Born Survivors
The incredible true story of three pregnant mothers and their courage and determination to survive in the concentration camps
(Author) Wendy HoldenAmong millions of Holocaust victims sent to Auschwitz II-Birkenau in 1944, Priska, Rachel, and Anka each passed through its infamous gates with a secret. They were newly pregnant, and facing an uncertain fate without their husbands. These young women were privately determined to hold on to all they had left: their lives, and those of their unborn babies. That the gas chambers ran out of Zyklon-B just after the babies were born, before they and their mothers could be exterminated, is just one of several miracles that allowed them all to survive and rebuild their lives after World War II. This book follows the mothers' incredible journey, first to Auschwitz, where they each came under the murderous scrutiny of Dr. Josef Mengele; then to a German slave labour camp where, half-starved and almost worked to death, they struggled to conceal their condition; and finally, as the Allies closed in, their hellish 17-day train journey with thousands of other prisoners to the Mauthausen death camp in Austria. Hundreds died along the way but the courage and kindness of strangers helped save these women and their children. Sixty-five years later, the three miracle babies met for the first time at Mauthausen for the anniversary of the liberation that ultimately saved them. United by their remarkable experiences of survival against all odds, they now consider each other siblings of the heart. This book brings all three stories together for the first time to mark their seventieth birthdays and the seventieth anniversary of the ending of the war. A heart-stopping account of how three mothers and their newborns fought to survive the Holocaust, this is also a life-affirming celebration of our capacity to care and to love amid inconceivable cruelty.
Wendy Holden
Wendy Holden is a British author known for her witty and humorous novels. She has written numerous bestselling books, including "Beautiful People," "The Wives of Bath," and "Bad Heir Day." Holden's writing style is characterized by sharp wit, quirky characters, and clever storytelling. She is highly regarded for her ability to blend comedy with insightful social commentary.
Holden's works have had a significant impact on the chick lit genre, with many readers praising her sharp observations and engaging storytelling. Her most famous work, "Beautiful People," follows the ups and downs of a group of social climbers in London and has been adapted into a popular television series.
Overall, Wendy Holden is a talented writer who has made a lasting impression on the literary world with her sharp wit, engaging characters, and humorous storytelling.