The Incredible Handcrafted Items that Arrived with the Ravensbruck Prisoners Rescued by the Swedish White Buses

I’m headed to Sweden this October at the invitation of my lovely Swedish publisher so I’m revisiting the dramatic rescue in Lilac Girls, by Count Folk Bernadotte and his white buses.

I happened on an incredible collection of handmade crafts, made with found materials at the camp, and carried by the liberated women to Sweden. Carefully preserved and archived by Lund University, they include keepsakes, children’s toys and gifts (pictured at bottom) Crafted with precious “organized” materials like bits of fabric, metal and paper, they give a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the prisoners, their deep faith and the friendships that helped them survive.

Ravensbruck prisoners from many countries represented at the camp arrive in Malmo, Sweden.
Several women arrived in Sweden with infants born at the camp
Sweden welcomed the Ravensbruck survivors with open arms, helping them to showers, clean clothes and food.
Hundreds of the women were housed in a makeshift rehabilitation center at the Malmöhus Museum
Liberated Ravensbruck survivors catch up on their reading

Find the whole story here: http://ravensbruck.kulturen.com/English/r1b.htm

 

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