The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood was one of the first books I wrote about on this blog and it was a story that really stayed with me. When I saw there was a new book by the same author, I knew I had to read it.
The Girl In The Striped Dress was written by Ellie Midwood and published in 2021. The book is based on the real-life story of Helena Citrónová, an Auschwitz inmate who fell in love with and subsequently married, an SS guard.
I love 20th century historical fiction, especially those set during WW2 and this promised to be another gripping yet emotional read.
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Plot
After stepping off the cattle train in Auschwitz, Helena and her fellow arrivals are informed they are scheduled to die the following day. Shortly after arrival, she is ordered to serenade an SS guard on his birthday. Franz, celebrating his 20th birthday, is instantly captivated by Helena and orders her life to be saved, forever changing the course of her fate. She is then transferred to his work detail, the Kanada, where Franz is in charge. He offers her protection and an unlikely relationship is formed.
We learn at the start of the novel that Helena and Franz eventually married after the war, and Franz faces a Denazification Tribunal for his crimes against humanity. The book is told from the perspective of Helena and a psychiatrist who is trying to determine whether Helena can truly love an SS guard or whether her testimony in support of Franz is a result of coercion and fear.
The Girl in the Striped Dress Book Review
The Girl In The Striped Dress affected me in a different way to The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz. I didn’t find The Girl In The Striped Dress quite as devastating although there were some really distressing scenes. I do like that the author doesn’t sanitise the truth to make it more palatable for the reader. It’s harrowing to read about the horrific treatment of the victims but as they are based on real-life testimonies, I feel it’s important to tell these stories.
I also liked how the author in no way excuses Franz’s actions as an SS guard. However the author does show glimpses of the man (and the humanity) behind the uniform. Franz clearly did love Helena and continually put his own safety at risk to protect her and her sister.
I found the switches in time and perspective were done really well and intertwined nicely. I found the psychiatrist’s discussions of Helena and her devotion to her husband really interesting. In my opinion, Helena was clearly suffering from Stockholm syndrome, though it is never named within the novel.
It’s so unlikely that a jew would fall for a Nazi (and vice versa) and so if it wasn’t based on a true story I would have found it hard to believe. However, as it is a true story I found it hard to judge Helena’s emotions. It seems unthinkable that a jew could possibly love a jew killing Nazi, yet I don’t feel anyone can judge how she truly felt after what she had been through.
It’s so hard to say you’ve enjoyed a book when it’s a story that is so heartbreaking. I can say however that I love Ellie Midwood’s writing and she clearly has done so much research. Her stories never fail to move me.
What should I read after The Girl in the Striped Dress by Ellie Midwood?
I would definitely recommend reading Ellie Midwood’s other novels, particularly The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz, which was absolutely brilliant. For other wartime stories focused on the women, I would also recommend The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and Daughters of the Resistance by Lana Kortchik.