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 twenty-five 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.

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!