Author Barbara Becker Holstein Interviews Gwen Strauss on WWII Resistance, Announces Free Ebook Release

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein recently interviewed New York Times bestselling author Gwen Strauss about her historical fiction novel 'The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany.' The Wall Street Journal praised the book as "[A] narrative of unfathumable courage," detailing the true story of Strauss's great aunt Hélène Podliasky, who led nine female resistance fighters in a daring escape from a German forced labor camp during WWII's final days.

These women, all under thirty when they joined the resistance, engaged in dangerous activities including smuggling arms through Europe, harboring parachuting agents, coordinating communications between regional sectors, and hiding Jewish children. After arrest by French police and interrogation and torture by the Gestapo, they were deported to Germany, where they formed a close-knit group through shared imprisonment at Ravensbrück and other locations. Their ten-day journey across front lines back to Paris exemplifies the power of friendship and humanity in extreme adversity.

Holstein also announced that the ebook version of her work 'Women's Freedom: Unfinished Love Stories' will be available at no charge on September 22, 2025, accessible at Amazon. The interview with Strauss is available on Holstein's website at Enchanted Self.

'Women's Freedom' revisits the 1960s, following three college women during a transformative era for gender rights, capturing their struggles with identity, autonomy, and purpose. Holstein's narrative underscores how core desires for self-expression and love persist despite evolving cultural landscapes, making the stories resonate across generations. This connection between historical resistance and modern gender equality efforts highlights ongoing challenges in women's rights, emphasizing that progress remains unfinished.

Holstein, a positive psychologist, integrates psychological concepts into engaging media to inspire and educate. Her work, including books, films, and podcasts, focuses on building self-esteem and resilience, particularly among youth. Initiatives like The Selfie Showcase, detailed at Selfie Filmmakers, empower young people to voice concerns and solutions through selfie videos, addressing contemporary stresses like those from the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach bridges historical narratives of courage with modern psychological support, reinforcing the importance of storytelling in fostering resilience and advocacy for gender equality.