герой единственият човек с униформа, който все пак проявява зачатъци на човечност, а и наистина я спасява както от газовата камера, така и от медицинските експерименти. Но ако това все пак се окаже път към вид себесъхранение, и дори спокойствие, едва ли може да бъде съдено.

А започналото като любовен роман за Франц, щастливо възприемащ ада около себе си като нещо правилно и в реда на нещата, се превръща постепенно в роман на ужасите, когато от дразнещата загриженост за едно расово малоценно човешко същество се стига до проглеждане за действителността и безсилие да промени нещо особено. Защото ако спасиш един човек, но помогнеш за смъртта на безброй други, това прави ли те по-малко убиец? Дори с всичките последвали осъзнаване и угризения? Донякъде да, според мен. Като се има предвид, че случаи на осъзнаване сред този контингент са пълно изключение. А процесът по денацификация, както посочва и авторката, е силно ограничен, защото иначе затворите не биха побрали всички виновни.

Чест прави на авторката, че дискредитира в прав текст и двамата си герои - нея като непоправимо увредена жертва, него - като убиец с възвърната съвест и стремеж към изкупление, но в никакъв случай - герой. Което обаче не е отрицание на любовта - макар и странна, счупена, но носеща своего рода покой и пречистване. Любовта е спасила и двамата, но не напълно. Историческото проучване също е добро.

Краят ми дойде слаб - в жизнерадостен американски съвременен стил “хайде да простим на всички изверги и да им се усмихваме”, което е доста пожелателно мислене. Реакцията на бившия член на Зондеркомандото към надзирателя не е естествена в края - никой оцелял не може да се усмихне на палача си и да му стисне ръката. Изключено. Но все пак историята ми хареса, героите - също. Дава вяра, че човечността може да оцелее и под формата на или в рамките на личностно разстройство. Или да се пробуди от такова.

⭐️Силно субективни и съмнителни 3,5 звезди⭐️

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Midwood has taken the horrors of the WWII death camp, Auschwitz and woven a fictional tale based on a true story of an Auschwitz guard and the young Jewish woman he fell in love with. Taking place two years after the war ended, as the Denazification Court brought Franz Dahler to trial, those present had no idea that a tangled web of love and dependence was about to unfold as Dahler’s wife, a former prisoner would testify in his defense.

Helena appeared docile, timid and meek, relying heavily on her husband for support, bringing trained psychiatrists to a state of utter confusion. Was she a victim of abuse who learned to crave her husband as her only source of strength? Was he a monster or a knight keeping her safe from the ravages of Auschwitz? Had she married him after the war out of fear, as repayment for his kindnesses or did she truly love him? Was her recollection of events twisted by time, her own mental instability or was she a woman of strength and clarity who found love under the most bizarre and unlikely circumstances?

This tale unfolds with a stark clarity, raw, often brutal and completely unimaginable to contemporary minds as humans were treated as less than garbage by other humans. How, in the midst of this evil could a healthy love grow? How could it be kept hidden? How could it have grown and flowered into a lifelong commitment? Or had it become an illness of a mind shattered into fragile fragments/

AUSCHWITZ SYNDROME is one more of Ellie Midwood’s stories that defy the darkness of the times as her characters struggle to survive, to find strength in the human soul and to hope for a future through love.

Heartbreaking, horrifying, tear-worthy and often unimaginable, Ms. Midwood’s power to create life in her characters and the scenes she pens is amazing as we are invited to decide for ourselves. This is history as it should be told because history is about humanity. A powerful read that will haunt your own soul, because once read, it cannot be unread or forgotten.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Ellie Midwood. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Women and the Holocaust - Book 3
Publication Date: October 11, 2019
Publisher: Ellie Midwood
Genre: Historical fiction | WWII
Print Length: 364 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Manu Andreea · Rating 5 out of 5]

,, Infernul lui Dante e minciună", această frază din carte a descris toată acțiunea cărții. Am simțit neputință, compasiune, furie și confuzie.
În lumea asta crudă, doi tineri din lumi diferite au găsit curajul de a se îndrăgosti... O nebunie totală și inimaginabilă în ochii lumii de atunci.
Încă o dată, iubirea poate învinge și în cele negre timpuri!

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tikrais faktais paremta istorija. 💔
Nepaliks abejingų nei vieno skaitytojo. 🕊
Šioje istorijoje gyvuoja tikėjimas, viltis, gėrio apraiškos, kurios šiai tragiškai istorijai suteikia pozityvumo atspalvį. 🌺

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Reviewed By Viga Boland for Readers’ Favorite ***

If you’re not a fan of historical fiction but really enjoy reading about two people falling in love under difficult, even extraordinary circumstances, then don’t think twice about selecting Auschwitz Syndrome by Ellie Midwood as your next book. This is one of the most amazing stories about two people, Helena and Franz, who actually met when Helena was saved not once, but twice from the gas chambers at Auschwitz by Franz, an SS guard. Given who each of them was, why would Franz save Helena? How could they possibly fall in love and, believe it or not, eventually marry?

This is the novel’s unlikely, but true love story, but it is far from the only memory you will take away with you once you finish Auschwitz Syndrome. Many readers will find it impossible to erase Midwood’s depiction of what prisoners endured at Auschwitz...the brutality of the camp overseers, the incessant hunger and typhoid, the lies and deception, the stench of incinerated bodies, the incredible inhumanity...it’s all hard to stomach. Midwood has thoroughly researched the people, places, and events she presents in this book, much of which is based on eyewitness testimonies by survivors and documented in various books about Auschwitz. I urge you to read her research notes at the end of the book. There you will see how much of what you just finished reading actually happened to the real people in this story.

To help her tell this story, Midwood has set the unfolding of the facts in the Denazification Court, where psychiatrist Dr. Hoffman listens to and observes the actions and demeanors of Franz and his wife, Helena. Each takes turns telling the story from their side. Dr. Hoffman’s task is to determine whether Helena is testifying on Franz’s behalf out of love or fear. Her testimony and Dr. Hoffman’s conclusion is critical to Franz escaping prosecution. What does the court decide and was their decision the correct one? Don’t be surprised if you find yourself holding your breath as you rush to learn the verdict. In the realities it discloses, Auschwitz Syndrome is, at times, more horrifying than any fiction horror story could be. Midwood’s writing style is impeccable, a brilliant blend of description and dialogue, with true-to-life characters who capture your imagination, challenge your perceptions of human nature, and pull your emotions in every direction. Little wonder Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. I cannot praise Auschwitz Syndrome and its author highly enough!

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you HFVT and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Auschwitz Syndrome
By: Ellie Midwood

*REVIEW* 💛💛💛💛
I have read extensively about WWII, but I have never read anything quite like the Auschwitz Syndrome. It is almost beyond belief that this story is based on facts. Helena was a prisoner at Auschwitz. She was saved from the gas chamber by an SS guard named Franz. Now, it is the time of the denazification trials in 1947. Franz is on trial and may go to prison. Helena is there to testify for Franz because he is her husband. Two different psychologists try to understand how a guard and his prisoner came to be married. Did Helena marry Franz for love, or was she forced into marriage out of fear for her life? The account is narrated in the past tense, during the imprisonment at Auschwitz, and the present day 1947 trial. It is difficult and disturbing to read about the horrors Helena and countless others suffered at the hands of their captors. Still, in this place of hopelessness and despair, a tiny ray of hope found a place between Franz and Helena. A marriage of actual love between a Nazi SS guard and a Jewish prisoner borne from the hell of Auschwitz is nothing short of miraculous. This story is amazing and inspiring. The research and work to write such a book is obvious on every page and in every detail. I found it informative in many ways, and I was speechless at times. If you have any interest in the subject matter, pick up a copy and read it. You will be stunned, awed, fascinated and compelled to believe things you never thought possible. Just a remarkable book!

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, quite frankly, a hard book for me to review. I found the story gripping and emotional, a very stark look into the horrors of Auschwitz/Birchenau. It was a fast-moving story, and I didn't want to put it down. My problem was with the central plot of the story--the love story of Helena, an inmate, and Franz, one of the SS who helped run the concentration camp. I understand that it was based on a true story, but it was very hard for me to stomach the feelings between the couple. She was desperate and grateful for any humanity shown her, which explained her dependence and even affection toward Franz, although it is hard for me to believe that it was anything deeper than what we know call Stockholm Syndrome. It was harder for me to fathom someone who had been brought up under the Third Reich, completely indoctrinated by Hitler and all that he stood for, someone who upon seeing a Jewish prisoner---someone he had been taught to revile--fell in love with her in a matter of days. As I said, I know that this is based on a true story, but I ended up finding their "love" disturbing. This is a well-written, heavily-researched novel, and I can't fault the author for her storytelling ability, her characterizations, and so therefore I will give it 5 stars. But I had to conclude that this was just not a good fit for me, and my own feelings.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl in the Striped Dress: A completely heartbreaking and gripping World War 2 page-turner, based on a true story was written by Ellie Midwood. This novel is quite interesting but it is hard to believe that it is based on a true story. It is difficult to believe that a Jewish girl would fall in love with a Nazi officer in Auschwitz and no one knew about it for sure or they would have been punished to the extreme. It is just difficult to believe that life went on behind those fences and walls. However, after reading the book and the history at the completion of the book, I see that it did happen. There is no telling what the human being will do or how they will feel.
Helena was among a group of Slovakian women who were brought to Auschwitz. They were specifically chosen to work in the area known as Kanada. As such, the officer in charge, Franz Dahler, allowed them to keep their hair and dress in regular clothing instead of the striped clothing allotted to prisoners. He immediately was attracted to Helena and let her know. She didn’t want anything to do with him; but saw that he would perhaps be able to help her. He frightened her because she was at his mercy; but she managed to get the courage to ask for a special barracks for the women with a shower they could use every day. They were allowed to eat anything they found and could take underwear and sweaters to keep themselves warm. Later they were given changes of clothing along with the showers. The reason given was to stop the spread of lice onto the clothes meant for German civilians and to stop typhus. By the time her sister and her family arrived in Auschwitz, Helena was able to convince Franz to save her sister from the gas chambers. He could do nothing about her children; but he did save her.
It is at his Denazification hearing that we hear the story through her words as well as his as they testify. We begin to see how her feelings towards him changed and how he changed towards her and the other women of Kanada. He was one of the very few SS men to show remorse for what he did.
The book is very good and compels one to continue reading to try to understand the changes in Helena and Franz.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the series, “Women and The Holocaust,” and definitely her best work so far, “The Girl In The Striped Dress” is an unforgettable novel about forbidden love within the barbed wire confines of Auschwitz.

I’ve read many Holocaust books and noted that some prisoners worked at Kanada and gathered from clues that it was definitely where you wanted to be should you be destined for Auschwitz. I was happy author Ellie Midwood took time to explain what it is and how it got my country’s name. This is Helena’s -The Kanada Girl’s – story.

Helena’s story is different from any other Auschwitz-Birkenau historical fiction I’ve ever read. Sentenced to death for a crime she didn’t commit, Helena, a Slovakian Jewess, arrives in Auschwitz one snowy day in the Spring of 1942. Given only 24h to live, she’s not even tattooed with a prison number. As fate would have it, she’s pulled out of a prison line up and ordered to sing Happy Birthday to one of the guards. Entranced by her singing, the birthday boy passes her a slice of his cake and before she can even gobble it down, he’s ordered her life spared. He needs her to work under his command in the Kanada work detail.

In a place where there is little hope, love blossoms. You’ll have to read and determine for yourself if you believe it’s a case of Stockholm Syndrome or whether Helena actually fell in love with Franz. Regardless, it touched my heart to read about “an SS man who changed under his beloved’s influence from a ‘natural Jew-hater’ into someone who began helping inmates.” It testifies to the idea that love is always stronger than hate, and that choosing kindness over violence can transform anyone.

You’ll experience a wide range of emotions with this true story as well as add to your knowledge of the Denazification Tribunals held in 1947. Midland, a Nazi Germany history expert, masterfully takes her readers to the scene of the action and accesses her character’s innermost thoughts and emotions.

To be published August 9, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Ellie Midwood, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

*previously published as Auschwitz Syndrome

[Kathryn Gauci · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often I finish a book with tears in my eyes, no matter how much I’ve enjoyed it. But this story certainly tugged at my heart. In fact I would say it did more than that – it broke it – and it did it on several levels. Ellie Midwood is an esteemed WWII author who I have come to admire, not only for her smooth writing style, but also for the immense research she takes for her novels. No stone is left upturned to discover the truth. The Auschwitz Syndrome is one such example.
Without giving away any spoilers, this is the story of an inmate at Auschwitz who worked in the Kanada work detail unit – a harrowing job, but one that at least allowed the inmates to live a day longer – and her relationship with her SS guard. Whilst the horrors of the concentration camp are well-described, it is easy to see how the smallest gesture of kindness can build into something far more complex. And it does.
In such a surreal setting, the mind plays tricks to survive. Yet, for those few fortunate enough to survive, what were the lasting effects? Was it possible for the nightmare to end? For most of us, it’s impossible to imagine the impact the Final Solution had on those who experienced it, and the lingering effects did indeed give psychologists and psychoanalysts something new to come to terms with. The title says it all. My heart-felt thanks to the author for writing such a story. It is one that will stay with me for a long time. For avid readers of WWII and particularly those interested in the Holocaust, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It will touch you.

[Nicole*bookaholic* · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so good.

[Maria Ionela Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"dragostea este întotdeauna mai puternica decât ura"

[Aiste Gashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Labai idomi istorija, tikriausiai nesu skaicius knygos apie Ausvice gimusia meile tarp kalines ir esesininko. Taip pat buvo kitaip, nes paraleliai Ausvico istorijai, vyko teismas, kuriame noreta irodyti, kad ta meile nebuvo tikra. Patiko, nors vietomis jauciau nuoboduli, iki tobulumo siek tiek truko.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fictional story, with so much truth behind it, but how could something like this really happen?
What a wonderful job the author has done with this book, and it should be mandatory reading.
We will never know for sure if one of the prisoners that we come to know was suffering from Stockholm/Auschwitz Syndrome, with a Jewish inmate in a relationship with an SS Officer, and through the words of the author we are there for the Nuremberg trials.
A story of heart wrenching pain, atrocities, forgiveness, love, such a range of emotions, and you will feel them all and more in this book.
I will be looking for more by Ellie Midwood!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookatour and was not required to give a positive review.

[Amy Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Midwood has quickly become my go-to author for historical fiction Holocaust books. When you pick up one of her books you know you're going to get masterful writing, immaculate research, and a beautiful story.

Auschwitz Syndrome tells the story of an SS guard, Franz, and his wife, a Czechoslovakian Jew that he saved from Auschwitz when he was a guard there. It's told alternatively between the past, when Franz and Helena meet, to the present when he is on trial at the Denazification Court. Helena is there to testify for her husband and the court is set to determine if she married him because he abused her or if they were truly in love.

I think this is one of my favorite of Ellie's novels so far. The human psyche fascinates me so I found it a compelling read. How could a Jewish prisoner fall in love with an SS guard during that absolutely horrific time and in that gruesome place with death and danger all around? Midwood never shies away from portraying the horrors of that time and while it makes for a tough read, I think it's important to witness what they went through and learn from it.

Auschwitz Syndrome is a book that will stay with you long after you finish.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I so wish to wake up and realize that I only dreamed it all. The whole... But not you. I would have died if I woke up and didn't have you."

It was impossible. Forbidden. Austrian SS-Unterscharführer Franz Dahler has no right to even think of Helena Kleinová let alone fall in love with her. For his beloved is a Jewish Slovakian prisoner, and they are in Auschwitz which so happens to be the largest of the Nazi concentration camps and extermination centres. And yet... Dahler can not help himself.

How dare he mention love in this place. How dare he. Helena Kleinová would *rather be dead than be involved with an SS man. There was only hatred in her heart for Dahler, or so she had thought. But in a place such as Auschwitz, where there is no sanctuary, no way out, some unexpected tenderness can, over time, change one's opinion. Love, it seems can be surprising as much as it is unwanted. It can be for the enemy. What love cannot be is contained and nor can it be controlled.

However, if anyone ever found out about their love, then the consequences... The consequences, like some tragic play, would end in death for them both.

But time marches carelessly on. The war is over. The Nuremberg Trials are over. American psychiatrist, Dr Hoffman, has been asked to attend a rather unusual case scheduled for the Denazification Court. Franz Dahler has been summoned to appear in court and Nazi hunter, Andrej Novák, wants a full investigation, for he and Dahler, know each other, for Novák was also at Auschwitz. Dahler is guilty of horrendous crimes against humanity, Novák is so sure of that.

But, to everyones surprise, Dahler requests to bring a witness to testify in his defence. This witness is a woman. This witness was, like Novák, at Auschwitz. This witness is his wife — Helena Dahler.

Auschwitz Syndrome: a Holocaust novel based on a true story (Women and the Holocaust Book 3) by Ellie Midwood is the deeply haunting novel that tells the intimate yet harrowing story of Helena Kleinová. Helena was spared from the gas chambers because she was pulled from the crowd of women assembled and forced to sing for Franz Dahler's birthday. It could have been any of the women who were waiting in line to be led to their death, but it wasn't. It had been her. Auschwitz Syndrome is very much Helena's story. And what a story it is.

Through Helena's eyes, we witness the horror, the fear, the struggle to survive, but also her unforgettable first love, who just so happened to be her sworn enemy. Words cannot express how deeply moving Helena's story is. Auschwitz Syndrome demands every emotion conceivable from the reader. I felt Helena's fear, her anguish, her total despair. But also, I experienced her conflicted emotions when it came to Dahler. She hates everything about him. His kind have murdered her people, and yet she is drawn to him in an unexplainable way until he becomes the very centre of her world. She could survive anything but losing him. This book had me in tears on more than one occasion not just because of the horrors that is Auschwitz, but because of the emotional vulnerability of Helena.

Midwood demonstrates through Helena, the grave emotional consequences of being a survivor. Helena is a broken young woman and one who will never completely recover from her ordeal. I was thoroughly moved by how Dahler takes care of her while they are in court. He is the most loving of men. Dahler will do absolutely anything for his Helena. Dahler is an anti-hero in one sense. He is who he is. He has used a whip on the inmates, he has done things that he is ashamed of, but he is no murderer. Dahler is as disturbed by what he witnesses as Helena is, but he was as trapped. He could not speak out. He could not do anything other than small acts of defiance — letting the women who were under his charge eat what food they find in the clothes they were sorting. He is in an impossible situation. He would prefer fighting at the front to this. However, when he falls in love with Helena, and he realises how dependent she becomes on him, Dahler is even more entangled in Auschwitz. He cannot leave this terrible place because if he does, who will protect her? I thought his portrayal was masterful. He really changes his outlook. Dahler allows himself the dangerous luxury of thinking, of seeing things through eyes that are no longer influenced by Nazi doctrine. He takes great personal risk to keep Helena safe, and I cannot help but admire him for that. I think Midwood has done Franz Wunsch justice in this portrayal. He was only 20 years old when he came to Auschwitz. It must have been truly horrendous to witness and be forced to partake in something so inhuman, and so devoid of compassion. There are no words to describe Auschwitz adequately or what it was like to have been an inmate there or, for that matter, a guard — for sometimes history forgets that not all Nazis were monsters.

Auschwitz and its renowned five smoking chimneys is not the place where one would expect to discover a tender and unforgettable romance, least of all between a SS guard and a Jewish inmate. But... Helena Kleinová (Helena Citrónová) and Kommandoführer Franz Dahler (Franz Wunsch) did find love in amongst the despair and the death of the most notorious Nazi extermination camps. Midwood has taken considerable care to stick to the historical facts of this remarkable and wholly unforgettable love story. Drawing on personal testimonials from Auschwitz, Midwood has penned a story that is as rich in historical accuracy as it is in emotional intensity. Auschwitz Syndrome, like Thomas Keneally's Schindlers Ark, does not gloss over the horrific realities of what went on in this camp. With regards to the court case, Midwood has for the sake of the story used a little poetic license and brought it forward in time. I can understand why she did this, and I do believe she made the right choice. If Midwood had stuck with the history of this case, then I fear the book might have become a little disjointed.

Midwood is a writer that I admire very much for her ability to bring her characters to life, to make them breathe, and grow, and develop. But this... This book, these characters, this story is without a doubt Midwood’s best work yet. Midwood has set the bar very high. This is what historical fiction is all about. You cannot get better than this.

Auschwitz Syndrome — a play on words, perhaps, or maybe not. Maybe in the darkest of hours, in the least likely of places, love could indeed be found between a young Jewish woman and an SS guard. If ever a book deserved to be adapted for the big screen then it is this one. I, for one, would pay to see it.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

*Helena Citrónová.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been fortunate enough to read several books by Ellie Midwood and have found those that I have read to be extremely well researched and written. When I saw that this book was available to request as an Advanced Reader Copy, I quickly hopped on it and requested to read it. Many thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for allowing me the privilege. All opinions are completely my own.

Midwood has an incredible knack for finding fascinating true stories from World War 2 and making them come to life for the reader. Several of her novels have been set in Auschwitz as is this one. It is factually inspired and most of the names of the characters in the novel are the names of real people. She did , however, change the last names of the two main characters - Helena and Franz. I appreciated that even before I started reading their story Midwood had written a note to the reader to explain some of the background.

The story is set in the year or so after the end of the war when DeNazification Trials were underway to try and deal with the worst offenders from the Holocaust realizing that there simply were not enough jails or infrastructure to imprison everyone who had in some way followed the Nazi ideology. The Americans were trying to get as many trials done as they could before they were simply placed back in German hands where they felt even more people would get away with very little in the way of consequences. This story comes to life through the course of the trial and it grabbed me almost immediately and drew me in to the point where I hated to put it down. I found it gut-wrenching as the various witnesses told their story through the use of flashback testimony.

When Helena first arrived in Auschwitz she was told that she would be exterminated as soon as possible. First though she was chosen by a German officer to sing at the birthday celebration of Franz Dahler, another member of the SS. He liked her singing (and even more liked her) so he refused to allow her to be sent to her death and demanded she be assigned to work in "Kanada" under his command. Horrible though the job was (sorting the belongings of those who had just been exterminated), it was still one of the best jobs one could have in Auschwitz as the food was better, they were allowed to keep their hair (on their head) and they had better sleeping quarters. They lived however, surrounded by the stench of bodies being cremated pretty much 24/7.

Helena had no idea why she had been singled out to survive. The work was still extremely hard and whippings could occur for very minor reasons. When Dahler handed her a note telling her that he was in love with her, she was disgusted and couldn't believe it, but over time their relationship developed and ultimately, after the war they were married. Another inmate of Auschwitz, Novak became a co-plaintiff in the case against Dahler. He had personally been whipped by Dahler and had also watched as Helena developed a relationship with him. I honestly wondered if Novak was in love with Helena himself. He believed that Dahler was an abusive liar and rapist who manipulated Helena for his own benefit. Hearing his point of view throughout the trial was heart-wrenching.

Each trial also included a team which included at least one psychologist with experience in assessing whether an individual was telling the truth or not. They never expected that Dahler would come to trial holding his wife's hand, nor that she would seem so incapable of being parted from him.

Can love exist in such circumstances, or is it just some type of psychological disorder? Can someone who has been raised with Nazi ideology being hammered into his head truly change? Can a prisoner filled with hate learn to temper it? Is anyone innocent in such circumstances? This book provided so much food for thought and moved me immensely. I felt as if I had been in Kanada as the events were taking place. It will no doubt stick with me for a long time. I think it would be an excellent read for a book club as there is so much that could be discussed and learned from this story.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Girl in the Striped Dress" in exchange for my honest review.

Ms. Midwood has once again written a gripping story based on true events that captures the reader from the very first page.

The story starts in Germany in 1947 at the Denazification Tribunal. Franz Dahler (25) is before the tribunal because he was an SS guard at Auschwitz. With him is his Slovakian wife Helena Kleinová who had been an inmate under his charge. Dr. Hoffman, a psychiatrist and Lieutenant Carter, a lawyer are part of the Tribunal - asking questions, observing. Andrej Novák - a Nazi hunter and former inmate himself wants Franz put away. He thinks that he has forced Helena to marry him and keeps her prisoner. Franz and Helena tell a different story.

The story continues from Helena's perspective at Auschwitz on March 21, 1942. She had just arrived from Slovakia and was scheduled to die the following day. She had been forced to sing for Dahler's birthday. He asked that she be assigned to Kanada where he was in charge.

By April Dahler slips a note to her saying that "I fell in love with you". He gives her real food, he gives her money to barter with.

The story continues back and forth between the tribunal and Helena and Franz's recollections from Auschwitz. When Helena was transferred to Birkenau she first met Andrej. He tells the Tribunal that Franz beat her and he saw this. Helena says that it was the only way he could save her from a worse fate.

When her sister arrives in the camp and is heading to the gas chamber it is Dahler that saves her. Helena testifies that they can ask her sister who has traveled from Palestine about who brought her out of the bunker. (Her sister is 10 years old than Helena but at 35 she looks more like her mother than her sister.) Franz nursed Helena back to health from typhus. Hiding her in his office, bringing her food and medicine. Helena felt that she needed Franz more than he needed her. Franz needed her out of love but Helena needed him to survive.

After Franz is released from the POW camp, they are married in December 1945. Because of his low rank, his birth date and the fact that he didn't participate in what was happening in the camp, he is allowed to go free by the Tribunal.

This was based on the true story of Helena Citrónová and Franz Wunsch.

[Milda Vaškevičienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ech... Nors ir dažniausiai skaudžios tokios istorijos - jos vienos mano mėgstamiausių. Istorinės, tikrais faktais ir įvykiais paremtos knygos pačios įdomiausios. Daugiausiai savyje turinčios, duodančios, nes jose dalinamasi tikrų žmonių, išgyvenusių didžiausius siaubus savo gyvenimuose, istorijos, prisiminimai.
Ši knyga mane tikrai sužavėjo... Nuo pirmo puslapio, skyriaus. Ji kitokia nei kitos skaitytos panašia tema tai buvo tikrai įdomu skaityti.
Helena turėjo keliauti į dujų kamerą, tačiau atsidūrė pas esesininkus, kur turėjo dainomis pasveikinti su gimtadieniu jų kolegą. Jis buvo taip sužavėtas jos dainavimo, jog atšaukė jos kelionę į dujų kamerą paskirdamas ją į savo vadovaujamąjį padalinį, kur pakeitė jos likimą...
Atrodo, sunku patikėti šia istorija, bet rašytoja taip gražiai aprašė visą jų gyvenimą Aušvice, jog tikrai širdyje buvo gera, jog ne visiems ištremtiems žydams buvo taip blogai, nors tikrai buvo ne visiems gerai...
Bet esesininkai buvo ne visi siaubingi gyvuliai, skriaudžiantys vargšus žmonės, pasirodo ir ten buvo šiek tiek žmogiškumo ir jausmų.
Įsižiebė jausmai palengvino abiems gyvenimus, tik ar jų meilė buvo įmanoma tokiomis sąlygomis? Daug teko išgyventi išbandymų, sukrėtimų, kurie paliko randus visam likusiam gyvenimui, bet ir padėjo išgyventi.
Ši autorė man atradimas, tikrai skaitysiu ir kitas jos knygas.

"Kalbėkite. Ar jie klausysis jūsų ar ne, netylėkite. Niekas iš mūsų neturėtų tylėti, kai mato neteisingumą. Aukoms reikia žmonių, kurie apie jas kalbėtų, nes kitaip bus lengva apsimesti, kad jų niekada nebuvo."

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

WW11, Auschwitz

This fictional story recreates the true story of an SS guard and a Jewish inmate. This powerful tale of forbidden love is brought to life in a heartbreaking and gripping WW11 page-turner.

1947, the trial and 1942, behind the barbed wires

It opens at the denazification hearing of Frank Dahler the SS guard in charge of the Kanada warehouses in Auschwitz concentration camp. He is facing charges of crimes against humanity. Novak, a former inmate, is one of the plaintiffs accusing him of being evil, cruel and very abusive. By his side during the proceeding is, Helena, his wife also a former inmate who worked under his commands.

In alternate chapters and in alternate times, the voice of Helena is heard recounting her experiences during her days in Auschwitz while Frank tells his version of events in turn. Novak adds his say, recounting what he saw insisting that Helena was forced by Dahler, who beat her into submission to completely have her under his control. What he failed to see was the strong attachment the two had for each other. Helena, Frank and Novak stories are completely different. To the observers Helena is not afraid of her husband and both seemed to be truly in love.

This story is wonderfully said. We can visualize every aspect described: bodies burning, human skeletons, the cold the starvation, the terror and the strong attachment between Helena and Frank. Ms. Midwood does a phenomenal job in capturing the time and events in words that brings to life this unusual love story. Undeniably, much effort, thoughts and research went into this book to ensure her story is close to reality as much as possible.

What a story

My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley I had the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my thoughts

[Genevieve Montcombroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was hesitant to purchase Auschwitz Syndrome. Romantic love in a concentration camp, really? But I read other books by Ellie Midwood and recognize she is a superb writer and this novel is based on a true story. I began on New Year’s eve and finished it on New Year’s day. But I had to let it sit in my mind before I could pen a review.

The exacting research and the details masterfully distilled throughout the novel draw the readers in and can lead them to forget about their own environment. Midwood has been able to keep a balance between the horrors of the main concentration camp, “Human suffering lost all meaning in this place,” and the privileged inmates at the Kanada work detail. This special work unit permitted the developing love between inmate Helena and Rottenführer (foreman) Franz, a very complex character. Ellie Midwood has succeeded in showing the ruthless Nazi who can order killings and the one who learns compassion.

When Franz asked Helena if he could hold her, her reply not only touches the heart but raises questions: ...”I don’t think your mothers hugged you [meaning all SS] enough there in the Reich, and that’s the reason for all this now.” Were all the Nazi born evil? Or did they became evil for lack of a mother’s hugging love? Slowly, we see the transformation of a man who was a convinced Nazi, into a man who cares about others.

The story is unfolding as Helena gives testimony in a denazification court. The psychiatrists involved shed light on the complicated state of the mind when a human being is confronted with the threat of death and witnesses horrors that make Dante’s Inferno read like a walk in the park.

Auschwitz Syndrome is a book to be read.

[Greta Halliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and compelling story that was so well researched and beautifully written that I could not put it down. Ellie Midwood is a superb author who writes with compassion and is a master of her craft. 5* and my thanks go to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

[A_Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for a totally different kind of forbidden romance where a Nazi guard and jewish prisoner fall in love in Auschwitz.

Based on the true story of Helena Citronova and Franz Wunsch.

Incredible insights into love, compassion, and hope against all odds. Layered with speculations about stockholm syndrome, hidden agendas, and justice, this is an unforgetable read.

[Thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely mind-blowing I didn't expect this story, when I first started reading I was a little lost as I didn't understand what was happening but after a few chapters I was completely hooked and I was very immersed to know everything about Helena and Franz.

The story of Helena and Franz it's the first story that I read of is kind. I've never read of the Denazification Court or its cases, this was a first for me, Franz and Helena are testifying in a court to prove that they're really telling their truth about their situation, but not everybody is convinced that Andrej Novák, an Auschwitz inmate thinks he knows the real truth behind the relationship of Franz and Helena and is determined to prove them wrong.

The Girl in the Striped Dress talks about the story of Helena and Franz how everything started and how they're now facing a trial to prove if Franz is really not a terrible person as Andrej seems to believe.

what I really love about this book was that I really didn't know where it was going, it was not the typical story where there were constantly focusing on the terrible situations that we all know that happened during those times, for me was more about the strength, the trust and the love some of them had and wanted to share to keep striving and feel alive.

Helena's sister is a huge key in this book, something terrible happened to her that she is not convinced either about their situation but time will show some light about hers and her sister situation

the other SS officers as usual were disgusting, always treating them terribly not having any kindness or empathy at all but Franz was different, from the beginning we could see that even if was not clear where his character was coming from but the kindness was there hiding to his colleagues and some of the other inmates.

the story permeates between the past the story of how everything started to a more recent days after the war. I really enjoy the court parts.

The Girl in the striped dress, it's a great story, a great book very different from what I've read something that really will keep you wanting more.