Trucks with the Red Cross were indeed used to deliver the gas to the bunkers and to transport inmates, who didn’t pass the selection. The members of the SK also had to shave heads of the corpses and extract golden crowns, which were later melted into gold bars and delivered to the Reichsbank. The hair was said to be used for the socks and belts of the Kriegsmarine, for felt boots, mattress stuffing, and upholstery.
Burial pits behind the bunkers indeed had to be dug out and the bodies burned in the fall of 1942 since the ground around them became poisonous and began contaminating the waters in the vicinity. Later, in the same field, the pits were used for burning the bodies during the so-called Hungarian Aktion, just as described in the novel.
The food given to the inmates (including bromide added to tea and coffee), the monthly “disinfection” procedure (including the solution used for the inmates’ hair), the clothes the inmates wore (including the differences between the so-called “elite” prisoners and regular ones) are all based on the survivors’ memoirs. You can read more about it in H. Langbein’s study, “People in Auschwitz,” and in R. Gelissen’s memoir, “Rena’s Promise.”
The so-called Muselmänner (extremely emaciated inmates who seemingly lost all will to live) and the scene with their selection by the SS doctors is based on H. Langbein’s memoir of his time in Auschwitz.
The camp orchestra and their appearance are also based on survivors’ testimonies.
Jehovah Witnesses and their refusal to handle anything military-related is also based on true fact, just like the so-called Pipels or bum-boys and their “relationship” (one can only use the term very loosely here) with the homosexual Kapos.
The inmates could indeed receive Red Cross parcels (as mentioned by Helena) starting in the Fall of 1942. First Aryan, and then Jewish inmates were permitted to receive parcels from Red Cross and their homes, however, they were opened by the camp’s post office and some things were taken out before delivering the rest to the inmates. The inmates were allowed (and, in fact, even ordered) to write postcards to their relatives and friends; most likely so that the SS could enrich themselves even more after an inmate would ask for a parcel to be sent to their name or, a more sinister motive, to get their relatives to come to Auschwitz willingly. Auschwitz was indeed called Waldsee on cards dated 1944.
A part of the Sonderkommando did organize a revolt in October 1944, blowing up Crematorium IV and burning one of the SS men alive in the oven (as described by Franz Dahler in this novel); the revolt was suppressed and 451 Sonderkommando men were shot, as a consequence. Filip Müller was fortunate to survive it and later described the event in his memoir.
Every survivor definitely experienced Auschwitz differently, however, every single one was scarred by it to a greater or lesser extent. All of the people who were fortunate to leave the camp alive brought with them certain psychological traumas that stayed with them for their entire lives. Among such traumas, Stockholm Syndrome (still undiscovered in 1947, yet described more or less accurately by the fictional psychiatrist, Dr. Hoffman) definitely played a big role. Forced into the position of a virtual slave, an inmate often turned to anyone who was in a position of power and could offer assistance in case that inmate’s life was in danger. It’s only natural that bonds began forming between the captor and the captives, who were so desperate that they were ready to do anything to gain the captors’ favor to survive.
Whether Helena and Franz’s relationship was actually a case of Stockholm Syndrome or whether she indeed fell in love with him, we all can only speculate. Among the general brutality of the camp, their case is certainly an exception to the rule. However, the fact that the SS man could change under his beloved’s influence from a “natural Jew-hater” (as described by one of the survivors) into someone who began helping the inmates and tried to get out of ramp duty by any means possible (the scene where he vomited while escorting the people to their death is also based on a survivor’s testimony, Ernst Müller) testifies to the idea that love is always stronger than hate and that even in the most brutal conditions, a person can undergo the most drastic change if only that person chooses kindness over violence, which is always a conscious choice. As an author, I cherish such stories the most and particularly today, when we, as a society, could really use some compassion and kindness towards each other. I hope that Helena and Franz’s story touched you just as it touched me after I first learned about it. Thank you for reading!
If you still have any questions left or would like to proceed with further reading, feel free to contact the author via Goodreads or Facebook – I’ll be more than happy to provide you with answers and further reading material!
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I want to thank the wonderful Bookouture family for helping me bring Helena and Franz’s story to light. It wouldn’t be possible without the help and guidance of my incredible editor, Christina Demosthenous, whose insights truly bring my characters to life and whose support and encouragement make me strive to work even harder on my novels and become a better writer. Thank you Kim Nash, Noelle Holten, Ruth Tross, and Peta Nightingale for all your help and for making me feel welcome and at home with your amazing publishing team. It’s been a true pleasure working with all of you and I already can’t wait to create more projects under your guidance.
Mom, granny – thank you for always asking how my novel is doing and for cheering me up at every step. Your support and faith in me make this writing journey so much easier, knowing that you always have my back and will always be my biggest fans. Thank you for all your love. Love you both to death.
Ronnie, my love – all of this wouldn’t be possible without you. Every time you meet a new person, the first thing you say about me is “my fiancée is a great novelist, you simply must check out her books!” I always grumble that you’re embarrassing me with all that attention, but inwardly I’m so very grateful for you being so very proud of me. Thank you for all your support and for putting up with my deadlines and all that research information I keep dumping on you. You are my rock star.
A special thanks to my two besties, Vladlena and Anastasia, for their love and support; to all of my fellow authors whom I got to know through Facebook and who became my very close friends – you all are such an inspiration! I consider you all a family.
And, of course, huge thanks to my readers for patiently waiting for new releases, for celebrating cover reveals together with me, for reading ARCs, and sending me those absolutely amazing I-stayed-up-till-3 a.m.-last-night-because-I-just-had-to-finish-your-wonderful-book messages, for your reviews that always make my day, and for falling in love with my characters just as much as I do. You are the reason why I write. Thank you so much for reading my stories.
And, finally, I owe my biggest thanks to all the brave people who continue to inspire my novels. Some of you survived the Holocaust, some of you perished, but it’s your incredible courage, resilience, and self-sacrifice that will live on in our hearts. Your example will always inspire us to be better people, to stand up for what is right, to give a voice to the ones who have been silenced, to protect the ones who cannot protect themselves. You all are true heroes. Thank you.
Published by Bookouture in 2021
An imprint of Storyfire Ltd.
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Copyright © Ellie Midwood, 2021
Ellie Midwood has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-80019-876-0
This book is a work of fiction. Whilst some characters and circumstances portrayed by the author are based on real people and historical fact, references to real people,
events, establishments, organizations or locales are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. All other characters and all incidents and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
The Girl in the Striped Dress: A completely heartbreaking and gripping World War 2 page-turner, based on a true story Page 31