Sisterhood of Ravensbruck

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A tale of great enterprise and great fortitude, and of wonderful female solidarity and nobility of spirit, in the bleakest of circumstances.

For decades after World War II, histories of the French Resistance were written almost exclusively by men and largely ignored the contributions of women. Many current overviews of the subject continue to underplay the extent and importance of women's participation in the Resistance, treating the subject, in the words of one historian, as 'an anonymous background element in an essentially male story'.

The Sisterhood of Ravensbr ck corrects that omission, surveying the bond between four women - Germaine Tillion, Anise Girard, Genevieve de Gaulle, and Jacqueline d'Alincourt - who fought valiantly against Nazi oppression. While the women belonged to different Resistance movements and networks, they were united by a common thread- they were arrested by the Gestapo, underwent merciless interrogations and beatings, were jailed - and, most significantly, survived, if just barely, the hell of Ravensbr ck, the only concentration camp designed specifically for women. In an institution designed to dehumanise and kill, the sisterhood maintained their sense of self and joined together to face down death.

Remarkably, in the aftermath of World War II, the women once again joined forces to find a way to transcend the horrors of the war and turn it into something good for themselves and the world. The Sisterhood of Ravensbr ck is an illuminating, inspiring account.

'This thoroughly researched, absorbing tale incorporates the lives of many other female resistance fighters, and a key theme running through the book is that the vital role of women in the movement has been either ignored or played down. It's a story of incredible individual bravery that also emphasises the crucial importance and intensity of the lifelong bond between them that was forged in the hell-hole of Ravensbruck ... Among other things, this is an inspiring study of character, courage and grace under pressure.'
-Steven Carroll, The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald

'This illuminating narrative history spotlights the bravery and strength of a tight-knit group of Frenchwomen imprisoned during World War II in the all-female forced-labor concentration camp Ravensbr ck.'
-The Washington Post

'Agents of the French Resistance find life-lasting, soul-saving, history-changing friendships in an all-female concentration camp ... The author's portrayal of the women's postwar work, relationships, and notoriety inspires even greater awe at their widespread, ongoing positive impact. Both devastating and galvanising, an account of how the best of humanity can rise to oppose the very worst.'
-Kirkus Reviews

Book details and technical specifications

Format: Paperback / softback
ISBN13: 9781761381461
Published: July 2025

Number of pages: 384
Width: 154 mm
Height: 232 mm
Depth: 30 mm

Publisher: Scribe Publications