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The Traitor

V.S. Alexander

4.36 · Rating details · 39 ratings · 34 reviews

Drawing on the true story of the White Rose—the resistance movement of young Germans against the Nazi regime—The Traitor tells of one woman who offers her life in the ultimate battle against tyranny, during one of history’s darkest hours.

In the summer of 1942, as war rages across Europe, a series of anonymous leaflets appears around the University of Munich, speaking out ...more

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Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: February 25th 2020 by Kensington

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Feb 16, 2020 Peter rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, netgalley

Opposition
The Traitor is a compelling weave of fiction and imaginatively structured fact. A story that relives the harrowing days in Germany under Nazi rule, where young men and women espouse bravery, loyalty and fortitude in their opposition to the Nazi ideology. In 1942 several students at the University of Munich, led by brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl, founded a non-violent, intellectual resistance group to the Nazi regime, called The White Rose (die Weiße Rose). The group Opposition
The Traitor is a compelling weave of fiction and imaginatively structured fact. A story that relives the harrowing days in Germany under Nazi rule, where young men and women espouse bravery, loyalty and fortitude in their opposition to the Nazi ideology. In 1942 several students at the University of Munich, led by brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl, founded a non-violent, intellectual resistance group to the Nazi regime, called The White Rose (die Weiße Rose). The group conducted a leaflet and graffiti campaign to illustrate how Nazi power was destroying freedom and social values, killing millions of innocent people, and conducting an unjust war at the behest of a megalomaniac and his party.

The White Rose Group risked their lives to challenge Hitler’s regime and the leaders were finally caught after a caretaker at the University of Munich reported them to the Gestapo. Siblings Sophie and Hans, along with their friend Christoph Probst, were executed by guillotine on 22 February 1943. Not only were the three leaders inspirational and brave but as they each went to their deaths they remained committed to their cause, loyal to their colleagues, and resolute to the end. Hans Scholl’s last words were “Let Freedom Live”, and Sophie stood upright and determined at her trial, constantly challenging the partisan judge. They were tried and executed the same day.

Hans and Sophie Scholl

The true story struck me deeply, how young men and women can assume the selfless dedication and bravery to a cause, at a time in history where cruel lurking horror was commonplace. This story is truly inspirational.

“When you see the world in all its enchanting beauty, you’re sometimes reluctant to concede that the other side of the coin exists. The antithesis exists here, as it does everywhere, if only you open your eyes to it. But here the antithesis is accentuated by war to such an extent that a weak person sometimes can’t endure it.”

The fictional aspects of the story place a young Russian-German woman Natalya Irenaovich Petrovich as a member of the White Rose Group. Natalya and her friend Lisa Kolbe undertook various ventures throughout the story, as they stray dangerously close to the authorities and exposure. V.S. Alexander writes a fictional novel through the eyes of Natalya and creates a wonderfully absorbing story with an authentic voice for the real activities of the White Rose Group. The use of the fictional characters enables a plot and dialogue to flow without compromising the true characters and paying them the highest respect by leaving their voices within legitimate historical material. The characters in the novel show the pervasive fear existing in German society at the time and how they struggled to maintain secrecy and caution with everyone that they encountered. The atmosphere of suspicion and the anxiety of what has become normal life is extremely well depicted. After the executions, the ongoing harrowing experiences suffered by Natalya are vivid, ruthless and tragic.

What V.S. Alexander has achieved in her work is the blending of factual moments in history with such a compelling fictional narrative that creates an outstanding novel. It is fitting that this book is released in February. I would highly recommend this book and I’d like to thank Harper Collins, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review. ...more

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Feb 17, 2020 Paige rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

3.5 stars

In 1942, Natalya volunteers as a nurse for the German Red Cross and witnesses WWII on the Russian Front. After her time volunteering, she moves back home to Munich where she joins the White Rose resistance group with her close friends. After the group is caught, Natalya must keep resisting but does not know who she can trust.

The inspiration for the novel is the White Rose resistance group. The main character, Natalya, does not join the White Rose organization until the very end of ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Annette rated it it was amazing

Shelves: wwii-historical-fiction, historical-fiction-1900s, top-10-of-2020

White Rose was a peaceful resistance group in the Third Reich led by a group of students including siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl at the University of Munich. The group mailed leaflets to random people picked from the phone book, appealing to the “blindness of German people” and spreading “words of resistance, struggle, and hope.” They were mailed from different cities to different cities to “allay suspicion from the home city of Munich and to make the group seem much larger than it was.”

White Rose was a peaceful resistance group in the Third Reich led by a group of students including siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl at the University of Munich. The group mailed leaflets to random people picked from the phone book, appealing to the “blindness of German people” and spreading “words of resistance, struggle, and hope.” They were mailed from different cities to different cities to “allay suspicion from the home city of Munich and to make the group seem much larger than it was.”

Munich, 1938. Sixteen year old Natalya Pertovich notices her Jewish friends disappearing from her life, hiding in their houses to avoid any attention.

1942. Numb to the horrors of war and feeling powerless, she then takes a step and heads to the Russian Front as a volunteer nurse for German Red Cross. There she makes friends, who back in Germany introduce her to the White Rose movement. “Everyone in the White Rose was chosen for their intelligence, their convictions, and their politics…” After witnessing horrors of war on the Russian front, she joins the movement.

She gets involved in writing the leaflets, expressing about the oppressive government, the strangling of creativity of artists, the disappearance of originality and individuality, the death of the soul of the German People. “The Spirit of Germany has been crushed under a foul dictator’s iron boot.”

As Sophie’s and Hans’ behavior become more and more brazen, they put themselves in danger of being discovered. Ultimately leading to their arrest and putting others in danger’s path.

The character of Natalya exemplifies a strong woman. A woman who stands behind her convictions. Despite Hitler’s regime and his teachings on Aryan supremacy, she had “an urge to be free, to be my own woman, a nascent rebelliousness.”

Drawing atmosphere of the time period by bringing the pressure put on students at university, which wasn’t a place for a woman. She should be by her husband and reproducing Aryan race. “Women should present a child every year to the Fuhrer.” By clashes between students and SS officers. By the restrictions of free movement, which made distribution of leaflets very dangerous.

The story of Hans and Sophie is very touching. Sophie was a young student, who was mature beyond her years. “Child, but one of immense maturity and unyielding courage.”

This beautifully imagined and poignant story pays honors to those young students and professors whose lives were cut short, who took a stand and fought peacefully for humanity, for what was right.

This story doesn’t bring the graphic atrocities of WWII. It is informative and focuses on the lives of those who took part in the White Rose, with profoundly deeply moving characters and surroundings reflecting the time of war-torn places.

“We had stood against tyranny when few did and many more should have taken a stand.”

P.S. Also by this author, highly recommend The Taster – Hitler’s obsession with being poisoned. ...more

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Jan 07, 2020 Sarah-Hope rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, 2020

The Traitor is inspired by the Germany's White Rose, a group of people, mostly in their early twenties, who resisted the Nazis from within Germany. The group was uncovered, and the majority of its members were executed. Rather than writing a fictionalized narrative of one of the White Rose members, V.S. Alexander invents one—Natalya, a Russian who immigrated to Germany as a child with her parents, in order to escape the Stalin regime in the Soviet Union.

Natalya begins the novel as a relatively ...more

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Dec 15, 2019 Sue rated it it was amazing

Shelves: wwii, historical-fiction

This intriguing new novel by V.S. Alexander gives the reader a look at the horrors of World War II from another perspective - those of Natalya Petrovich. Natalya is a German citizen, lives in Munich and is a student at the University. She was born in Russia but her parents moved to Munich when she was very young to have a better life. She sees the cruelty of the war when she volunteers to work as a nurse at the Russian front. When she returns to Munich, she vows to try to make a difference. When ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Andria Sedig rated it liked it

Shelves: dnf, read-in-2020

I felt like the presentation of Natalya's choices and struggles felt realistic. I really enjoyed the premise of the book and enjoyed reading about the White Rose, a subject that isn't often written about in WW2 books; OVerall, I thought that this book was a decent read but didn't blow my mind or feel particularly surprising or impactful.

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Jan 29, 2020 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Traitor by V.S. Alexander is based on a true story regarding the White rose resistance movement. A group of students that attended the University of Munich resisted against the Nazi Regime. Most of the group where executed including Hans and Sophie Scholl, who are real, but the main character is fictional
Natalya Petrovich was born in Russia but came to Germany with her parents to get a better life and away from the Stalin regime. She attends the University of Munich. She also volunteers as a ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, historical-fiction

As I have read other books written by this author, I admit to keeping an eye for books by them. Though I have to say it was the book cover that initially caught my eye. I have seen two different covers for this title and do like both. Both covers could easily be taken from scenes within the book. After noticing the cover, I read the blurb and knew it was a book I had to read. I find the World War Two era fascinating and humbling and think it is a period in history that should never, ever be ...more

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Jan 19, 2020 Jena Henry rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“Not all Germans were Nazis” is the subtitle of The Traitor. What impact and power! But most Germans were subjugated by the Nazis and most Germans suffered. This book tells the story of Natalya, as she participates with the White Rose resistance group during World War II in Munich.

The real students behind the White Rose movement appear this book. Natalya is fictionalized. The White Rose, the meaning of the name is not known, was a peaceful movement by a small group of university students in 1942 ...more

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Jan 19, 2020 Tristan Munoz marked it as to-read

V.S. Alexander does an excellent job of bringing the lesser known stories of WWII to readers. I absolutely LOVED “The Taster,” and was thrilled to get the chance to read an ARC of “The Traitor.”

The Traitor is inspired by The White Rose, a resistance group in Germany led by young adults. The story is told through Natalya, who was born in Russia but lives her life primarily in Germany. She hopes that by joining the resistance group, she can do her part in fighting against the horrors unfolding in ...more

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Jan 12, 2020 Rachel rated it really liked it

The Traitor by V.S. Alexander is a great historical fiction taking place overall in Munich, Germany 1942 and focussing on the real-life resistance group, The White Rose, that comprised of young adult German citizens that tried to do their part in fighting the brutality of the Nazi regime.

The book focusses on Natalya, a German citizen that was born in Russia. Through living amongst the changes and atrocities, she is drawn into the resistance group of like-minded individuals in hopes that they ...more

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Feb 07, 2020 Kathleen rated it liked it

Interesting story. Interesting piece of history. Ultimately though I didn't find myself able to connect to the characters. For some reason I just didn't find them that interesting and was never pulled back into the story after I stopped reading. So while the story was interesting, I just wasn't blown away.

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Jan 20, 2020 Stories Unfolded (aka Danielle Olson) rated it it was amazing

(***Please note that this review may contain spoilers***)

Before I jump into my thoughts about The Traitor, I wanted to start with a quote from the author's notes. "I can safely say that fewer Europeans outside of Germany, and most Americans, particularly young people, know little of the resistance movements like the White Rose and the Red Orchestra. Their only exposure may be a mention in passing during a history class on World War II. This is another reason I wanted to write The Traitor. We (***Please note that this review may contain spoilers***)

Before I jump into my thoughts about The Traitor, I wanted to start with a quote from the author's notes. "I can safely say that fewer Europeans outside of Germany, and most Americans, particularly young people, know little of the resistance movements like the White Rose and the Red Orchestra. Their only exposure may be a mention in passing during a history class on World War II. This is another reason I wanted to write The Traitor. We should never forget". (The Traitor, V.S. Alexander)

For almost a year, I've been reading various historical fiction books surrounding WWII because I wanted to continue learning about this time in history. Like the author said, "we should never forget" and books like The Traitor and all the others I've read are making sure we know about the people that resisted Hitler's evil and the horrors of that terrible time in history. We should never forget so that we never see this again in our future.

The Traitor is based on a real group called the White Rose who "composed four leaflets, which exposed and denounced Nazi and SS atrocities, including the extermination of Jews and Polish nobility, and called for resistance to the regime" (History).

Rather than focus on the real life founders and participants of this group, V.S. Alexander created fictional characters that could have been really part of the group. I thought this was a great path for the author to go because there's more that he could do with the characters and there's less pressure to be historically accurate with real individuals. However, he still included the founders, Hans and Sophie Scholl as well as other prominent members of the group, but made sure to be true to who they were.

This book was different from the books I've read recently, as it focused solely on the perspective of one person, Natalya Petrovich. Other books usually include perspectives from several different people. I liked that I was able to follow just one person's thoughts and experiences throughout the entire war. We follow Natalya through seeing her town (Munich) destroy jewish establishments all the way to the American liberation of the POW prison she was working at.

V.S. Alexander really captured the horrific circumstances, torture, manipulation, blackmail, and deceitfulness that Natalya faced after she was arrested for being a member of the White Rose. She was consider a traitor to the Reich and every day could have been her last. She spent years in prison, was sent to an asylum, and escaped with the help of others who resisted Hitler's rule. There was a lot of death along the way and Natalya lost a lot of people, but she didn't lose hope and kept on going despite everything she'd been through. She was a very brave woman and I suspect there were many women like her that actually existed during WWII.

Overall, this book was amazing. I couldn't put it down and would highly recommend reading it regardless of the genres you do or don't read. It's a great story about resilience in the face of death and uncertainty. It's a look into another piece of history that you may not know enough about. Most importantly, it highlights the evil that plagued its time and how people overcame it and fought against it. I look forward to reading more from this author and happy I discovered him on NetGalley. ...more

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Feb 14, 2020 Shirley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-ww2, alphabet-soup-challenge-2019-title, a-52-books-in-52-weeks-2020, for-the-love-of-ebooks-2020, new-release-challenge-2020

Resist the only way we can

The Traitor is a fiction novel based on the true story of "The White Rose" a resistance group formed by College Students Hans and Sophia Scholl and their college friends. The main character is a friend and a member of the group Natalya, her friend Lisa and the villain is a boy named Garrick who pretends to like Natalya in order to infiltrate the group. He is really a Gestapo agent.

The White Rose group really existed and Hans and Sophia Scholl were the leaders. There ...more

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Jan 27, 2020 Debbi rated it really liked it

A young woman growing up in Munich as the Nazi's come to power...living in a world where you can trust no one. Natalya Petrovich, or Talya as she is called, is the daughter of Russian emigrés who have become German citizens. But where life was once good for the Petrovich family, it is turning very, very bad. On Kristallnacht Talya sees an enormous fire burning. Slipping out with her best friend Lisa she is horrified to see that a historic synagogue, part of the community for years, has burned to ...more

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Feb 10, 2020 Judy Christiana rated it liked it · review of another edition

I was a bit disappointed in this book. The first half of the book dragged on and I honestly pushed myself to continue reading it. I stopped for a while then picked it up again. I still had to force myself to continue reading. I do not like to give up on a book and not finish it. I always have the hope that the story will improve and I will find that I liked it in the end.

I was at 51% read on my Kindle when the story finally took a turn and started becoming interesting to me. The second half of ...more

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Jan 31, 2020 Caitlyn Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, ebook, arc, strong-female-protagonist, beautiful-and-tragic, historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 22, 2020 Pauline rated it really liked it

Poignant Read,

The Traitor focuses mainly on Natalya Petrovich and her life during the 1940's. Natalya and family moved from Russia to Munich, hoping Germany would be a better life. How Natalya became involved in the White Rose resistance movement, and the devastating events that follow. They show great courage in what would've been a terrifying time, not knowing who you could genuinely trust.

Whilst this is a book of fiction, it is inspired by a true story, and blended together. To be honest, ...more

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Jan 31, 2020 Leanna Mattea rated it it was amazing

This is a beautiful, well researched novel by #V. S. Alexander, about an area of resistance that I never was aware of. Based on real resisters and a group called White Rose, that operated under great risk, to bring truth to the German citizens.
Natalya is a Russian born German citizen, living in Munich during WWII with her parents. As they struggle to survive and stay under the Nazi’s radar, Natalya is pursued by a handsome German that is attractive, but she is leery of his motives, but is ...more

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Feb 12, 2020 Jane rated it it was amazing

The Traitor by V. S. Alexander is historical fiction story of a young woman‘s life that is based on facts set in Nazi Germany 1942 through 1949. It describes small group resistance to evil and how she and other members of various groups including the famous White Rose made a difference. Harrowing details and experiences most could never imagine. The Traitor is written with characters who come alive to the reader. Alexander’s book reads like a true story because of the authors extensive research, ...more

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Feb 03, 2020 Leslie M. added it

I love WWII-era books, so I was excited to have the chance to read this one. I've never read anything by Alexander, but I look forward to reading future books. This book is fiction, but it's based on fact. I only knew a little bit about the White Rose before this book, so I enjoyed learning more about that, as well. I found the author's note at the end very informative, and I suggest reading it.

I liked how the book was told solely from Natalya's POV, as many books of this genre use multiple ...more

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Jan 12, 2020 Sherry Chiger rated it liked it

"The Traitor" does a fine job of evoking life in Munich during the Nazi regime and of introducing readers to the White Rose, a little-known resistance movement organized by young Germans. The pace was great; there were several times when the suspense built beautifully, to the point I almost missed my subway stop while reading. Unfortunately, the narrator/protagonist was one of the duller characters not just of the book but of first-person narrators I've read during my lifetime. As a result, I ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Jan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, ww2, germany, historical-fiction, resistance-efforts, danger

This book dresses some ugly history in the finery of fiction. That's a good thing.
Natalya stands as the everywoman of the German peaceful resistance known as the White Rose of underground defiance of the Nazis. Her family fled the predations of Russia coming to Germany and becoming citizens, but it all went from bad to worse as the Reich rose in strength and cruelty. She undertook hazardous tasks, tried to comfort the despair of others, and even found time for a little romance. The characters ...more

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Jan 28, 2020 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and The Traitor is an excellent look into the important work of The White Rose during WWII. I know very little about this subject and was pleased to get a glimpse into the life of one of the resistance fighters. I only wish the book focused more on The White Rose from the beginning of its formation and made the reader more engaged with its group members and also the lead, Natalya. There was a distance placed between the reader and the characters ...more

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Jan 22, 2020 Krista rated it it was amazing

The Traitor by V.S. Alexander is the story of the White Rose Resistance movement in Germany during WWII. The author chose to tell this story from the viewpoint of a fictional character that was part of the White Rose, rather than making Sophie or Hans Scholl the main character. He explains why in his author's notes if you are interested, but let me say that his approached works well, and I respect his reasons for doing it. The Traitor is well researched and written. It doesn't hold back on any ...more

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Jan 26, 2020 Sara Smith rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: early-reads

I received an e-reader ARC of this book from Netgalley.

This book is told through the viewpoint of a university student in Germany during WWII who is involved with the White Rose Resistance group. While Germany is remembered as "the bad guys" from WWII, there were lots of people in Germany who disagreed with Hitler and his views. This book tells of efforts to undermine Hitler and the danger they were in by doing so. It was a little slow in the beginning, but then warmed up. The main character, ...more

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Feb 08, 2020 Angela H. rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, historical-fiction, 2020-read

For a WWII historical fiction book, this book was not my favorite but I loved the story of how Natalya, German resident, survives during the war.

She is a traitor to Hitler regime. She survives trial, prison, asylum, and fugitive life. She has lost friends but gained love and hope.

Even though this was not my favorite book, I still recommend this book to my friends for different reasons:

1. The shift of perspective: story is written from a german resident who joins the resistance

2. There is ...more

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Feb 14, 2020 Lovely Loveday added it

The Traitor by V. S. Alexander is a lovely well-written novel about real resisters and a group called White Rose. They operated under great risk, to bring truth to the German citizens. A story of brave men and women risking their lives to fight the enemy, facing hunger, loss, despair and the danger they faced. The author really has put in the research and it shows in the writing with intriguing characters and a captivating story. A fascinating read that will make you stop and think. ...more

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Feb 07, 2020 Meredith rated it it was amazing

Historical fiction is not my usual reading genre, but the description of this book caught my attention. “The Traitor” by V.S. Alexander was a look into the life people faced during the Hitler regime. It started a little slow, but it was definitely worth sticking with. Filled with historical facts, it gave me a different perspective of the horrors of that time.

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Jan 29, 2020 Deidre Butkus rated it it was amazing

I read this book in a few hours and I absolutely loved it. Natalya becomes a member of the underground resistance group, The White Rose and gets caught. But somehow luck is on her side and she defies expectations. The entire time I read this, I had a knot in my stomach. The author does a great job of keeping you guessing as you’re reading this book. I’d highly recommend it.

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About V.S. Alexander

V.S. Alexander

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Also see Michael Meeske

V.S. Alexander is an ardent student of history with a strong interest in music and the visual arts. Some of V.S.’s writing influences include Shirley Jackson, Oscar Wilde, Daphne du Maurier, or any work by the exquisite Brontë sisters. V.S. lives in Florida and is at work on a third historical novel for Kensington.