999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz

Written by Heather Dune Macadam and Caroline Moorehead

Narrated by Suzanne Toren

On March 25, 1942, nearly a thousand young, unmarried Jewish women boarded a train in Poprad, Slovakia. Filled with a sense of adventure and national pride, they left their parents' homes wearing their best clothes and confidently waving good-bye. Believing they were going to work in a factory for a few months, they were eager to report for government service. Instead, the young women—many of them teenagers—were sent to Auschwitz. Their government paid 500 Reich Marks (about $200) apiece for the Nazis to take them as slave labor. Of those 999 innocent deportees, only a few would survive.



The facts of the first official Jewish transport to Auschwitz are little known, yet profoundly relevant today. These were not resistance fighters or prisoners of war. There were no men among them. Sent to almost certain death, the young women were powerless and insignificant not only because they were Jewish—but also because they were female. Now acclaimed author Heather Dune Macadam reveals their poignant stories, drawing on extensive interviews with survivors, and consulting with historians, witnesses, and relatives of those first deportees to create an important addition to Holocaust literature and women's history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Dec 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781541434400

Reviews for 999

[Diviya Upadhyay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Throws light on early victims of Holocaust. Insightful! Must read

[Jenna Lauren · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I’ve listened too! Interesting read

[lisa2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There were so many people included in this book and I’m afraid and sad that at times I lost track which person was which, despite frequent reminders.

At the beginning in particular I noticed that too much conjecture had to be done the way this story was told. Yes in a way the account can make the reader feel closer to the girls and young women but in another way it’s distancing not knowing how close to reality the account was. As the account went on the book got better and better and it was obvious that the accounts were genuine and there were plenty of details and well as getting a general sense of how things were. Truly horrific. The more I got into the book the more I “enjoyed” it and the more it became a page-turner.

Perfectly done were the testimonies of those who survived, of the family members of those who died, and completely but unfortunately realistically the mystery of what happened to some of the females on this first transport.

Many wonderful photographs are included. There is a large section of them in the middle of the book and there are also others scattered throughout the book.

There are several helpful maps.

I’m glad that this account exists. Much of it was emotionally difficult to read but I’m glad I read it. It’s a worthy addition to non-fiction Holocaust literature and not for the first time only after I read the account did I realize it’s yet another necessary one.

I do not fully understand how some people can withstand so much pain (physical and psychological) and so much terror and that goes for the survivors and the way too many who died at some point, whether early on or toward the end. This account does not shy away from the damage that lasts in people who have been through extreme trauma.

4-1/2 stars

My next book will not be but now/soon I need some lighter reading material.

I need to add that I have read hundreds of Holocaust books, nonfiction and historical fiction, and I had known nothing about this transport and I also learned a tremendous amount of information I never knew before about day-to-day life in the camp (camps and things about life before and after and after the war too) which included very diverse experiences. As far as each individual and relationship that was covered I learned a lot by reading about them.

[bridgettes-104215 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An incredible book telling the story of 999 young women sent to Auschwitz. These girls were in their late teens and were told they were going to work in Germany. The author recounts their horrific journey so vividly. I felt drawn into the story as if I were there. I had to take many deep breaths and even put the book down a few times, as hard as that was, just to compose myself. The author had done a fantastic job telling these girls' stories! I highly recommend this book.

[cassiesbooksreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam is a Historical account of the Holocaust.
The author did exhaustive research and used this research to reproduce conversations, events and scenes in this book to make it more realistic. Before I choose a book to review I like to research the author and any previous books if available. I was pleased to find Ms. Macadam had written a previous book that focused on Auschwitz Rena's Promise: A Story of Sisters in Auschwitz. I read a sample of it, immediately purchased it and requested her newest book 999 to read and review. Her writing style has understanding, warmth and empathy for the lives of those she portrays. This book is well written with excellent descriptions, extensive details and some photos of the families, homes, religious practices, and Nazi concentration camps. In this book there many heroic actions and I found the brave endurance of the Holocaust victims incredible. Holocaust tories are so important to history, therefore we must hear as many as possible before they are lost forever.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars