Resistance Women

Mildred, Greta, and Sara were run of the mill students in Germany who were later joined by Martha Dodd, a U.S. ambassador's daughter. These ordinary women engaged in extraordinary tactics in Resistance Women.

Jennifer Chiaverini's most recent book Resistance Women might not be a book you would think about reading for Memorial Day, but it is completely fitting as it shares the story of four women who are involved in the Resistance movement in the heart of Germany. In fact one of the main characters, Mildred Harnack, is a native of Wisconsin and her birthday is celebrated in that state as a holiday.

Resistance Women is a historically based novel. Chiaverini has definitely done her research to bring the actual stories of Mildred, Greta, and Martha to life. She does indicate in the Author's Note that the story of Sarah is a conglomeration of multiple individuals rather than an actual person as she needed a fourth woman to tell the story. Using a rotating narrator, the stories of these four women and their families unfolds during Hitler's rise to power and World War II. The women met through doctoral studies both in America and in Germany. Their studies and teaching allowed them to meet and become involved in the resistance movement known as the Red Orchestra. Through their involvement in this movement, they interacted with numerous well-known individuals from this time period. I was most excited to discover Mildred Harnack's husband was a cousin of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Resistance Women is not a fast or easy read. Reading about the hardships these individuals endured is heartbreaking. Yet I could not put the book down as I wanted to find out what would happen to these women and their families. Their determined goal, regardless of the cost, was to defeat Hitler.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Resistance Women via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.