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The Nuremberg Women: The Untold Story of the Eight Women Who Brought the Nazis to Justice
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26The most famous trial of the twentieth century - told through the eyes of the women history forgot.
In November 1945, the world turned its gaze to Nuremberg. Inside a courtroom built by and for men, justice was being sought for crimes almost beyond comprehension. The spotlight fell on Nazi leaders, Allied prosecutors and military judges - but in the shadows, women were recording, interpreting, witnessing, painting, testifying. Yet their names were often missing from the headlines. Eighty years on, this book finally returns them to the centre of the story.
The Nuremberg Women follows eight extraordinary a young Soviet interpreter balancing political survival with truth-telling; a British painter capturing justice in oils; a French resistance fighter who survived Auschwitz to confront her persecutors; a Hungarian countess hosting both Nazis and survivors in a single house. Alongside them stand the sharpest literary minds of the day - Erika Mann, Rebecca West and others - each wielding the pen as a tool of reckoning.
Far from the official narrative, Natalie Livingstone reveals a trial that was more intimate, chaotic and human than history has allowed. It was a place of intense love affairs and political tensions, of personal reckonings and the first tremors of the Cold War. These women, often dismissed or sidelined, shaped how the trial unfolded - and how it was remembered.
This is Nuremberg as you've never seen not only a reckoning with the horrors of war, but a story of erasure, courage and transformation. The women's voices - once silenced - now ring out with clarity, offering a powerful new vision of the past, and of justice itself.
In November 1945, the world turned its gaze to Nuremberg. Inside a courtroom built by and for men, justice was being sought for crimes almost beyond comprehension. The spotlight fell on Nazi leaders, Allied prosecutors and military judges - but in the shadows, women were recording, interpreting, witnessing, painting, testifying. Yet their names were often missing from the headlines. Eighty years on, this book finally returns them to the centre of the story.
The Nuremberg Women follows eight extraordinary a young Soviet interpreter balancing political survival with truth-telling; a British painter capturing justice in oils; a French resistance fighter who survived Auschwitz to confront her persecutors; a Hungarian countess hosting both Nazis and survivors in a single house. Alongside them stand the sharpest literary minds of the day - Erika Mann, Rebecca West and others - each wielding the pen as a tool of reckoning.
Far from the official narrative, Natalie Livingstone reveals a trial that was more intimate, chaotic and human than history has allowed. It was a place of intense love affairs and political tensions, of personal reckonings and the first tremors of the Cold War. These women, often dismissed or sidelined, shaped how the trial unfolded - and how it was remembered.
This is Nuremberg as you've never seen not only a reckoning with the horrors of war, but a story of erasure, courage and transformation. The women's voices - once silenced - now ring out with clarity, offering a powerful new vision of the past, and of justice itself.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2026
About the author
Natalie Livingstone
4 books112 followersNatalie Livingstone was born and raised in London. She graduated with a first class degree in history from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1998. She began her career as a feature writer at the Daily Express and now contributes to Tatler, Harper's Bazaar, US Vogue, Elle, The Times and the Mail on Sunday. Natalie lives in London with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. The stories of the 8 women were fascinating, and presented well (kind of in parallel to the story of the Nuremberg trial). Perhaps the thing that truly made it 5 stars for me was the second part of the book with the continuation of their stories post Nuremberg: with several brilliant women having to settle for traditional lives, being forced to abandon their careers and passions because of attitudes of the time. The range of countries covered , including the perspectives and reflections from the Soviet Union and Germany, allowed Livingstone to cover a wide scope of history. Most fascinating perhaps was the story of the witness house, presided over by Ingeborg Kalnoky, revealing a window into both the experience of witnesses (worthy and not) as well as contemporary attitudes towards them, shaped by the times they had lived through.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If I were to venture a guess, I'd say that the vast majority of us have never, not even a single time, considered the Nuremberg trials through the lens of women.
Guilty as charged.
Author/historian Natalie Livingstone gives us that lens with "The Nuremberg Women," the story of the Numberg trials told through the lens of the women who were there.
It was November 1945. The world was looking at Nuremberg, partly out of a morbid curiosity seeking to know and understand the truth about the Nazi crimes and partly to envision some sort of justice through it all. I'll confess myself that when I think of the Nuremberg Trials, I've historically thought of men.
Yet, as Livingstone brings to life, women were there and very much involved in a variety of roles ranging from lawyers to court reporters, defendants to interpreters, journalists to witnesses and more. The truth is that the presence of women was vital, and that presence is vividly captured by Livingstone through the specific lens of eight women whose lives are brought to life here and whose roles are remarkably researched and finally acknowledged.
Livingstone captures a side of Nuremberg seldom ever acknowledged let alone given its due. Yet, "The Nuremberg Women" does exactly that - gives these women their due. In the end, we gain a different understanding of this period in history and its imperfections that still somehow served justice.
"The Nuremberg Women" captures, both intimate in its storytelling and universal in its themes. "The Nuremberg Women" is not always an easy read, however, it's a remarkably immersive read that for me was both narratively alive and surprisingly visual. There wasn't a story here that was familiar to me, somewhat embarrassingly, and Livingstone's ability to bring these stories to life is a remarkable accomplishment academically and as a storyteller.
I'm most certain that as the end of the literary year arrives, "The Nuremberg Women" is destined to be one of those books I'll still be talking about.
Guilty as charged.
Author/historian Natalie Livingstone gives us that lens with "The Nuremberg Women," the story of the Numberg trials told through the lens of the women who were there.
It was November 1945. The world was looking at Nuremberg, partly out of a morbid curiosity seeking to know and understand the truth about the Nazi crimes and partly to envision some sort of justice through it all. I'll confess myself that when I think of the Nuremberg Trials, I've historically thought of men.
Yet, as Livingstone brings to life, women were there and very much involved in a variety of roles ranging from lawyers to court reporters, defendants to interpreters, journalists to witnesses and more. The truth is that the presence of women was vital, and that presence is vividly captured by Livingstone through the specific lens of eight women whose lives are brought to life here and whose roles are remarkably researched and finally acknowledged.
Livingstone captures a side of Nuremberg seldom ever acknowledged let alone given its due. Yet, "The Nuremberg Women" does exactly that - gives these women their due. In the end, we gain a different understanding of this period in history and its imperfections that still somehow served justice.
"The Nuremberg Women" captures, both intimate in its storytelling and universal in its themes. "The Nuremberg Women" is not always an easy read, however, it's a remarkably immersive read that for me was both narratively alive and surprisingly visual. There wasn't a story here that was familiar to me, somewhat embarrassingly, and Livingstone's ability to bring these stories to life is a remarkable accomplishment academically and as a storyteller.
I'm most certain that as the end of the literary year arrives, "The Nuremberg Women" is destined to be one of those books I'll still be talking about.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
First, I’m perplexed about the title, which irked me the entire time I was reading the book. One of the eight women highlighted in the book, Laura Knight, painted The Nuremberg Trial AKA The Dock, which contains all male subjects. The author states “The painting presents the story of a modern Armageddon conducted by men, fought by men, inflicted on men, prosecuted by men and, ultimately, judged by men. It’s a picture of the bloodiest catastrophe in human history with half of humanity painted out.” The whole point of the book is how there were many women working behind the scenes. It sounds hypercritical, but including the in front of eight erases all the other women involved in the trial.
The book appears well-researched, and focuses on eight women: a lawyer, three journalists/reporters/writers, a hostess to witnesses and defendants alike, a resistance fighter who survived Auschwitz, a painter, and a translator/interpreter. Their stories are told individually, yet they are woven into the context of the trial. The first section of the book ends at the trial’s conclusion, and we get an intimate glimpse into the women’s backgrounds which shaped the unique perspective of each individual. The second section of the book follows the women and their personal and professional struggles after the trial.
There is a good amount of historical information with some tedious bits, especially following so many names. The many interesting and surprising side stories make reading further worthwhile. LIvingstone does an excellent job of showing the contrasting perspectives of the women, as well as those of all involved in the trial (defense and prosecution) and society’s norms.
Overall, this was a well-written and extremely interesting look at history and eight of the many women who helped shape it.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
First, I’m perplexed about the title, which irked me the entire time I was reading the book. One of the eight women highlighted in the book, Laura Knight, painted The Nuremberg Trial AKA The Dock, which contains all male subjects. The author states “The painting presents the story of a modern Armageddon conducted by men, fought by men, inflicted on men, prosecuted by men and, ultimately, judged by men. It’s a picture of the bloodiest catastrophe in human history with half of humanity painted out.” The whole point of the book is how there were many women working behind the scenes. It sounds hypercritical, but including the in front of eight erases all the other women involved in the trial.
The book appears well-researched, and focuses on eight women: a lawyer, three journalists/reporters/writers, a hostess to witnesses and defendants alike, a resistance fighter who survived Auschwitz, a painter, and a translator/interpreter. Their stories are told individually, yet they are woven into the context of the trial. The first section of the book ends at the trial’s conclusion, and we get an intimate glimpse into the women’s backgrounds which shaped the unique perspective of each individual. The second section of the book follows the women and their personal and professional struggles after the trial.
There is a good amount of historical information with some tedious bits, especially following so many names. The many interesting and surprising side stories make reading further worthwhile. LIvingstone does an excellent job of showing the contrasting perspectives of the women, as well as those of all involved in the trial (defense and prosecution) and society’s norms.
Overall, this was a well-written and extremely interesting look at history and eight of the many women who helped shape it.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Nuremberg Women proved to be very readable, as so many books in the WWII genre can be wordy and dry. I can't say that it was pleasant reading it, due to the subject material, which was how several women experienced the war and its aftermath, but it proves that women did indeed play a noteworthy, important role in the war, and suffered as much as men did. They fought in the resistance, as well as actually fighting on the ground by Russian women troops; they were imprisoned in concentration camps, often dying in greater numbers than men who could work a little harder due to gender differences; they were shot, hanged, guillotined, beaten to death, just like their male counterparts, BUT, they were not given an important place beside men in recounting the history of the war. This book shows that they served an equally important role during the war, and had to serve other roles at the same time as they fought. They had children and families to protect and feed, they often had small farms they had to work themselves since most men were gone, they had to endure bestial treatment by the Germans and their subordinates, often their own countrymen who seemed to try to outdo the Germans in sheer awfulness. After the was was over, women still had to fight to protect themselves and their families, they still had to scramble to feed, clothe, and shelter those they were responsible for, and often they endured rape and death at the hands of the victors!
This story needed to be told, and these women, like millions of others then, need to be remembered for their fight for freedom.
I received an ebook ARC of this by Netgalley; my review and observations are all my own, however.
This story needed to be told, and these women, like millions of others then, need to be remembered for their fight for freedom.
I received an ebook ARC of this by Netgalley; my review and observations are all my own, however.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Obviously my head has been in the sand in terms of the Nuremberg trials. The main guys got away and of the ones on trial, most got off and went back to being leaders in the new Germany. I never ever thought about the trials themselves - or the women who helped. This book follows 8 of these courageous women.
Courtroom 600 - what a name to live in infamy! The courtroom was packed with journalists, witnesses, observers, and attorneys (as well as the defendants). Each country had an allotment of people - not sure what it was dependent on.
The prosecution had to PROVE these Nazis were guilty. (Really?) Women trudged through a lot of the paper trail to find evidence, but plausibly the best evidence was the video - about an hour long - which showed the atrocities of the Nazis. People cried, were horrified and some couldn't watch. But Hess and Goring had no reactions at all. (creepy) Again, women sifted through the videos to put together the one video for court.
There are places the journalists (and some of the Nazis) stayed during the trial. Lots of tragic experiences even here - when it should be safe. It's incredible what the women contributed but were not highlighted - because they were women. One woman journalist became pregnant - and she was shipped off to NY.
This is a tough book to read, but not because the author is at fault. Livingstone has done a meticulous job of combing through historical documents to bring to life the trial. She has a nice narrative style and it's an easy read - except for what you are reading off the page. I thought I had heard most of the cruelty of the Nazis but I was wrong.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the honor of reading this.
Courtroom 600 - what a name to live in infamy! The courtroom was packed with journalists, witnesses, observers, and attorneys (as well as the defendants). Each country had an allotment of people - not sure what it was dependent on.
The prosecution had to PROVE these Nazis were guilty. (Really?) Women trudged through a lot of the paper trail to find evidence, but plausibly the best evidence was the video - about an hour long - which showed the atrocities of the Nazis. People cried, were horrified and some couldn't watch. But Hess and Goring had no reactions at all. (creepy) Again, women sifted through the videos to put together the one video for court.
There are places the journalists (and some of the Nazis) stayed during the trial. Lots of tragic experiences even here - when it should be safe. It's incredible what the women contributed but were not highlighted - because they were women. One woman journalist became pregnant - and she was shipped off to NY.
This is a tough book to read, but not because the author is at fault. Livingstone has done a meticulous job of combing through historical documents to bring to life the trial. She has a nice narrative style and it's an easy read - except for what you are reading off the page. I thought I had heard most of the cruelty of the Nazis but I was wrong.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the honor of reading this.
June 16, 2026
In the Imperial War Museum, you'll find a powerful painting entitled "The Nuremberg Trial". It depicts part of Courtroom 600 in Nuremberg's Palace of Justice, giving way to a war-torn scene of destruction in the background. There are lots of people in the picture - but none of them are women.
As the title of this book suggests, Natalie Livingstone wants to highlight the important contributions that women made to the Nuremberg Trials, and to explore their unique perspective on the proceedings. This includes Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier, an Auschwitz survivor who became the first female witness to testify to the court; Ingeborg Kalnoky, a Hungarian countess who oversaw a lodging house for witnesses, both supporters and victims of the Nazi regime; Tatiana Stupnikova, a Russian interpreter, who struggled with how the Stalin's atrocities were overlooked at the trials; Ursula von Kardorff, a German journalist whose writings were shaped by her own prior cooperation with the Nazis; and Laura Knight, the British painter who captured the famous woman-less scene.
The narrative is not uniformly engaging, and some of the chapters are more interesting than others. But this is a fascinating alternative perspective on the Nuremberg Trials, giving a fuller picture of some of the behind-the-scenes activities. Together, these eight women "reveal a Nuremberg that is more intimate, human and haphazard."
As the title of this book suggests, Natalie Livingstone wants to highlight the important contributions that women made to the Nuremberg Trials, and to explore their unique perspective on the proceedings. This includes Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier, an Auschwitz survivor who became the first female witness to testify to the court; Ingeborg Kalnoky, a Hungarian countess who oversaw a lodging house for witnesses, both supporters and victims of the Nazi regime; Tatiana Stupnikova, a Russian interpreter, who struggled with how the Stalin's atrocities were overlooked at the trials; Ursula von Kardorff, a German journalist whose writings were shaped by her own prior cooperation with the Nazis; and Laura Knight, the British painter who captured the famous woman-less scene.
The narrative is not uniformly engaging, and some of the chapters are more interesting than others. But this is a fascinating alternative perspective on the Nuremberg Trials, giving a fuller picture of some of the behind-the-scenes activities. Together, these eight women "reveal a Nuremberg that is more intimate, human and haphazard."
Review of advance copy
Interesting and thought provoking but inconsistent. The author basically recounts the experiences of a handful of women who played an important background - or under reported foreground - role during the Nuremberg trials. She covers the details of their involvement and provides their backstory as well as how their lives unfolded afterwards.
I was riveted during the first four or so accounts but parts of the others irritated and or bored me. I think my experience was influenced by the narrator of the audiobook. There is not much variation in tone and inflection and her voice has a nasal quality.
I am glad I read it because it opened up a whole new view of the events around and behind Nuremberg and the lives of fascinating and important women of the time such as Erika Mann, Laura Knight and one of the key witnesses, Marie Claude Valliant Couturier. I was completely absorbed in the story of the brilliant and unsung young American lawyer who played a significant part in securing the conviction of Hans Frank.Similarly fascinating was the story of a young Russian interpreter and war veteran whose parents were branded enemies of the Soviet state before her exemplary service redeemed them. Her particular story provided much illumination of the suppressed Russian misdeeds and the Allies' complicity in covering them up.
Overall I was glad I read this, but I can't unreservedly recommend the audiobook. Note that what you hear in the sample is how the narration is going to be all the way through.
I was riveted during the first four or so accounts but parts of the others irritated and or bored me. I think my experience was influenced by the narrator of the audiobook. There is not much variation in tone and inflection and her voice has a nasal quality.
I am glad I read it because it opened up a whole new view of the events around and behind Nuremberg and the lives of fascinating and important women of the time such as Erika Mann, Laura Knight and one of the key witnesses, Marie Claude Valliant Couturier. I was completely absorbed in the story of the brilliant and unsung young American lawyer who played a significant part in securing the conviction of Hans Frank.Similarly fascinating was the story of a young Russian interpreter and war veteran whose parents were branded enemies of the Soviet state before her exemplary service redeemed them. Her particular story provided much illumination of the suppressed Russian misdeeds and the Allies' complicity in covering them up.
Overall I was glad I read this, but I can't unreservedly recommend the audiobook. Note that what you hear in the sample is how the narration is going to be all the way through.
Review of advance copy
A much-needed but ultimately flawed book. Enormous research on a riveting topic. Some of the chapters are as fascinating as the women they’re devoted to; for the same reason, others are comparatively duller, and the pages of pre-Nuremberg biography strike as tedious.
The weaving of character biography and historical account of the Trials is likewise weak. Notes on the women’s personal lives mud the chronology of the Trials.
The key message, beyond the long overdue insight into the women of Nuremberg, is confused. The depiction of the USSR is simplistic and biased. Bearing in mind the number of Soviet women who took part in the Trials, it’s definitely a choice that the only one covered in this book held anti-Soviet views and went on to describe Nazism and Soviet communism as “twins”. Although the author doesn’t shy away from necessary criticisms to the limitations of the Nuremberg Trials, particularly when it came to prosecuting the genocide, the USSR’s efforts to punish the Nazis more harshly and to extend the scope of the crimes are underestimated.
The weaving of character biography and historical account of the Trials is likewise weak. Notes on the women’s personal lives mud the chronology of the Trials.
The key message, beyond the long overdue insight into the women of Nuremberg, is confused. The depiction of the USSR is simplistic and biased. Bearing in mind the number of Soviet women who took part in the Trials, it’s definitely a choice that the only one covered in this book held anti-Soviet views and went on to describe Nazism and Soviet communism as “twins”. Although the author doesn’t shy away from necessary criticisms to the limitations of the Nuremberg Trials, particularly when it came to prosecuting the genocide, the USSR’s efforts to punish the Nazis more harshly and to extend the scope of the crimes are underestimated.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is an amazing and inspiring book! The book highlights the stories of 8 women and their experiences at and after the Nuremberg trials. Each woman's life and experiences made a profound impact on the trials. I liked the pictures a lot! It helped me to connect with these women.
There are many parts that became difficult for me to read. I believe though that it's important to remember that horrible atrocities actually occurred. "The things I saw beggar description," General Dwight D Eisenhower....He immediately ordered that the liberated camps be filmed and photographed so that nobody could deny the reality of what had happened."
The author did a superb job at research! The epilogue and acknowledgements sections are worth reading!!
I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of the book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There are many parts that became difficult for me to read. I believe though that it's important to remember that horrible atrocities actually occurred. "The things I saw beggar description," General Dwight D Eisenhower....He immediately ordered that the liberated camps be filmed and photographed so that nobody could deny the reality of what had happened."
The author did a superb job at research! The epilogue and acknowledgements sections are worth reading!!
I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of the book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A book that needed to be written. This author painstakingly did her research in providing the stories of eight remarkable women who helped bring justice to some of those responsible for the most horrific crimes of our world. The book is written about their lives during the war (pre trials) and then during the Nuremberg Trials. From journalists to an inn hostess where some of both the defendants and witnesses were housed (as well as others), you will be amazed and impressed by the bravery of these women. Complete with pictures. Thank you Natalie Livingstone for giving these women the accolades they deserve! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a free copy of, The Nuremberg Women, by Natalie Livingstone, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a book about 8 women, and the Nuremberg Trial. I had never heard of any of these women before which is sad. This was a good read, but I did not care for the writing style at all.
Review of advance copy
Well researched but a little dry for me, I didn't find it as gripping as I'd hoped. But it was fascinating to see a different side to the trials, a feminine perspective of the time and from different countries.
Review of advance copy
This crime thriller had me hooked from the very first page. The mystery was cleverly constructed, with twists I never saw coming. The suspense kept building until the very end, making it impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy
A really interesting book about 8 fantastic and extraordinary women that were at or near the centre of the Nuremberg trials.
Incredible research of these women and how important their account of this time in history. Loved it really moving and poignant.
Incredible research of these women and how important their account of this time in history. Loved it really moving and poignant.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Nuremberg Women. This is an exhaustively researched and detail filled look at some of the women who worked behind the scenes at the Nuremberg Trials. This is a must read for anyone interested in women's history.
Review of advance copy
Fantastic
June 11, 2026
An eye-opening account of the Nuremberg trials - demonstrates the inequalities of women at the time and the lack of acknowledgement they received for extremely important actions. A great read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely sensational. it names eight women who played crucial roles in the Nuremberg trials - from the woman who ran the chateau that housed witnesses (both nazis AND concentration camp survivors in the same dining room) to a lawyer who prepared the brief, but wasn't allowed to advocate in court because, you know, she was a woman, so she had to feed her notes to a male lawyer to speak on her behalf, to the artist who painted the famous picture hanging in the Imperial war rooms. The books explains their contributions to the trial, and what went on in the evenings after court adjourned (lots of alcohol, lots of sex), and how their lives were affected by what they bore witness to.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews