Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein Interviews NYT Bestselling Author Gwen Strauss on WWII Resistance Story and Announces Free Ebook Release

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein recently interviewed New York Times bestselling author Gwen Strauss regarding her historical fiction novel, 'The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany.' The interview, available at https://www.enchantedself.com/enchanted-self-returns/, delves into the powerful narrative of nine female resistance fighters during World War II. Strauss's book, praised by The Wall Street Journal as "[A] narrative of unfathumable courage," follows the true story of her great aunt Hélène Podliasky, who led the group's escape from a German forced labor camp and their ten-day journey back to Paris across front lines.

The nine women, all under thirty when they joined the resistance, engaged in high-risk activities including smuggling arms through Europe, harboring parachuting agents, coordinating communications, and hiding Jewish children. After arrest by French police, interrogation and torture by the Gestapo, and deportation to Germany, they formed a close-knit group through shared hardships in prisons and camps like Ravensbrück. Their daring escape during a death march in the war's final days serves as a moving tribute to the power of humanity and friendship in extreme adversity. This story underscores the critical yet often overlooked role women played in resistance movements, offering historical insights and inspiration for contemporary discussions on courage and solidarity.

In conjunction with the interview, Dr. Holstein announced that the ebook version of her work, 'Women's Freedom: Unfinished Love Stories,' will be available at no charge on September 22, 2025, at Amazon via https://www.amazon.com/stores/Barbara-Becker-Holstein/author/B001JXEZ8U?. The book revisits the 1960s, a pivotal era for women's rights, through the experiences of three college women navigating awakening, identity struggles, and the pursuit of purpose. It highlights how societal transformations from the 1960s to the present have expanded women's roles in education, the workforce, and leadership, while emphasizing that desires for autonomy, love, and self-expression remain timeless and universally resonant.

Dr. Holstein, known for integrating Positive Psychology into engaging media, has a background as a school psychologist and in private practice, focusing on developing life skills, courage, and self-esteem in young people. Her approach, including bestselling books, award-winning films, podcasts, and initiatives like The Selfie Showcase at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com, aims to address modern challenges such as anxiety and stress among youth. This announcement matters as it connects historical narratives of female resilience with ongoing efforts to promote mental well-being and gender equality, offering readers free access to content that inspires reflection on progress and the work still needed for women's freedom worldwide.