Mothers, Babies & Bravery
The Secret Midwife by Soraya M Lane is a powerful dual timeline novel that consumed me.
The action is set in Poland during World War II from 1942 onwards; and also, in 1995 in London. The two time periods are linked by the secret midwife. For fifty years since the liberation of Auschwitz she has kept quiet, now is the time to speak up.
To be a midwife was both a calling and a gift. She vowed to do no harm. She was tasked with looking after the pregnant women in Auschwitz after she was sent there for helping Jewish mothers-to-be in hiding. It was an impossible task, with no fresh water, tools or hygiene. And with Dr Mengele always breathing down her neck.
The secret midwife meets another doctor in Auschwitz who is also imprisoned for helping Jewish people. He, too, had vowed to do no harm. Together, they tried to help where they could. They put aside their personal safety in order to do what needed to be done. Sometimes there were hard choices to make. Outside of Auschwitz, different paths would be chosen. Inside Auschwitz there were other factors to consider as moral lines were blurred.
The third lead character was a young girl who worked in Canada in Auschwitz. She, also did what she could to help. The three formed a unit, helping where they could. They gave each other hope to survive – until one dreadful event.
We hear of their backstories. They all tried to help and were all self-sacrificing. The price they paid to help was high. “If a woman was in need, then she [the secret midwife] refused to stay safe at home.”
Nazi occupied Poland was a terrifying place to be. Far too many believed the lies they were told. “It’s hard to believe how many people were willing to believe the lies they were fed.”
However, there were those who shone as beacons of light. “We survive the dark times, by remembering the light.” Survival was often a matter of luck.
Conditions within Auschwitz were beyond horrendous. Heinous crimes against humanity were carried out. There were those brave souls who spoke out, thinking little of their own safety.
In 1995 the secret midwife has problems remembering the day-to-day but can clearly remember the dreadful Auschwitz years. “When it came to what happened at Auschwitz… she didn’t need help remembering. It wasn’t something she could ever forget.”
Whilst in Auschwitz the doctor, recalling his past actions declares “I would choose to save lives again… I would choose to help everyone I could, because it’s the right thing to do.”
To survive Auschwitz, as well as luck, hope was needed. “We have to keep the past alive, and believe that we will have a future.” Having another person to live for, kept many going. As did the will to survive in order to tell the world what had happened.
The Secret Midwife must be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and of those who stood up for what was right without thought to personal safety. May we never forget.
JULIA WILSON
I have purchased a couple of this author’s book on Kindle, sounds like they were a good choice!