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Irma Grese & the Holocaust: The Secrets of the Blonde Beast of Auschwitz Exposed
Through the years there are names that are forever imbedded in our brains when we think of the cruelty of the Nazi regime. Adolf Hitler. Hermann Goering. Adolf Eichmann. Joseph Mengele. Heinrich Himmler. Rarely do we come across the name of a woman who was responsible for the same types of depravities that these men indulged themselves in.
Irma Grese was one such woman. Known to some as a beauty, to the prisoners of her camp she was nothing short of a beast. Disowned by her own family, she embraced the Nazi doctrine to the fullest and revelled in the suffering of her charges.
What would inspire anyone to gain enjoyment from the suffering of others? Was she raised by monsters or did this monster have her own personal demons? What length did her depravity go?
Take a look into an aspect of the Nazi regime that is often overlooked, the life of a female guard and what lengths they went to in order to control their prisoners. The depth of their depravity is often shocking. Their wanton disregard of rules and the sanctity of life is appalling.
Why should you read about this then? We read these not to glorify their deeds but to learn from the past. By learning from the past, we can remember what we never want to happen again. This story gives a rare glimpse past the concentration camp walls and into the heart of true evil, all from the observation of a female guard.
Irma Grese was one such woman. Known to some as a beauty, to the prisoners of her camp she was nothing short of a beast. Disowned by her own family, she embraced the Nazi doctrine to the fullest and revelled in the suffering of her charges.
What would inspire anyone to gain enjoyment from the suffering of others? Was she raised by monsters or did this monster have her own personal demons? What length did her depravity go?
Take a look into an aspect of the Nazi regime that is often overlooked, the life of a female guard and what lengths they went to in order to control their prisoners. The depth of their depravity is often shocking. Their wanton disregard of rules and the sanctity of life is appalling.
Why should you read about this then? We read these not to glorify their deeds but to learn from the past. By learning from the past, we can remember what we never want to happen again. This story gives a rare glimpse past the concentration camp walls and into the heart of true evil, all from the observation of a female guard.
44 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2014
43 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 8, 2024
Just how much can one learn of Grese in only 44 pages? Well, this does a pretty good job actually, and gives a chilling account just as to why Heydrich wasn't the only Nazi nicknamed The Blond Beast. Some saw her as something of a beauty, although I can't imagine that face appearing on the WW2 special edition of either Vogue or Cosmopolitan. Female evil did and does exist: one of its pin-up girls is unquestionably Irma Grese.
August 29, 2015
Irma Grese and the Holocaust: The Secrets of The Blonde Beast of Auschwitz Exposed is by Ryan Jenkins. It tells of the actions of Irma Grese as she acted as a guard at several camps during the Nazi occupation. The book also tells about the process the women went through to become guards in the camps. However, only a few of the women guards became exceedingly cruel to the inhabitants of the camps. A few, like Irma Grese, became cruel and mean and sadistic simply for the sport of it. The book is graphic in parts; but the history of the Holocaust can’t be told without some degree of being graphic. Irma Grese followed a Nazi soldier from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen and after his death by typhus, she was moved to Ravensbruck. The book tells of her capture after the war and her trial where she became the first woman to be found guilty in the trials. Although she died, her actions live on in the memories of the victims of her cruelty and in the memories of those forced to stand and watch her actions.
It is an interesting book, although one can’t really say it was good. It was well written and researched. The author gives the reader a variety of sources to read to gain more information about the Holocaust. The book should definitely be read by educators so they can answer some of the questions about the guards in their classrooms. The book is definitely not one to be used in the classroom unless it is the final years of high school or college.
It is an interesting book, although one can’t really say it was good. It was well written and researched. The author gives the reader a variety of sources to read to gain more information about the Holocaust. The book should definitely be read by educators so they can answer some of the questions about the guards in their classrooms. The book is definitely not one to be used in the classroom unless it is the final years of high school or college.
October 3, 2015
Only a very basic outline. What I thought was the beginning of the book was already halfway through. A lot of time wasted telling "what you'd read about in this chapter" or "as you'll see later".
April 15, 2025
Unfortunately, there is nothing new to be gained from reading this book- and some of the information is incorrect. This is a rehash of all Grese biographies: she was brutal, she was pretty, and she had a bad childhood.
As an author, I hate giving bad reviews, but this book seems more like an extended thought process on ideas gleaned from other books.
The author has Holocaust survivor Ilona Stein testifying at the Belsen Trials as “… the most prominent one because … she spoke of various sexual encounters she had with Grese…” (p. 54) Ilona Stein would testify on September 26, 1945, of surviving the Holocaust at the Bergen-Belsen Trials; at no time did she discuss any sexual encounter with Grese.
An author states Grese stood up in court in response to cross examination and shouted “Hail Hitler!” (p. 55) This incident does not appear anywhere in the entirety of the Bergen-Belsen court transcripts. Records reveal this was not Grese nor did it occur in the Belsen trial.
The author notes Irma Grese was “starved for attention” and Berta “was a submissive and meek woman” while Irma’s father “provided a strict upbringing to his children.” Irma would have an interest in politics from an early age while her academic interests waned. This biographer has Irma Grese joining the Young Girl's League (Jungmädelbund) at ten years’ old (p. 26) There are NO records supporting any of this and no references.
He writes Grese's attack dogs “were not only ferocious, but also rabid” (p. 40). This is not even possible. A rabid dog would be far too ill to work.
As an author, I hate giving bad reviews, but this book seems more like an extended thought process on ideas gleaned from other books.
The author has Holocaust survivor Ilona Stein testifying at the Belsen Trials as “… the most prominent one because … she spoke of various sexual encounters she had with Grese…” (p. 54) Ilona Stein would testify on September 26, 1945, of surviving the Holocaust at the Bergen-Belsen Trials; at no time did she discuss any sexual encounter with Grese.
An author states Grese stood up in court in response to cross examination and shouted “Hail Hitler!” (p. 55) This incident does not appear anywhere in the entirety of the Bergen-Belsen court transcripts. Records reveal this was not Grese nor did it occur in the Belsen trial.
The author notes Irma Grese was “starved for attention” and Berta “was a submissive and meek woman” while Irma’s father “provided a strict upbringing to his children.” Irma would have an interest in politics from an early age while her academic interests waned. This biographer has Irma Grese joining the Young Girl's League (Jungmädelbund) at ten years’ old (p. 26) There are NO records supporting any of this and no references.
He writes Grese's attack dogs “were not only ferocious, but also rabid” (p. 40). This is not even possible. A rabid dog would be far too ill to work.
October 8, 2018
Mankind can be extraordinarily cruel.
A truly chilling individual, and the horrible crimes being perpetrated by a woman, makes for uneasy reading, a very informative book. Anyone who has never read anything of the holocaust can never understand the brutalities of it, I would reccommend you read this book and any of the others on this subject, they are truly horrifying whilst never being titillating, all are available on amazon.
A truly chilling individual, and the horrible crimes being perpetrated by a woman, makes for uneasy reading, a very informative book. Anyone who has never read anything of the holocaust can never understand the brutalities of it, I would reccommend you read this book and any of the others on this subject, they are truly horrifying whilst never being titillating, all are available on amazon.
August 7, 2017
Short but interesting.
August 10, 2024
This book provides a basic overview of Irma Grese, it's merely introductory in my opinion, and the Author spends a lot of time providing context without linking it to Grese. The photos were interesting and I liked the Authors use of dialogue from Grese and other witnesses.
September 19, 2015
This book is somewhat of a rehash of Robert Jenkins's book on Irma Grese. However, this volume has more focus and detail on Irma Grese.
One of the things that puzzled me was that Robert Jenkins called one of the guards Dorothea Binz while Ryan Jenkins called the same woman Theodora Binz. This woman was responsible for training the new guards and defining what was expected of them.
This book reveals many of the atrocities attributed to Grese through testimony at her trial. She was found guilty, sentenced to death, and subsequently hanged.
In my opinion, hanging was too good for her
One of the things that puzzled me was that Robert Jenkins called one of the guards Dorothea Binz while Ryan Jenkins called the same woman Theodora Binz. This woman was responsible for training the new guards and defining what was expected of them.
This book reveals many of the atrocities attributed to Grese through testimony at her trial. She was found guilty, sentenced to death, and subsequently hanged.
In my opinion, hanging was too good for her
August 14, 2015
Straightforward account ...
...of a monster.One among thousands. This short book supplies the facts regarding the subhuman ,poorly-educated,and perverted Irma Grese,a guard at Auschwitz,among other camps. I am so happy her date with the hangman went on as scheduled.
...of a monster.One among thousands. This short book supplies the facts regarding the subhuman ,poorly-educated,and perverted Irma Grese,a guard at Auschwitz,among other camps. I am so happy her date with the hangman went on as scheduled.
December 30, 2015
Who want toThis book owned up a whole new side of the NAZI rule. I didn't think that one person could be so bad and then deny it in court
I would highly recommend this book to people who want to study the Holocaust . It puts a new light on the women of Germany.
I would highly recommend this book to people who want to study the Holocaust . It puts a new light on the women of Germany.
February 11, 2015
It was OK
Not too much information in the short book. But well written though. Finished reading in less than half an hour.
Not too much information in the short book. But well written though. Finished reading in less than half an hour.
May 27, 2015
This was a fairly good book but there was too much speculation and not enough facts.
September 15, 2015
Horrifying account of one of the sadistic guards of concentration camps in WWII.
February 11, 2016
Truly frightening
To read of the depth of inhumanity towards another human is both disgusting and frightening that it happened and could again
To read of the depth of inhumanity towards another human is both disgusting and frightening that it happened and could again
February 24, 2016
This woman was pure evil. That's probably the best description I can give. It's amazing the depths of brutality a person can descend to.
June 7, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
November 27, 2016
it was just ok ... I finished it ...
November 26, 2021
I wrote a review for this book and I am disappointed that after all my efforts it has disappeared from Goodreads, one of many recently!!
May 3, 2017
Overall a good history though the tone is conversational.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews