Resistance Women: A Novel

This novel is based on real people and events,offering something to many readers. History can be difficult to be passionate about, being taught as a memorization exercise - dates, events, outcome, as though everything else stood frozen. In reality, people still got up & went to work each day & as they say, "got on with it." Roughly 1/2 of "The Red Orchestra" Resistance members were women. Chiaverini shows the familiar struggle of women to be heard and taken seriously who nonetheless take on responsibilities that put their own safety in jeopardy. Some did so because the totalitarian government directly threatened their families. Some did so because it affected the country they loved. Some did so because they believed it was the right thing to do,even if it would have been easier to just leave. We all know learning how to do new things can be daunting. Imagine having to learn several new things all at once, in the midst of a constantly changing environment where rules were rearranged daily and bombs dropped nightly. These women didn't stop to ponder "what if I can't do it? What if I fail?" because the simple answer was that if they failed, they died. Chiaverini memorializes the courage and sacrifice of doing what is "morally right" rather than what is "politically right". The reason we learn history is to hopefully learn FROM it- to not make the same mistakes. With that, I leave you with Arvid's own words: "“Perhaps Germany will serve as a warning. May they learn from us to snuff out fascism in America when the first sparks arise and not delay until democracy goes up in flames all around them.”

I have been a long-time fan of Jennifer Chiaverini. I read all of her Elm Creek Quilters series and love her historical novels-- they are all illuminating-- especially Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker and The Canary Girls. I just finished a masterpiece-- Resistance Women. It is a dark subject, but it explains well how these courageous resistance fighters were and how baffled they were about the worship of Hitler and obliviousness to his cruelty. It is a long book, but I found myself propelled by following the lives of key characters. Chiaverini brings to life all the ugliest points we know (or should know) about history. I made tons of highlights -- especially when there were scary parallels to our country with the threats to democracy.

A powerful behind-the-scenes look at the efforts of the resistance to undermine the plans of Hitler from 1929 through WWII. Among the resistance members were women, men, people of many nationalities and faiths, all working together in a united effort for freedom and peace. Unfortunately, many paid the ultimate price for their cause. The author is an excellent historian and was able to use information only made available in the past few years to bring the whole story to light.

As a WWII historian who specializes in resistance movements, I often find myself enjoying the historical novels but disappointed in the romantic milieu surrounding this very dangerous work. Often, the heroine frames her story in a romantic, glamorous story. Noble, brave, and beautiful, these fictional freedom fighters lose their reality in the hazy, dangerous, dark world of spies. So when I saw the title Resistance Women I was intrigued but prepared for another superficial treatment. Instead, RW serves as a great example of blending fact and fiction to create a compelling, realistic evolution of the resistance cell, the Rote Kapelle. The three main characters, all female, are well educated and well placed in German society. They provide a glimpse into the powerful era of Nazi Germany and the destruction of civil liberties in the creation of a totalitarian state . Starting before the ascension of Hitler to power, you follow Mildred, Greta, and Sarah as they try to find themselves in an quickly changing world. Their reactions to the ever increasing shadow of the Nazi regime and how it alters their lives provides the driving narrative.

Operating an informal network based on idealism, fear, and the need to topple the government, the women gradually spin a deeper and deeper web of deceit, treason, and hatred of the Nazis. Their work is based on the actual operations carried out by their partisan group. Dubbed the Rote Kapelle by the Gestapo, this communist resistance group was decimated ranks when they were caught. The Nazi government had no tolerance for partisan activity of any type, especially by Germans. The ruthless and merciless end to their work resonates in the last third of the book. While some of the characters have socialist leanings, their motives revolve more around bringing down the Hitler's regime than furthering a Soviet agenda. Long disgraced and forgotten due to the politics of the Cold War and one of the prosecutor's post war lies, the Rote Kapelle receives a powerful revival of its legacy in this novel.

One of the best things of RW, is how the author weaves real life events into the day-to-day lives of the main characters. Chiaverini stays true to the historical events and uses them as the driving forces to the main characters. Written in linear form, each chapter covers a certain time span and is written from the point of view of one of the women. The author does a wonderful job of keeping it realistic and never has a sense of straining too hard to create a coincidental consequences. Her story rings true. A great example of this is the ever growing disregard for Jews in German society. Instead of modeling the Germans into evil monsters or heroic helpers, Chiaverini shows how devastating German indifference was to the Jewish population. You didn't have to be cruel or a ranting Nazi to show anti-Semitism. She reveals the sheer power of collective disdain and its powerful effect on society. Chiaverini also doesn't empower her women beyond the societal norms of the times. Often they are reminded of their places as women in a man's world, even by their husbands.

Resistance Women taxes the soul and mind of freedom loving people. It is often hard to wrap one's head around the ever rising hatred and rhetoric of the Nazi regime. But viewing it through the eyes of these women provides a wonderful historical perspective that caught real people in its web of destruction.

Recently I have been reading novels/books that contain events from WW II including the Holocaust, espionage books featuring women and others that increase my knowledge of that time period. As I age, I need to refresh my memory of those events from my classes in high school. This is a novel but it is based on factual events preceding WW II in Germany and also during the war. The novel itself is divided into four parts commencing in 1929 and ending in 1946.

The characters are diverse in occupation and include teachers, students, authors, journalists....to name just a few. An American Ambassador to Germany is also added which allows for some interesting additional information. Imagine an invite to meet Thomas Wolfe as a guest at the Embassy?

The protagonists are all ordinary people who sacrifice for their beliefs. Danger is inherent in many of their undertakings and the author has also added romance at the appropriate time. The antagonists are the Nazis....along with their 'brownshirts'.,,that seem to be everywhere.

The Resistance is formed bit by bit, piece by piece and members are chosen carefully. The name of the group is 'Rote Kapelle' which means Red Orchestra... In the author's notes at the end of the novel fill in some of the factual items about the group. I love the fact that one member decided to care for the Orphans of this group after the war. And, was glad to see those additional notes at the end.

Several things appealed to my senses...one being the burning of the books and the quote from the play (Almansor) by Heines - 'Where they burn books, in the end they will also burn people'. Incredible quote. And, In 1934, despite previous efforts, the few members of the group realized that totalitarianism had crept up on them. At that point, the Resistance decided to redouble their efforts.

As a reader, I felt great empathy for the Jewish people thoughout. For some reason, the scene at the Synagogue when the Rabbi was being questioned by the Gestapo, really touched my being. Perhaps because I feared what may come next...not sure.

All in all, a well written novel which will tug at your heartstrings throughout. As a reader, I kept wondering the 'what if' scenario. What if more people had resisted instead of being compliant? And, dear sweet Mildred translating Goethe into English....'Hope is eternal'...

Most highly recommended and for multiple reasons, including the intense research done by the author to ensure the historical aspect was correct.

I have read a number of WWII books: historical fiction … about the resistance. I am ever grateful for so many who risked and gave so very much. The various women and their families whose stories are told in this book … I cannot even imagine the years of uncertainty, fear and courage. BUT, something I have neither read nor studied was the run up to the war … what things were like in Germany that lead to Hitler's rise to power and Nazism. As I was reading that part of the book, I kept saying to myself … but this is what is happening now … HERE … in the U.S. And it is scary. Part of me says that it could not progress like Nazi German did but that is what so many thought in that time. Back to the book review … so well written and yes a bit of an effort is made to keep the characters straight until you get in a ways … as another reviewer said, maybe a character map to refer to would be helpful. But by Part 2, I had a handle on each woman and their family. I think the writing is excellent. The characters seem very real with doubts and fears and their thoughtfulness about how to proceed. I am horrified at all that went on but glad that books like this remind us of where we could go if we are not careful.

This book tells the story of members of a resistance group in Nazi Germany. The author focuses on women in the group, telling of their courage, of their commitment to the overthrow of Hitler, of the danger they faced, of the consequences they suffered, and of the results of their efforts. The book is well-researched and well-written. I recommend this book to those who love history. The story gives insight into life in Germany during the years leading up to Hitler's rise to power as well as the years of World War II. The brave people of the resistance deserve to be remembered.

I have read a lot of novels about WW2, the Holocaust, and the Resistance over the past 5 years. I found the first half of this book to be agonizingly slow and wordy. However, I was intrigued by the women's stories and how they were all connected. I sometimes had a hard time keeping them all straight. I enjoyed the journey through history showing Hitler's rise, even though it was a slow, hard read. It still amazes me how the German citizens either were completely supporting of such heinous leadership or they buried the heads in the sand. I am glad I hung in there to the end. Although I was saddened by the executions of so many of them, I was glad that there were those who survived to make sure no one forgot the sacrifices made by those who believed and fought against such madness.

This book started out well. Interesting premise, but way too many people to remember and put together. There was a lot of time shifting also that got confusing as to what the time period was for whatever person was next on the list. The book was trying to show how these women come together and what brings them together, but it was too much. I put the book down, read 3 other books and wasn't interested enough to go back to it. Maybe I am getting tired of WWII stories.