The Dressmakers of Auschwitz

The True Story of the Women Who Sewed to Survive

By: Lucy Adlington

Narrated by: Lucy Adlington

A powerful chronicle of the women who used their sewing skills to survive the Holocaust, stitching beautiful clothes at an extraordinary fashion workshop created within one of the most notorious WWII death camps.

At the height of the Holocaust, 25 young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp - mainly Jewish women and girls - were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers.

This fashion workshop - called the Upper Tailoring Studio - was established by Hedwig Höss, the camp commandant’s wife, and patronized by the wives of SS guards and officers. Here, the dressmakers produced high-quality garments for SS social functions in Auschwitz, and for ladies from Nazi Berlin’s upper crust.

Drawing on diverse sources - including interviews with the last surviving seamstress - The Dressmakers of Auschwitz follows the fates of these brave women. Their bonds of family and friendship not only helped them endure persecution but also to play their part in camp resistance. Weaving the dressmakers’ remarkable experiences within the context of Nazi policies for plunder and exploitation, historian Lucy Adlington exposes the greed, cruelty, and hypocrisy of the Third Reich and offers a fresh look at a little-known chapter of World War II and the Holocaust.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Lucy Adlington (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Deeply moving and informative.

I could listen to this book all over again, having just finished it. Adlington offers a unique perspective on the experience of surviving Auschwitz concentration camp.

Very sad but an important story was told

Love it. I’m glad someone was able to her their story about their struggle through a horrific time.

A must read

Well told and captivating story. Tells things I never thought off before and how important friendships really are

Rich tapestry of life, loss, survival

Sewing saved their lives. Author weaves memories with facts keeping me riveted to the end.

Detailed and Horrifying, and True

This book tells the story of a group of women who survived through skills as dressmakers. What these prisoners experienced goes beyond what any human should ever live through. It speaks of cruelty by those who have the power of life or death over millions of people. This should absolutely be taught in schools everywhere to prevent this madness to ever happen again. I cannot believe Hedwig H had never been held accountable for her part in this exploitation, or that she makes no apology. Some see her as saving these women, while this is true, her actions were totally self serving. Must read!

Documentary weaving a tapestry of stories

I wasn't sure what to expect, maybe a novel feel. The writing is rhythmic with stories that reveal more than one response to the same narrative. You are neither driven to despair or horror but wondet. Which character would I have most been like.

The Dressmaker recounts Hitler’s Horror

This story tells of a group of dress makers, tailoring and survival in the horrific camps of Hitlers. More detailed of the family’s involved as well as a general gruesome recount of the experiences.

Hard story to read

This was a hard story to read but such a great book. It is well written and I highly recommend it.

A very interesting historical account.

Absolutely riveting story of the survivors of Awschvitz. All told through a perspective of the clothes that were worn then. Although the narrator is reading this account not dramatically, it’s an amazing tale.

Historic account of survival

What an interesting recounting of the dressmakers and the things they endured at Auschwitz. A must read!