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The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust
The astonishing story of Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg—a Jewish mathematician who saved thousands of lives in Nazi-occupied Poland by masquerading as a Polish aristocrat—drawing on Mehlberg’s own unpublished memoir.
World War II and the Holocaust have given rise to many stories of resistance and rescue, but The Counterfeit Countess is unique. It tells the remarkable, unknown story of “Countess Janina Suchodolska,” a Jewish woman who rescued more than 10,000 Poles imprisoned by Poland’s Nazi occupiers.
Mehlberg operated in Lublin, Poland, headquarters of Aktion Reinhard, the SS operation that murdered 1.7 million Jews in occupied Poland. Using the identity papers of a Polish aristocrat, she worked as a welfare official while also serving in the Polish resistance. With guile, cajolery, and steely persistence, the “Countess” persuaded SS officials to release thousands of Poles from the Majdanek concentration camp. She won permission to deliver food and medicine—even decorated Christmas trees—for thousands more of the camp’s prisoners. At the same time, she personally smuggled supplies and messages to resistance fighters imprisoned at Majdanek, where 63,000 Jews were murdered in gas chambers and shooting pits. Incredibly, she eluded detection, and ultimately survived the war and emigrated to the US.
Drawing on the manuscript of Mehlberg’s own unpublished memoir, supplemented with prodigious research, Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa, professional historians and Holocaust experts, have uncovered the full story of this remarkable woman. They interweave Mehlberg’s sometimes harrowing personal testimony with broader historical narrative. Like The Light of Days, Schindler’s List, and Irena’s Children, The Counterfeit Countess is an unforgettable account of inspiring courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
World War II and the Holocaust have given rise to many stories of resistance and rescue, but The Counterfeit Countess is unique. It tells the remarkable, unknown story of “Countess Janina Suchodolska,” a Jewish woman who rescued more than 10,000 Poles imprisoned by Poland’s Nazi occupiers.
Mehlberg operated in Lublin, Poland, headquarters of Aktion Reinhard, the SS operation that murdered 1.7 million Jews in occupied Poland. Using the identity papers of a Polish aristocrat, she worked as a welfare official while also serving in the Polish resistance. With guile, cajolery, and steely persistence, the “Countess” persuaded SS officials to release thousands of Poles from the Majdanek concentration camp. She won permission to deliver food and medicine—even decorated Christmas trees—for thousands more of the camp’s prisoners. At the same time, she personally smuggled supplies and messages to resistance fighters imprisoned at Majdanek, where 63,000 Jews were murdered in gas chambers and shooting pits. Incredibly, she eluded detection, and ultimately survived the war and emigrated to the US.
Drawing on the manuscript of Mehlberg’s own unpublished memoir, supplemented with prodigious research, Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa, professional historians and Holocaust experts, have uncovered the full story of this remarkable woman. They interweave Mehlberg’s sometimes harrowing personal testimony with broader historical narrative. Like The Light of Days, Schindler’s List, and Irena’s Children, The Counterfeit Countess is an unforgettable account of inspiring courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published January 23, 2024
About the author
Elizabeth White
109 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
July 4, 2024
The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust is an example of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. It is the true story about Josephine Janina Mehlberg being given fake papers during the Holocaust. Her false identity is Countess Janina Suchodolska and she uses her guile, grit and influence to improve conditions for imprisoned Poles.
Elizabeth White and Joanna Silwa have done extensive research, including utilizing Mehlberg's unpublished memoir.
Elizabeth White and Joanna Silwa have done extensive research, including utilizing Mehlberg's unpublished memoir.
April 4, 2024
In 1939, twenty four year old Josephine Janina Mehlberg was a respected math teacher and lecturer at a girl’s school in Lwow, Poland. Her parents were wealthy Jewish landowners.
When the Nazis began arresting the Jews in Lwow, Janina, together with her husband, were aided by a family friend, Count Andrzej Skrzynski, who arranged for them to be given new identities and documentation. They then moved to Lublin. Janina became Countess Janina Suchodolska.
In Lublin, Janina worked as a welfare official while secretly participating in the Polish resistance. With sheer determination and perseverance, she confronted the Nazi administrators at the Majdanek concentration camp and was successful in persuading them to allow non-Jewish Polish political prisoners to receive small food parcels and medicines. Eventually she succeeded in obtaining the removal of Polish prisoners who were ill, thus saving thousands of lives. She did attract the attention of the Nazi officials and at one point narrowly evaded arrest.
Authors Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa not only write Janina’s story, but they also write about their efforts to verify Janina’s account. It’s so interesting to learn about the meticulous effort involved in documenting and bringing the story to light.
The Counterfeit Countess is yet another account of individual bravery and resistance work during World War II. It is so important that these accounts are made available now so that they will not be forgotten.
When the Nazis began arresting the Jews in Lwow, Janina, together with her husband, were aided by a family friend, Count Andrzej Skrzynski, who arranged for them to be given new identities and documentation. They then moved to Lublin. Janina became Countess Janina Suchodolska.
In Lublin, Janina worked as a welfare official while secretly participating in the Polish resistance. With sheer determination and perseverance, she confronted the Nazi administrators at the Majdanek concentration camp and was successful in persuading them to allow non-Jewish Polish political prisoners to receive small food parcels and medicines. Eventually she succeeded in obtaining the removal of Polish prisoners who were ill, thus saving thousands of lives. She did attract the attention of the Nazi officials and at one point narrowly evaded arrest.
Authors Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa not only write Janina’s story, but they also write about their efforts to verify Janina’s account. It’s so interesting to learn about the meticulous effort involved in documenting and bringing the story to light.
The Counterfeit Countess is yet another account of individual bravery and resistance work during World War II. It is so important that these accounts are made available now so that they will not be forgotten.
November 30, 2023
Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg was the best fraud ever. Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa tell her story in their book The Counterfeit Countess and it's nice to be rooting for the imposter. Mehlberg was a Polish Jew who during World War II became "Countess Janina Suchodolska" just to survive. However, she decided surviving wasn't enough and became a resistance member along with the boldest humanitarian I have ever read about. What made her bold? Well, she willing went to the nearby concentration camp and proceeded to manipulate every single Nazi she could to get food and medicine within the camp. A lot of books try to oversell what their main character accomplished. This is not one of those books.
I especially appreciated how White and Sliwa approached the story. They make it clear in the introduction to the book that much of this is pulled from Mehlberg's unpublished memoir, but nothing is taken at face value. There is a lot of scholarship and significant research to make this story both readable but also complete (and verified). There are portions of the book which lag a bit as there is a fair amount of paperwork wrangling or administrative arguments. These sections are short and the story inevitably picks up immediately after with Mehlberg descending into the lion's den of Nazis. This is a book that truly does justice to its subject.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Simon & Schuster.)
I especially appreciated how White and Sliwa approached the story. They make it clear in the introduction to the book that much of this is pulled from Mehlberg's unpublished memoir, but nothing is taken at face value. There is a lot of scholarship and significant research to make this story both readable but also complete (and verified). There are portions of the book which lag a bit as there is a fair amount of paperwork wrangling or administrative arguments. These sections are short and the story inevitably picks up immediately after with Mehlberg descending into the lion's den of Nazis. This is a book that truly does justice to its subject.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Simon & Schuster.)
March 27, 2024
A great throwback read.
I liked the strategies and plans that Dr Janina put in place to protect Jews in Poland from the Nazi. The scholar was truly innovative. A nice book.
I liked the strategies and plans that Dr Janina put in place to protect Jews in Poland from the Nazi. The scholar was truly innovative. A nice book.
December 24, 2023
The story of how one Jewish woman took on the Nazis, and came out the other side.
Much of what is written about Dr Josephine Melberg - aka Countess Janina Suchodolska - is based upon her own memoirs and what the authors could verify, as her story is without a doubt, fantastic. Here was this fearless Polish, Jewish woman who took on the persona of a Countess, worked for the Resistance in Poland, and then had the audacity and wherewithal to take on the might of the Nazis on behalf of the Jews held at the Majdanek concentration camp. And she survived it all!
"Janina" defied stereotypes - she was so concerned for the welfare of those at the concentration camp, that she took on this alter-ego of the Countess and literally badgered the officials into allowing her to feed the inmates and improve conditions. Along the way we learn of Janina's early life before the war and what became of her after it. A remarkable woman whose heroic achievements became renowned long after they occurred.
Highly recommended reading!
Much of what is written about Dr Josephine Melberg - aka Countess Janina Suchodolska - is based upon her own memoirs and what the authors could verify, as her story is without a doubt, fantastic. Here was this fearless Polish, Jewish woman who took on the persona of a Countess, worked for the Resistance in Poland, and then had the audacity and wherewithal to take on the might of the Nazis on behalf of the Jews held at the Majdanek concentration camp. And she survived it all!
"Janina" defied stereotypes - she was so concerned for the welfare of those at the concentration camp, that she took on this alter-ego of the Countess and literally badgered the officials into allowing her to feed the inmates and improve conditions. Along the way we learn of Janina's early life before the war and what became of her after it. A remarkable woman whose heroic achievements became renowned long after they occurred.
Highly recommended reading!
May 14, 2024
Wow this deeply disturbing harrowing true story gives a compelling insight inyo an unsung hero and thd teality of war. It told it straight. Graphical with feeling. The narrator did a good job of dealing with a tough subject. It was enjoyable to learn more about someone id knew nothing about. It was shocking heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. It told the plight the horror the hope the despair and the humanity of all. More stories like this need to be told. Thank you so much for this 5 star lisyen. It was intense and humbling. Thanks netgallery and publisher and author and narrator
January 9, 2024
This excellent biography of Josephine Janina Mehlberg and her life in Poland under Nazi rule is based on her own unpublished memoir and extensive research.
As I've said in other reviews over the years, it's extremely important to bring as many firsthand, eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust as possible to the attention of the world. This is a powerful weapon against repeating the past and against the constant and increasing gaslighting and revisionist history currently gaining traction.
Though we've been aware of a number of stories of ordinary people across Europe who were active in the resistance and saved Jews and other "undesirables" from the death camps, we are much less familiar with people like Janina Mehlberg.
Janina and her husband were educated Polish Jews who were able to get falsified identity papers and move to Lubin, where people knew her as Countess Suchodolska. After learning about what was going on in the Majdanek concentration camp outside her new city and worrying about family and friends she had left behind, she knew she had to do something to help the prisoners. She didn't question who she was helping or why they were held at Majdanek--she simply saw human beings who were undergoing unthinkable horrors.
Risking her own life every day for years, Janina saved thousands of men, women, and children, most of whom were Christian Poles. She stood strong in the face of evil men and managed to bring food, clothes, and medicine inside the compound.
Hers is a story of bravery and ethics. As she wrote, what is one life worth unless it can be used to save others? This is an important book that reminds us that individuals have the ability to make real changes. It's also a book that is blunt in its account of how the Nazi regime treated those they deemed subhuman or not worth their concern--Jews, Romas, Poles, and many others were murdered by the millions, sometimes tens of thousands a day.
The audiobook is performed by Gilli Messer, who did an excellent job. She was expressive without distracting the listener from the historical facts and without dramatizing the everyday atrocities Janina witnessed. Her pronunciation of German, Russian, Polish, and other languages seemed authentic.
I was lucky enough to also have a digital review copy of this book, so was able to see the maps and get a clearer picture of Janina movements in and around Lubin.
Thanks to the publishers for review copies in different media.
As I've said in other reviews over the years, it's extremely important to bring as many firsthand, eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust as possible to the attention of the world. This is a powerful weapon against repeating the past and against the constant and increasing gaslighting and revisionist history currently gaining traction.
Though we've been aware of a number of stories of ordinary people across Europe who were active in the resistance and saved Jews and other "undesirables" from the death camps, we are much less familiar with people like Janina Mehlberg.
Janina and her husband were educated Polish Jews who were able to get falsified identity papers and move to Lubin, where people knew her as Countess Suchodolska. After learning about what was going on in the Majdanek concentration camp outside her new city and worrying about family and friends she had left behind, she knew she had to do something to help the prisoners. She didn't question who she was helping or why they were held at Majdanek--she simply saw human beings who were undergoing unthinkable horrors.
Risking her own life every day for years, Janina saved thousands of men, women, and children, most of whom were Christian Poles. She stood strong in the face of evil men and managed to bring food, clothes, and medicine inside the compound.
Hers is a story of bravery and ethics. As she wrote, what is one life worth unless it can be used to save others? This is an important book that reminds us that individuals have the ability to make real changes. It's also a book that is blunt in its account of how the Nazi regime treated those they deemed subhuman or not worth their concern--Jews, Romas, Poles, and many others were murdered by the millions, sometimes tens of thousands a day.
The audiobook is performed by Gilli Messer, who did an excellent job. She was expressive without distracting the listener from the historical facts and without dramatizing the everyday atrocities Janina witnessed. Her pronunciation of German, Russian, Polish, and other languages seemed authentic.
I was lucky enough to also have a digital review copy of this book, so was able to see the maps and get a clearer picture of Janina movements in and around Lubin.
Thanks to the publishers for review copies in different media.
February 15, 2024
Many WWII-era books I've read seem beyond belief in terms of the extraordinary challenges and impossible choices people faced. White and Silwa's biography of the Jewish Pole Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg (1905-1969), who survived WWII in occupied Poland by living as the fictional non-Jewish persona Countess Janina Suchodolska and risking her life countless times in her work for the Polish resistance movement by giving aid and contraband to prisoners at the Majdanek concentration camp, definitely fits in that category. This book is based off of Mehlberg's unpublished memoir and has been rigorously researched and corroborated.
Part of my motivation for reading the book was to understand more about the early life of my grandmother, who was a teenager in Poland during the Nazi/Soviet occupation and who was one of the thousands of Poles seized from their homes and conscripted into labor in Germany. There were a lot of interesting tidbits I gleaned from this book about that, and about life in Poland in general during the war.
Further reading - WWII stories:
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger
The Demon Under the Microscope: From Battlefield Hospitals to Nazi Labs, One Doctor's Heroic Search for the World's First Miracle Drug by Thomas Hager
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
The Children of Willesden Lane. Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival by Mona Golabek
Part of my motivation for reading the book was to understand more about the early life of my grandmother, who was a teenager in Poland during the Nazi/Soviet occupation and who was one of the thousands of Poles seized from their homes and conscripted into labor in Germany. There were a lot of interesting tidbits I gleaned from this book about that, and about life in Poland in general during the war.
Further reading - WWII stories:
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger
The Demon Under the Microscope: From Battlefield Hospitals to Nazi Labs, One Doctor's Heroic Search for the World's First Miracle Drug by Thomas Hager
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
The Children of Willesden Lane. Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival by Mona Golabek
March 2, 2024
Well researched non fictional account of a brilliant mathematician Jewish female professor who hides in plain sight during WW2 in Poland. She sets herself as a Polish Countess and heads an RGO organization to delivery food and aid to thousands of detained Poles. She saves countless lives while risking herself. The treatment after the was by the remaining Poles and the Soviet Union make it untenable for her and her husband to continue to live safely there. Through much difficulty, she escapes to Canada eventually becoming a US citizen and renown professor.
Her story is only told due to her husband translating her Polish memoir into English and the work of historians dedicated to verifying its truth.
It could make a great movie.
Her story is only told due to her husband translating her Polish memoir into English and the work of historians dedicated to verifying its truth.
It could make a great movie.
February 23, 2024
The Counterfeit Countess by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa is the true story of Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg, a Jewish mathematician who saved thousands of Poles from the Nazis in WW II. This is a little known story from WW II. It's written as a narrative and the detail shows the heavy amount of research done by the authors.
I'm always amazed at the bravery shown by those who stood up to the Nazis. Janina constantly pushed the concentration camp leaders to let her help the prisoners. She never accepted a no and kept asking more and more. Always just a moment away from arrest herself.
She even convinced them to let her bring Christmas trees in one year.
An amazing story.
I'm always amazed at the bravery shown by those who stood up to the Nazis. Janina constantly pushed the concentration camp leaders to let her help the prisoners. She never accepted a no and kept asking more and more. Always just a moment away from arrest herself.
She even convinced them to let her bring Christmas trees in one year.
An amazing story.
August 9, 2024
This struggled to pull me in for the first half (I was listening) but omg the second half was like a movie! What a crazy cool woman with such a beautiful impact.
March 4, 2024
It is unspeakable how unsettling & gut wrenching it is to hear of the traumas that people endured at the hands of Nazi Germany & beyond. It is equally as hard to put words to the incredible awe I feel towards those who were brave enough to risk their lives daily to save at least some of the people unjustly taken into captivity by this regime. Would I be as brave?
March 26, 2024
For sure she made a huge difference, but it reads like a history book, dates and names and minimal story or context.
January 14, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 1/23/2024. Having a teacher in high school obsessed with educating us on the horror of the Holocaust and having a professor in college whose specialty was the same, you would think that I would have come across the story of Dr Josephine Janina Mehlberg aka Countess Janina Suchodolska aka Pepi Spinner aka rather a lot of other names. Yet I had not and I am so grateful now to know it through this book. Janina stands out as one of the smartest, toughest, most ballsy rescuers I have ever read about and, indeed, is one of the most amazing mixtures of logic and emotion that I bet you will ever find. Born a Polish Jew to very well-off parents, she grew up surrounded by comfort and friends and all of the intellectual stimulation her incredibly active brain could want. In fact, for quite a while, she lived the contented life of the upper intelligensia, a respected mathematician and statistician; her and her husband teaching and learning and having parties with clever conversation and the like. Then the Nazis rose to power and invaded Poland and everything changed. So did Janina. First escaping one city for another with her husband, then becoming someone else entirely - an ethnic Polish aristocrate, the Countess Suchodolska - formidable negotiator with the German overseers of the nearby prison camp, Majdanek, and diminutive but determined do-gooder out to save as many lives as she could.
While this book is definitely scholarly, it does not come across as cold. Yes, there are a lot of dates and numbers and the purely overwhelming figures of prisoners and food and the logistics of getting everything together. Janina was a master of calculation and risks and probability. This book is based on her personally written memoir, bolstered by a lot of research and first hand sources by the authors. You get the sense that she almost had to focus on the numbers at times to keep safe. Plus she used her brain to calculate the risks and work the numbers towards as high a success rate as she could. In the end, though, Janina always held her own life at a lower risk value than any of the thousands of Polish prisoners, dozens of Underground Army colleagues, her husband, and the city citizens. Repeatedly through the book, you come up against her personal motto - if her single life can save multiple others, then that is the best thing she could do. It is/was worth the risk.
She took many risks indeed and narrowly escaped captured a few times. One of her comrades even lost his life saving her, not regretting the action one bit - something that clearly stayed with her throughout her life and drove her even harder to save as many as she could. Outside of the amazing feats she managed in offering hope and succor to the prisoners, Janina also managed to observe humans at their bet and worst and come to the conclusion that, where there is evil, there is also a chance for grace - often in the same person. Time and again, she was faced with kindness from a cruel tormentor. While you never feel that she excused such people from their actions, you feel her underlying grasp of the hope such lights represented.
Even if Janina did not think she did saved enough people, helped enough, and it clearly bothered her that she could not single out the Jewish inmates as she wished... Many people would argue that every single thing she did was a mark in the column of good and worthy. Please read this book for both hope and horror and to learn about a truly amazing woman.
While this book is definitely scholarly, it does not come across as cold. Yes, there are a lot of dates and numbers and the purely overwhelming figures of prisoners and food and the logistics of getting everything together. Janina was a master of calculation and risks and probability. This book is based on her personally written memoir, bolstered by a lot of research and first hand sources by the authors. You get the sense that she almost had to focus on the numbers at times to keep safe. Plus she used her brain to calculate the risks and work the numbers towards as high a success rate as she could. In the end, though, Janina always held her own life at a lower risk value than any of the thousands of Polish prisoners, dozens of Underground Army colleagues, her husband, and the city citizens. Repeatedly through the book, you come up against her personal motto - if her single life can save multiple others, then that is the best thing she could do. It is/was worth the risk.
She took many risks indeed and narrowly escaped captured a few times. One of her comrades even lost his life saving her, not regretting the action one bit - something that clearly stayed with her throughout her life and drove her even harder to save as many as she could. Outside of the amazing feats she managed in offering hope and succor to the prisoners, Janina also managed to observe humans at their bet and worst and come to the conclusion that, where there is evil, there is also a chance for grace - often in the same person. Time and again, she was faced with kindness from a cruel tormentor. While you never feel that she excused such people from their actions, you feel her underlying grasp of the hope such lights represented.
Even if Janina did not think she did saved enough people, helped enough, and it clearly bothered her that she could not single out the Jewish inmates as she wished... Many people would argue that every single thing she did was a mark in the column of good and worthy. Please read this book for both hope and horror and to learn about a truly amazing woman.
February 4, 2024
## The Counterfeit Countess
The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust
by Elizabeth B. White; Joanna Sliwa
Pub Date 23 Jan 2024
Simon & Schuster
Biographies & Memoirs| History
Simon & Schuster and Netgalley sent me a copy of The Counterfeit Countess to review:
This is a must read memoir!
This book uses Mehlberg's own unpublished memoir, to reveal the astonishing story of Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg, a Jewish mathematician who saved thousands of lives in Nazi-occupied Poland.
Many stories of resistance and rescue emerged during World War II and the Holocaust, but The Counterfeit Countess stands out. It tells the remarkable, unknown story of “Countess Janina Suchodolska,” a Jewish woman who rescued more than 10,000 Poles imprisoned by Poland’s Nazi occupiers.The book tells the tale of "Countess Janina Suchodolska," a Jewish woman who saved more than 10,000 Polish prisoners from
Mehlberg operated in Lublin, Poland, the headquarters of Aktion Reinhard, the SS operation that murdered 1.7 million Jews. Under the guise of a Polish aristocrat, she worked as a welfare official and served in the Polish resistance. The "Countess" persuaded SS officials to release thousands of Poles from Majdanek concentration camp with guile, cajolery, and steely persistence. She delivered food, medicine, and even Christmas trees to thousands more prisoners. During this time, she personally smuggled supplies and messages to resistance fighters imprisoned at Majdanek, where 63,000 Jews were killed. Amazingly, she eluded detection and survived the war.
Based on Mehlberg's unpublished memoir and extensive research, Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa have uncovered the full story of this remarkable woman. Mehlberg's sometimes harrowing testimony is woven into a broader historical narrative. Like The Light of Days, Schindler’s List, and Irena’s Children, The Counterfeit Countess is an unforgettable account of inspiring courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty.In a similar manner to The Light of Days, Schindler's List, and Irena's Children, The Counterfeit Countess inspires courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
If you are looking for a memoir that is part heartbreak and part hope at a time when if seemed all hope was lost, I highly recommend The Counterfeit Countess'
Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust
by Elizabeth B. White; Joanna Sliwa
Pub Date 23 Jan 2024
Simon & Schuster
Biographies & Memoirs| History
Simon & Schuster and Netgalley sent me a copy of The Counterfeit Countess to review:
This is a must read memoir!
This book uses Mehlberg's own unpublished memoir, to reveal the astonishing story of Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg, a Jewish mathematician who saved thousands of lives in Nazi-occupied Poland.
Many stories of resistance and rescue emerged during World War II and the Holocaust, but The Counterfeit Countess stands out. It tells the remarkable, unknown story of “Countess Janina Suchodolska,” a Jewish woman who rescued more than 10,000 Poles imprisoned by Poland’s Nazi occupiers.The book tells the tale of "Countess Janina Suchodolska," a Jewish woman who saved more than 10,000 Polish prisoners from
Mehlberg operated in Lublin, Poland, the headquarters of Aktion Reinhard, the SS operation that murdered 1.7 million Jews. Under the guise of a Polish aristocrat, she worked as a welfare official and served in the Polish resistance. The "Countess" persuaded SS officials to release thousands of Poles from Majdanek concentration camp with guile, cajolery, and steely persistence. She delivered food, medicine, and even Christmas trees to thousands more prisoners. During this time, she personally smuggled supplies and messages to resistance fighters imprisoned at Majdanek, where 63,000 Jews were killed. Amazingly, she eluded detection and survived the war.
Based on Mehlberg's unpublished memoir and extensive research, Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa have uncovered the full story of this remarkable woman. Mehlberg's sometimes harrowing testimony is woven into a broader historical narrative. Like The Light of Days, Schindler’s List, and Irena’s Children, The Counterfeit Countess is an unforgettable account of inspiring courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty.In a similar manner to The Light of Days, Schindler's List, and Irena's Children, The Counterfeit Countess inspires courage in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
If you are looking for a memoir that is part heartbreak and part hope at a time when if seemed all hope was lost, I highly recommend The Counterfeit Countess'
Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Read
March 17, 2024I can’t say I enjoyed reading this book, because it is not pleasurable to read about the horrific violence and murder perpetrated by the Nazis during WWII.
However, the thoroughness of the research by the authors is hard to deny. It was uplifting to see all the good that was accomplished by Janina and those she worked alongside, but still very depressing, in general. It will give you nightmares, I dare say; not for the faint of heart. I considered not finishing it, it was so disturbing. I am very glad that her story has been duly recorded and is “out in the world,” and, hopefully, not to be forgotten.
However, the thoroughness of the research by the authors is hard to deny. It was uplifting to see all the good that was accomplished by Janina and those she worked alongside, but still very depressing, in general. It will give you nightmares, I dare say; not for the faint of heart. I considered not finishing it, it was so disturbing. I am very glad that her story has been duly recorded and is “out in the world,” and, hopefully, not to be forgotten.
August 30, 2024
Nonfiction about a Jewish woman who posed as a Polish princess to save herself but also to try to help as many people as possible, Jewish and non Jewish, that were being held in the local prison/concentration camps. She was very admirable.
The tough part of the book was all the details about what was going in the camps. The authors spent a lot of time on that which, of course, was very disturbing.
The tough part of the book was all the details about what was going in the camps. The authors spent a lot of time on that which, of course, was very disturbing.
June 4, 2024
Audiobook, read well. True story as taken from her memoirs after her death in 1965. Translated by a prof in FL and her husband. Sad story of the polish people be it Jews or others caught up by the nazi regime and placed in polish concentration camp. Unbelievable recount of the people she encountered and the thousands she saved. Quite a courageous woman.
April 29, 2024
I'm a bit torn on the review. On one hand, the events are interesting, and the Countess' life is one worth being written about for sure.
On the other, this particular presentation is slow, monotonous, and reads like an extended textbook. I found myself wanting to bail on it several times over.
If you don't mind reading something that's written in that fashion, go for it. But if you want details, world building, and a story that is written in a way that draws you in, this isn't it.
On the other, this particular presentation is slow, monotonous, and reads like an extended textbook. I found myself wanting to bail on it several times over.
If you don't mind reading something that's written in that fashion, go for it. But if you want details, world building, and a story that is written in a way that draws you in, this isn't it.
April 9, 2024
Read like a textbook - very plodding!! Fascinating woman who did amazing work saving lives, but a tough read!!
November 4, 2023
A countess determined to risk her life to save prisoners of Madajczyk during Germany's occupation of Poland.
Germany's invasion of Poland bought unspeakable horrors to its citizens during World War II. Janina Spinner Mehlberg was born Pepi Spinner and enjoyed a carefree life prior to the war. German's invasion changed her life leading her family to escape the turmoil that was to come. A family friend offered her the opportunity to take on a new identity to avoid being detained by the SS. Her new identity as Countess Janina Schodolska allowed her access to prisoners detained at Madajczky under the harsh punishment of the SS. Her new identity allowed her to become a vital part in a resistance effort to keep as much prisoners of alive as the World War II came to an and leading to Germany's defeat.
This book is a fascinating story of one woman's transformation from an ordinary girl to a countess willing to risk her life to save as many prisoners in Madajcyk. The author's vivid descriptions gives the reader a look at the chilling scenes of what the Countess saw and felt in her determination to keep her country's men alive no matter if they were Jewish or Polish and anyone in-between. The Countesses ability to get food, medicine and other needed items pass SS guards is remarkable in terms of dealing with the most cruel men assigned to guard this prison.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in World War II. The authors writes an interesting account of one woman's hidden identity to defeat Nazi Germany in her own way.
Germany's invasion of Poland bought unspeakable horrors to its citizens during World War II. Janina Spinner Mehlberg was born Pepi Spinner and enjoyed a carefree life prior to the war. German's invasion changed her life leading her family to escape the turmoil that was to come. A family friend offered her the opportunity to take on a new identity to avoid being detained by the SS. Her new identity as Countess Janina Schodolska allowed her access to prisoners detained at Madajczky under the harsh punishment of the SS. Her new identity allowed her to become a vital part in a resistance effort to keep as much prisoners of alive as the World War II came to an and leading to Germany's defeat.
This book is a fascinating story of one woman's transformation from an ordinary girl to a countess willing to risk her life to save as many prisoners in Madajcyk. The author's vivid descriptions gives the reader a look at the chilling scenes of what the Countess saw and felt in her determination to keep her country's men alive no matter if they were Jewish or Polish and anyone in-between. The Countesses ability to get food, medicine and other needed items pass SS guards is remarkable in terms of dealing with the most cruel men assigned to guard this prison.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in World War II. The authors writes an interesting account of one woman's hidden identity to defeat Nazi Germany in her own way.
November 6, 2023
This was an incredibly engaging story. I learned so much about Poland, not only in ww2, but the time before as well. The story was sad but powerful, and it was amazing to learn about such an incredible woman.
December 19, 2023
I read a free digital advance review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The subject of this book cycled through a lot of names during her life, so I’ll just call her Janina, as the authors do. She was born to a wealthy and influential family, knew several languages, earned a Ph.D., and married a fellow scholar. When the Jewish Janina and her husband had to flee Lviv after the German invasion, they moved to Lublin and lived under false papers provided by an aristocrat friend. That friend, Count Andrzej Skrzynski, decided to go big and gave them papers identifying them as a Count and Countess. Clever, really, because nobody would think that a woman swanning about as the Countess Suchodolska in Nazi-controlled Poland could be faking it, let alone that she was actually Jewish.
Janina decided it would be a waste of her privilege if she didn’t do something with her life, so she took full advantage of that Countess identity and went to work to help her fellow Poles. As a practical matter, there was little she could do for Jews caught up in the machinery of the Nazis’ Final Solution. But there was plenty she could do for others. She hectored the Nazis running the Majdanek concentration camp to allow aid organizations to provide better conditions, and she herself brought in food multiple times a week, putting herself at risk each time, especially because she often smuggled in and out information and other material. Though she often had an antagonistic relationship with the Nazi guards and officials at Majdanek, she was able to persuade higher-ups that what she wanted was in their best interests and usually got her way. She was even able to secure the outright release of thousands of (non-Jewish) Poles who were imprisoned only because they’d been ousted from their homes in areas the Nazis wanted to occupy entirely. She was a member of an underground Polish resistance group—whose members were unaware that she was Jewish.
Her immediate postwar life was still dangerous. Poland came under the control of the USSR, which immediately went after members of all Polish resistance groups that weren’t communist, and that included hers. Life for Jews in Poland after the war wasn’t great, either, with an estimate of 500-1,500 Jews being killed by Poles. It’s nerve-wracking to read about the dangerous conditions for her and her husband before they were finally able to escape to the west.
This book details Poland’s history during World War II, when its unfortunate position between the USSR and Germany resulted in its abuse by both countries, and the pitting of ethnic Poles and Ukrainians against each other, and often both against Poland’s Jews. Janina’s story is based on her own written recollections, but with much additional information resulting from years-long research by the historian authors. This additional research is detailed in the lengthy acknowledgements, endnotes, and bibliography.
This is the story of a life that you’d think would have to be fictional, except that so much of what really did happen in World War II is almost unbelievable. This story would lend itself well to a film adaptation.
The subject of this book cycled through a lot of names during her life, so I’ll just call her Janina, as the authors do. She was born to a wealthy and influential family, knew several languages, earned a Ph.D., and married a fellow scholar. When the Jewish Janina and her husband had to flee Lviv after the German invasion, they moved to Lublin and lived under false papers provided by an aristocrat friend. That friend, Count Andrzej Skrzynski, decided to go big and gave them papers identifying them as a Count and Countess. Clever, really, because nobody would think that a woman swanning about as the Countess Suchodolska in Nazi-controlled Poland could be faking it, let alone that she was actually Jewish.
Janina decided it would be a waste of her privilege if she didn’t do something with her life, so she took full advantage of that Countess identity and went to work to help her fellow Poles. As a practical matter, there was little she could do for Jews caught up in the machinery of the Nazis’ Final Solution. But there was plenty she could do for others. She hectored the Nazis running the Majdanek concentration camp to allow aid organizations to provide better conditions, and she herself brought in food multiple times a week, putting herself at risk each time, especially because she often smuggled in and out information and other material. Though she often had an antagonistic relationship with the Nazi guards and officials at Majdanek, she was able to persuade higher-ups that what she wanted was in their best interests and usually got her way. She was even able to secure the outright release of thousands of (non-Jewish) Poles who were imprisoned only because they’d been ousted from their homes in areas the Nazis wanted to occupy entirely. She was a member of an underground Polish resistance group—whose members were unaware that she was Jewish.
Her immediate postwar life was still dangerous. Poland came under the control of the USSR, which immediately went after members of all Polish resistance groups that weren’t communist, and that included hers. Life for Jews in Poland after the war wasn’t great, either, with an estimate of 500-1,500 Jews being killed by Poles. It’s nerve-wracking to read about the dangerous conditions for her and her husband before they were finally able to escape to the west.
This book details Poland’s history during World War II, when its unfortunate position between the USSR and Germany resulted in its abuse by both countries, and the pitting of ethnic Poles and Ukrainians against each other, and often both against Poland’s Jews. Janina’s story is based on her own written recollections, but with much additional information resulting from years-long research by the historian authors. This additional research is detailed in the lengthy acknowledgements, endnotes, and bibliography.
This is the story of a life that you’d think would have to be fictional, except that so much of what really did happen in World War II is almost unbelievable. This story would lend itself well to a film adaptation.
April 15, 2024
The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust
by Elizabeth B. White, Joanna Sliwa
I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Pepi Spinner, a Jewish woman, Janina Suchodolska, a noble countess, and Dr Josephine Janina Mehlberg, a brilliant mathematician, were all the same remarkable individual. But who was this person who stood out as an angel to many during World War II, the most traumatic period of our time?
After conducting four years of research, authors Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa recount the story of Countess Janina Suchodolska, who worked for the RGO organization to provide food, medical supplies, care packages from their relatives, and contraband to ease the suffering of prisoners in Majdanek, a Polish concentration camp. However, Janina felt that her efforts were never enough, and as a member of the AK, a clandestine resistance movement, she pledged to no longer live in fear and to do her part for her queen and country.
Thanks to her husband's translation of the little she wrote about her memoir and his account translated into English, readers now have the privilege of glimpsing into the life of Janina, a woman who always prioritized the well-being of others over her own.
How can one convey the pain and suffering people endured during this period? It is impossible to comprehend. We read examples of incorrigible behaviour from the Nazis, of families having travelled for days in the dark. Men, women and children packed shoulder to shoulder in cattle cars, with no food and a single sanitation bucket to share, whilst the dead piled up around them. Yet this is what Janina witnessed regularly, and she pledged to make a difference.
My interest in World War II began when I found out that some of my relatives died in a concentration camp, which we only learned about years later. We had thought they were Germans, but it turned out that they had concealed their true identity and were Polish Jews. This book was an excellent resource for gaining insights into Polish life before, during, and after the tragic events of the war.
No one can deny what the Nazis did was horrifying, but I was amazed and appalled at the fact that when the war ended, Polish Jews were still persecuted and killed for nothing more than being Jewish. " Estimates of the number of Polish Jews killed in the first year following the end of the war range from 500 to 1500 ", while officials turned a blind eye to this barbarism.
I highly recommend this book; I can't stress it enough. Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa have meticulously revealed the truth about Nazism, the society it built, the world of the Third Reich, and the people who endured it all. The book presents the issues clearly and vividly, which leaves a lasting impression on the reader. As Janina insisted, "We will remember".
by Elizabeth B. White, Joanna Sliwa
I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Pepi Spinner, a Jewish woman, Janina Suchodolska, a noble countess, and Dr Josephine Janina Mehlberg, a brilliant mathematician, were all the same remarkable individual. But who was this person who stood out as an angel to many during World War II, the most traumatic period of our time?
After conducting four years of research, authors Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa recount the story of Countess Janina Suchodolska, who worked for the RGO organization to provide food, medical supplies, care packages from their relatives, and contraband to ease the suffering of prisoners in Majdanek, a Polish concentration camp. However, Janina felt that her efforts were never enough, and as a member of the AK, a clandestine resistance movement, she pledged to no longer live in fear and to do her part for her queen and country.
Thanks to her husband's translation of the little she wrote about her memoir and his account translated into English, readers now have the privilege of glimpsing into the life of Janina, a woman who always prioritized the well-being of others over her own.
How can one convey the pain and suffering people endured during this period? It is impossible to comprehend. We read examples of incorrigible behaviour from the Nazis, of families having travelled for days in the dark. Men, women and children packed shoulder to shoulder in cattle cars, with no food and a single sanitation bucket to share, whilst the dead piled up around them. Yet this is what Janina witnessed regularly, and she pledged to make a difference.
My interest in World War II began when I found out that some of my relatives died in a concentration camp, which we only learned about years later. We had thought they were Germans, but it turned out that they had concealed their true identity and were Polish Jews. This book was an excellent resource for gaining insights into Polish life before, during, and after the tragic events of the war.
No one can deny what the Nazis did was horrifying, but I was amazed and appalled at the fact that when the war ended, Polish Jews were still persecuted and killed for nothing more than being Jewish. " Estimates of the number of Polish Jews killed in the first year following the end of the war range from 500 to 1500 ", while officials turned a blind eye to this barbarism.
I highly recommend this book; I can't stress it enough. Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa have meticulously revealed the truth about Nazism, the society it built, the world of the Third Reich, and the people who endured it all. The book presents the issues clearly and vividly, which leaves a lasting impression on the reader. As Janina insisted, "We will remember".
January 22, 2024
The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust
by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa
Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg was a highly accomplished Jewish mathematician. As Jewish people were being rounded up Janina and her husband were helped to change their identities. They became a Count and a Countess, with Janina taking on the identity of Polish aristocrat Countess Janina Suchodolska.
As they watched neighbors, friends, coworkers, and all those around them be carted off, if not sometimes killed in the streets, close calls for Janina and her husband caused her to resign herself. Death was imminent, nothing was going to stop her and her husband from being rounded up and hauled off to certain death. As Janina accepted this fact, a heavy weight was lifted from her heart and shoulders. If she was going to die then before she died, she was going to get food, supplies, and comfort to as many people as she could possibly help.
It no longer matter that Janina was masquerading as a Polish aristocrat, Poles were being killed along side Jews, her days were numbered. What did Janina do? She put herself right there in front of the very enemy who would kill her if they knew she was deceiving them. Since she must take on the persona of a Countess she carried herself as one. She made it clear she wasn't accustomed to hearing the word "No". She asked to be heard by those high up in the enemy party, when she asked for a finger, she knew she'd be going for the hand and getting it later on.
The authors took Janina's unpublished memoir, conducted massive amounts of research, documented the things Janina wrote about, and have presented us with a remarkable work, detailing what Janina did for so many when just the slightest slip could mean certain death for her. Included, too, are stories of other people risking everything to help those who were surely going to die. Janina saw the horror from the outside and the inside, as she demanded to visit the camps and often got permission to do so. At all times she had to act as if she was Countess Janina Suchodolska when her former self was inside, screaming in horror at all she saw and knew.
Of course, for all the supplies that Janina and others got to the prisoners, they were also delivering and receiving messages and information from resistance fighters imprisoned at Majdanek. This book is well written and full of details and facts while still allowing the emotions of what was going on to come through on the page. Once again, I'm amazed at the work of people who faced certain death (and often not quick deaths) to fight to the end to help others, no matter how hopeless the situations they faced. And things were hopeless for the vast majority of the prisoners. I'm thankful for the works, some written long ago, that have been making their way into publication, so we can read first hand what was going on during World War II and the Holocaust.
Publication January 23, 2024
Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for this digital ARC.
by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa
Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg was a highly accomplished Jewish mathematician. As Jewish people were being rounded up Janina and her husband were helped to change their identities. They became a Count and a Countess, with Janina taking on the identity of Polish aristocrat Countess Janina Suchodolska.
As they watched neighbors, friends, coworkers, and all those around them be carted off, if not sometimes killed in the streets, close calls for Janina and her husband caused her to resign herself. Death was imminent, nothing was going to stop her and her husband from being rounded up and hauled off to certain death. As Janina accepted this fact, a heavy weight was lifted from her heart and shoulders. If she was going to die then before she died, she was going to get food, supplies, and comfort to as many people as she could possibly help.
It no longer matter that Janina was masquerading as a Polish aristocrat, Poles were being killed along side Jews, her days were numbered. What did Janina do? She put herself right there in front of the very enemy who would kill her if they knew she was deceiving them. Since she must take on the persona of a Countess she carried herself as one. She made it clear she wasn't accustomed to hearing the word "No". She asked to be heard by those high up in the enemy party, when she asked for a finger, she knew she'd be going for the hand and getting it later on.
The authors took Janina's unpublished memoir, conducted massive amounts of research, documented the things Janina wrote about, and have presented us with a remarkable work, detailing what Janina did for so many when just the slightest slip could mean certain death for her. Included, too, are stories of other people risking everything to help those who were surely going to die. Janina saw the horror from the outside and the inside, as she demanded to visit the camps and often got permission to do so. At all times she had to act as if she was Countess Janina Suchodolska when her former self was inside, screaming in horror at all she saw and knew.
Of course, for all the supplies that Janina and others got to the prisoners, they were also delivering and receiving messages and information from resistance fighters imprisoned at Majdanek. This book is well written and full of details and facts while still allowing the emotions of what was going on to come through on the page. Once again, I'm amazed at the work of people who faced certain death (and often not quick deaths) to fight to the end to help others, no matter how hopeless the situations they faced. And things were hopeless for the vast majority of the prisoners. I'm thankful for the works, some written long ago, that have been making their way into publication, so we can read first hand what was going on during World War II and the Holocaust.
Publication January 23, 2024
Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for this digital ARC.
January 11, 2024
"The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust" by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa is a poignant and inspiring exploration of a lesser-known hero during the Holocaust. The book stands out for its meticulous research and the compelling narrative that sheds light on the incredible acts of bravery carried out by a remarkable individual.
One commendable aspect of the book is the authors' dedication to uncovering and sharing the story of the Jewish woman who rescued thousands of Poles. Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa's thorough research brings to light the remarkable actions of this unsung hero, offering a tribute to her courage and compassion during a dark period in history.
The writing style is both informative and engaging, allowing readers to connect with the individuals involved and the historical context of their actions. The narrative is structured in a way that captures the gravity of the events while honoring the resilience and bravery of those who risked their lives to save others. The authors strike a balance between historical documentation and storytelling, making the book accessible to a wide audience.
However, some readers may find the book emotionally intense due to the harrowing nature of the Holocaust and the courageous actions depicted. Potential readers should be aware of the heavy subject matter and be prepared for the emotional impact of the stories shared.
In conclusion, "The Counterfeit Countess" stands as a powerful testament to the extraordinary acts of a Jewish woman who played a crucial role in rescuing thousands during the Holocaust. Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa's dedication to preserving this story is evident, making the book a valuable contribution to Holocaust literature. While the emotional weight of the subject matter may be challenging, the book succeeds in honoring the courage and compassion of those who defied the darkness of that historical period.
One commendable aspect of the book is the authors' dedication to uncovering and sharing the story of the Jewish woman who rescued thousands of Poles. Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa's thorough research brings to light the remarkable actions of this unsung hero, offering a tribute to her courage and compassion during a dark period in history.
The writing style is both informative and engaging, allowing readers to connect with the individuals involved and the historical context of their actions. The narrative is structured in a way that captures the gravity of the events while honoring the resilience and bravery of those who risked their lives to save others. The authors strike a balance between historical documentation and storytelling, making the book accessible to a wide audience.
However, some readers may find the book emotionally intense due to the harrowing nature of the Holocaust and the courageous actions depicted. Potential readers should be aware of the heavy subject matter and be prepared for the emotional impact of the stories shared.
In conclusion, "The Counterfeit Countess" stands as a powerful testament to the extraordinary acts of a Jewish woman who played a crucial role in rescuing thousands during the Holocaust. Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa's dedication to preserving this story is evident, making the book a valuable contribution to Holocaust literature. While the emotional weight of the subject matter may be challenging, the book succeeds in honoring the courage and compassion of those who defied the darkness of that historical period.
February 14, 2024
Story of an amazing woman. a Jew, who lived "underground" as a Polish noblewoman in Lublin, during the years of the Holocaust, and took it upon herself to find every way possible to feed and provide succor for thousands of Polish nationals incarcerated in Majdanek. It is truly remarkable what one person can accomplish under the most dangerous and daunting odds. The Germans ultimately allowed her to feed only ethnic Poles in Majdanek. Some of her efforts did make their way to Jews and Ukrainians and others in the concentration/death camp, but this Jewish woman spent dangerous years saving Poles. The Polish people should be made aware of this.
There are not many books of this nature that discuss Majdanek - probably because most Jews were killed upon arrival or soon thereafter. It was not a death camp with some number of people who survived. It was interesting to know more about Majdanek, and Lublin, which is the city in which my husband's grandfather and his family were born. I do not know who remained there by WW II.
p. 242-245 Janina was neither fearless nor flawless, which makes her story all the more inspiring. She displayed no heroic tendencies before the war, and if world events had allowed, she would have gone on living the sheltered life of a rather pampered intellectual. Instead, she found herself in the power of people who rated some human lives worthless, including her own. In response, she decided to measure the value of her own life by the number of lives she could help save. She pursued her mission with all her intelligence, imagination, and intuition, and with truly stubborn persistence - she simply refused to accept what others told her was impossible. As long as there were lives that needed saving, she was certain that there must be a way to save them.
There are not many books of this nature that discuss Majdanek - probably because most Jews were killed upon arrival or soon thereafter. It was not a death camp with some number of people who survived. It was interesting to know more about Majdanek, and Lublin, which is the city in which my husband's grandfather and his family were born. I do not know who remained there by WW II.
p. 242-245 Janina was neither fearless nor flawless, which makes her story all the more inspiring. She displayed no heroic tendencies before the war, and if world events had allowed, she would have gone on living the sheltered life of a rather pampered intellectual. Instead, she found herself in the power of people who rated some human lives worthless, including her own. In response, she decided to measure the value of her own life by the number of lives she could help save. She pursued her mission with all her intelligence, imagination, and intuition, and with truly stubborn persistence - she simply refused to accept what others told her was impossible. As long as there were lives that needed saving, she was certain that there must be a way to save them.
October 24, 2023
The Counterfeit Countess by Elizabeth B White and Joanna Sliwa is a fascinating story of one woman's fight against evil while constantly being in danger herself. Now, more than ever, we need people like this who believe it is better to save lives than commit genocide, even when the governments prefer and actively pursue genocide.
Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg was the type of person who didn't simply seek safety for herself and her family, though that had to be the first step in the story, but some level of care for those who couldn't completely avoid the Nazi concentration camps. From providing for those in the camp to freeing many others, she did more than anyone, especially the Nazi officers, thought possible. While some of her work was, by necessity, clandestine, a lot was done openly, advocating for the prisoners in her role as a Countess and member of a council. In other words, she didn't just get a new identity then hope to ride out the war. She used that identity to help others.
The source material first presented to the authors was a diary that covered the war. The amount of research they did to recover more about Mehlberg and verify the events in the diary was a tremendous undertaking and makes for a wonderful book that shows both the evil that is any genocidal government as well as the humanity which is necessary to stand up against it. A lesson that needs to be taught to many today.
Highly recommended for those with an interest in the Holocaust and those who like to read about people doing more than is asked of them for an ideal that is bigger than any person, group of people, or belief system.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.
Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg was the type of person who didn't simply seek safety for herself and her family, though that had to be the first step in the story, but some level of care for those who couldn't completely avoid the Nazi concentration camps. From providing for those in the camp to freeing many others, she did more than anyone, especially the Nazi officers, thought possible. While some of her work was, by necessity, clandestine, a lot was done openly, advocating for the prisoners in her role as a Countess and member of a council. In other words, she didn't just get a new identity then hope to ride out the war. She used that identity to help others.
The source material first presented to the authors was a diary that covered the war. The amount of research they did to recover more about Mehlberg and verify the events in the diary was a tremendous undertaking and makes for a wonderful book that shows both the evil that is any genocidal government as well as the humanity which is necessary to stand up against it. A lesson that needs to be taught to many today.
Highly recommended for those with an interest in the Holocaust and those who like to read about people doing more than is asked of them for an ideal that is bigger than any person, group of people, or belief system.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.
May 13, 2024
"The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust” is a poignant exploration of the human spirit's capacity for resilience, courage and altruism amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. Through an extensive collaborative research of Joanna Sliwa and Elizabeth White, traversing countries and continents, readers are transported into the tumultuous world of World War II, where Janina Mehlberg's daring subterfuge as Countess Janina Suchodolska unfolds.
The narrative delves into the intricacies of Janina’s multiple identities, each one meticulously invented as per the circumstances to shield innocent lives from the brutalities of Nazi persecution. As the story unfolds, the readers are drawn into Janina’s world, where survival hinges on quick thinking, unwavering resolve and resolute compassion.
The book is a blend of historical documentation and personal testimony. Through evocative prose and excerpts from Janina’s own memoir, the authors breathe life into her remarkable journey, allowing readers to witness firsthand the triumphs and tribulations of one woman's fight against tyranny.
Further, the inclusion of photographs adds a tangible layer of authenticity to the narrative, offering glimpses into the faces involved in Janina’s extraordinary story. These visual cues serve to deepen the reader's immersion, transforming a distant historical account into a vivid, relatable experience. The book is thus a testament to the enduring power of hope, tolerance, and mercy in the face of unspeakable evil.
By illuminating Janina's courageous acts of resistance, the book adds to the recognition of the bold contributions made by women during the Holocaust.
The narrative delves into the intricacies of Janina’s multiple identities, each one meticulously invented as per the circumstances to shield innocent lives from the brutalities of Nazi persecution. As the story unfolds, the readers are drawn into Janina’s world, where survival hinges on quick thinking, unwavering resolve and resolute compassion.
The book is a blend of historical documentation and personal testimony. Through evocative prose and excerpts from Janina’s own memoir, the authors breathe life into her remarkable journey, allowing readers to witness firsthand the triumphs and tribulations of one woman's fight against tyranny.
Further, the inclusion of photographs adds a tangible layer of authenticity to the narrative, offering glimpses into the faces involved in Janina’s extraordinary story. These visual cues serve to deepen the reader's immersion, transforming a distant historical account into a vivid, relatable experience. The book is thus a testament to the enduring power of hope, tolerance, and mercy in the face of unspeakable evil.
By illuminating Janina's courageous acts of resistance, the book adds to the recognition of the bold contributions made by women during the Holocaust.
May 11, 2024
I found the biography of this heroic Polish Jewish woman startling in the number of the non-Jewish Polish lives she saved during the Holocaust. Her resilience and ingenuity as a member of the Polish RGO and its activities were startling in her work within Majdanek concentration camp to provide clothing, food, and medical attention to the thousands of Polish prisoners at the mercy of the Nazi government’s attempts to eradicate Polish culture and identity.
I struggle to name her, as throughout her life she assumed many different names. Born Pepi Spinner, in her rescue work within the camp she became a Polish noblewoman, the Countess Janina Suchodolska. Hiding her Jewish identity, she thus had access to the camp, to its officials, and to the Nazi hierarchy which gave her access to the camp. The authors adopted her perspective as given through her own memoir in presenting the meticulous detailing of her humanitarian efforts. Until now my familiarity with the Holocaust has dealt with its Jewish impact and history. This was an introduction to what had been inflicted on the Polish non-Jewish population, which extended my understanding of the horror.
It was not an “easy” read because of the density of detail, an almost daily account of her work. As well, it left me with many questions: What part did her Jewish husband play in her activities while he was in hiding? Why was she “almost completely silent” as a Jew who witnessed the “suffering and slaughter of her people” as she played her part as an Aryan? The research presented was brilliant, but I felt relieved to have finally finished it.
I struggle to name her, as throughout her life she assumed many different names. Born Pepi Spinner, in her rescue work within the camp she became a Polish noblewoman, the Countess Janina Suchodolska. Hiding her Jewish identity, she thus had access to the camp, to its officials, and to the Nazi hierarchy which gave her access to the camp. The authors adopted her perspective as given through her own memoir in presenting the meticulous detailing of her humanitarian efforts. Until now my familiarity with the Holocaust has dealt with its Jewish impact and history. This was an introduction to what had been inflicted on the Polish non-Jewish population, which extended my understanding of the horror.
It was not an “easy” read because of the density of detail, an almost daily account of her work. As well, it left me with many questions: What part did her Jewish husband play in her activities while he was in hiding? Why was she “almost completely silent” as a Jew who witnessed the “suffering and slaughter of her people” as she played her part as an Aryan? The research presented was brilliant, but I felt relieved to have finally finished it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews