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Three Ordinary Girls: The Remarkable Story of Three Dutch Teenagers Who Became Spies, Saboteurs, Nazi Assassins–and WWII Heroes
The astonishing WWII true story of a trio of fearless female resisters whose youth and innocence belied their extraordinary daring in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. It also made them the underground's most invaluable commodity. Now for the first time, the complete account of these inspiring teenagers, recruited during WWII as spies, saboteurs and Nazi assassins, who fulfilled their harrowing missions with remarkable courage.
May 10, 1940. The Netherlands was swarming with Third Reich troops. In seven days it's entirely occupied by Nazi Germany. Joining a small resistance cell in the Dutch city of Haarlem were three teenage girls: Hannie Schaft, and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen who would soon band together to form a singular female underground squad.
Smart, fiercely political, devoted solely to the cause, and "with nothing to lose but their own lives", Hannie, Truus, and Freddie took terrifying direct action against Nazi targets. That included sheltering fleeing Jews, political dissidents, and Dutch resisters. They sabotaged bridges and railways and donned disguises to lead children from probable internment in concentration camps to safehouses. They covertly transported weapons and set military facilities ablaze. And they carried out the assassinations of German soldiers and traitors-on public streets and in private traps-with the courage of veteran guerilla fighters and the cunning of seasoned spies.
In telling this true story through the lens of a fearlessly unique trio of freedom fighters, Tim Brady offers a never-before-seen perspective of the Dutch resistance during the war. Of lives under threat; of how these courageous young women became involved in the underground; and how their dedication evolved into dangerous, life-threatening missions on behalf of Dutch patriots-regardless of the consequences.
Harrowing, emotional, and unforgettable, Three Ordinary Girls finally moves these three icons of resistance into the deserved forefront of world history.
May 10, 1940. The Netherlands was swarming with Third Reich troops. In seven days it's entirely occupied by Nazi Germany. Joining a small resistance cell in the Dutch city of Haarlem were three teenage girls: Hannie Schaft, and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen who would soon band together to form a singular female underground squad.
Smart, fiercely political, devoted solely to the cause, and "with nothing to lose but their own lives", Hannie, Truus, and Freddie took terrifying direct action against Nazi targets. That included sheltering fleeing Jews, political dissidents, and Dutch resisters. They sabotaged bridges and railways and donned disguises to lead children from probable internment in concentration camps to safehouses. They covertly transported weapons and set military facilities ablaze. And they carried out the assassinations of German soldiers and traitors-on public streets and in private traps-with the courage of veteran guerilla fighters and the cunning of seasoned spies.
In telling this true story through the lens of a fearlessly unique trio of freedom fighters, Tim Brady offers a never-before-seen perspective of the Dutch resistance during the war. Of lives under threat; of how these courageous young women became involved in the underground; and how their dedication evolved into dangerous, life-threatening missions on behalf of Dutch patriots-regardless of the consequences.
Harrowing, emotional, and unforgettable, Three Ordinary Girls finally moves these three icons of resistance into the deserved forefront of world history.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
January 16, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. This is a biography of 3 Dutch teenagers who join the Dutch resistance during WWII. They kill many Germans and collaborators. Hannie Schaft, and Dutch sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen undertake some desperate and dangerous missions. Their courage is inspiring. The book has a lot of background information on rationing and food and fuel shortages, which caused severe hardship on the Dutch population. My wife started to read this book, but did not finish. She found it to be too dry, too full of facts and footnotes.
For me, the footnotes demonstrate that the author did a great deal of research. I thought his description of WWII Netherlands to be realistic. However, it was not a page turner.
Thanks to Citadel Press Books for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss
For me, the footnotes demonstrate that the author did a great deal of research. I thought his description of WWII Netherlands to be realistic. However, it was not a page turner.
Thanks to Citadel Press Books for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss
November 21, 2022
A companion read for Angels of the Resistance: A WWII Novel by Noelle Salazar.
My father's parents and my mother's grandparents were first generation immigrants from the Netherlands. Thus none of my immediate family had to endure either of the world wars in their home country. As a child I read about Anne Frank and 'The Hiding Place' has a treasured spot on my bookshelf. This new release gives a more comprehensive view of the Dutch resistance effort while focusing on three young women who grew to be crucial to the more violent side. Meticulously researched with footnotes sprinkled on every page, the story has a more scholarly feel. For some I could see the flurry of Dutch names throughout being a bit intimidating. My childhood was in a small town in Iowa that cherished its Dutch heritage. My last name was Van Hal, but the bank alphabetized me as an "H." There were so many last names that started with a "V." Aside from the distraction of footnotes (perhaps they should have had their own place in the endnotes?) and the adjustment to all the names, this is a compelling narrative. Two teenagers and a law student become Nazi killers. It is an astonishing transformation, but one they believed in fully. Remember their names: Truus Menger-Overteegen, Freddie Dekker-Oversteegen, and Hannie Schaft. This one may be one to savor than to read at a gallop. It is worth the time!
Thank you to Citadel and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
My father's parents and my mother's grandparents were first generation immigrants from the Netherlands. Thus none of my immediate family had to endure either of the world wars in their home country. As a child I read about Anne Frank and 'The Hiding Place' has a treasured spot on my bookshelf. This new release gives a more comprehensive view of the Dutch resistance effort while focusing on three young women who grew to be crucial to the more violent side. Meticulously researched with footnotes sprinkled on every page, the story has a more scholarly feel. For some I could see the flurry of Dutch names throughout being a bit intimidating. My childhood was in a small town in Iowa that cherished its Dutch heritage. My last name was Van Hal, but the bank alphabetized me as an "H." There were so many last names that started with a "V." Aside from the distraction of footnotes (perhaps they should have had their own place in the endnotes?) and the adjustment to all the names, this is a compelling narrative. Two teenagers and a law student become Nazi killers. It is an astonishing transformation, but one they believed in fully. Remember their names: Truus Menger-Overteegen, Freddie Dekker-Oversteegen, and Hannie Schaft. This one may be one to savor than to read at a gallop. It is worth the time!
Thank you to Citadel and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2021
2.5 stars
This is a great testimony for three well known Dutch resistance girls. Perhaps this book is not meant for Dutch readers. There were many mistakes, language mistakes in Dutch as well as German that might easily have been avoided by having it checked over by someone of Dutch origin. Queen Wilhelmina's birthday was in August, not in April (during the war this was Princess Juliana's birthday, she became queen in 1948) and Witte Ko should not be translated as White cow as Ko is just short for Jacobus (koe is cow). Many names of executed people weren't spelled correctly either. Non Dutch people won't be annoyed by this and I do hope they will read this piece of important Dutch history.
This is a great testimony for three well known Dutch resistance girls. Perhaps this book is not meant for Dutch readers. There were many mistakes, language mistakes in Dutch as well as German that might easily have been avoided by having it checked over by someone of Dutch origin. Queen Wilhelmina's birthday was in August, not in April (during the war this was Princess Juliana's birthday, she became queen in 1948) and Witte Ko should not be translated as White cow as Ko is just short for Jacobus (koe is cow). Many names of executed people weren't spelled correctly either. Non Dutch people won't be annoyed by this and I do hope they will read this piece of important Dutch history.
February 5, 2021
Three Ordinary Girls is the true story of World War Two Dutch resistance squad by Hannie Schaft, and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, unique for its being solely female in composition and action. These young women were but teenagers when the war first began, yet over the course of years, they grew to be fierce soldiers, determined to fight the German invasion of their country. They were defined by their political beliefs, their dedication to the cause and their willingness to do ‘whatever it took’ to bring down the Nazi regime and fight for the liberty of all people. Their efforts included hiding Jewish people, even daring to risk moving children around the country to find them safe havens, sabotaging bridges and railway lines, destroying Nazi facilities and perhaps most chillingly, assassinating both members of the Nazi invaders, Dutch sympathizers and those who would turn against their fellow nationalist or innocent Jew. As the war dragged on, their spirit and behaviour became more akin to paramilitary fighters and they knew no fear. These were not women to sit numbly in their homes, waiting for the men to win the war. They took their courage in their hands and served on the front line of the resistance and fought for freedom.
Such a story as told by these three courageous women should have been completely unputdownable. It should have gripped the reader with a vice-like power that would leave them gasping at the trio’s exploits and bravery. This story had the potential to be so mind blowingingly incredible that history teachers would be desperate for students to read it. Instead, the book is guilty of being dry and, dare I say, at times even boring. Which is a literary crime when, so few actual women are fully celebrated for the roles they played in the resistance of the Nazi regime in this paternal society and its outlook where it is all too often the exploits of men that are written about, taught and memorialized. This is not a book to offer up to young people nowadays as an example of truth and daring. It is rather dull, tedious and lacks the effort of being able to create excitement. A book about these heroic women should have been a sure-fire hit but instead is heartbreakingly a lost opportunity.
What a shame.
Such a story as told by these three courageous women should have been completely unputdownable. It should have gripped the reader with a vice-like power that would leave them gasping at the trio’s exploits and bravery. This story had the potential to be so mind blowingingly incredible that history teachers would be desperate for students to read it. Instead, the book is guilty of being dry and, dare I say, at times even boring. Which is a literary crime when, so few actual women are fully celebrated for the roles they played in the resistance of the Nazi regime in this paternal society and its outlook where it is all too often the exploits of men that are written about, taught and memorialized. This is not a book to offer up to young people nowadays as an example of truth and daring. It is rather dull, tedious and lacks the effort of being able to create excitement. A book about these heroic women should have been a sure-fire hit but instead is heartbreakingly a lost opportunity.
What a shame.
August 23, 2021
The three girls in this book couldn't be described as ordinary by any stretch of the imagination. Their bravery, determination and resilience were inspiring. They rescued and harbored Dutch Jews, ferried weapons, took part in assassinations of Nazis and their Dutch collaborators, placed explosives and defied the Nazis and their Dutch black shirt supporters at every opportunity. The two survivors, Truss and Freddie, didn't receive any recognition once WW2 had finished; they were ignored - mainly because their violent actions of resistance caused cruel reprisals from the Nazis. Many of the Dutch population understandably wanted to get back to normal life as soon as possible and didn't want to be reminded of the deprivations, torture and persecution handed out by the Nazi invaders. It wasn't until many years later that all three women were commemorated properly. Here's a heartfelt summary from Freddie. “We had to do it,” said Freddie. “It was a necessary evil, killing those who betrayed the good people. I never felt pity. One does not shoot a human but the enemy, a traitor.”
I would have given the book five stars except that it was written in an historical, documentary style
that was rather dry at times. There was very little dialogue to make the author's style more lively.
This review was written by Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy.
I would have given the book five stars except that it was written in an historical, documentary style
that was rather dry at times. There was very little dialogue to make the author's style more lively.
This review was written by Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy.
April 1, 2022
I found this book when looking for information on the resistance in WWII Holland. The primary subject is three teenage girls who became famous for the work they took on. Initially the three were novices under the direction of a couple loosely organized groups and eventually chose their own targets. They started as couriers and eventually became assassins of German soldiers and collaborators.
The writing is a little disorganized and I can’t really recommend it. In reading the GR reviews of this book it appears one of the girls wrote a memoir of her WWII days and in most ways this book copies hers. The memoir might have more immediacy than this fairly dry book.
The writing is a little disorganized and I can’t really recommend it. In reading the GR reviews of this book it appears one of the girls wrote a memoir of her WWII days and in most ways this book copies hers. The memoir might have more immediacy than this fairly dry book.
June 7, 2020
This download from NetGalley and Kensington Books was a lengthy excerpt from the scholarly, meticulously researched book to be published in February 2021. I wish to thank NetGalley and publisher for this introduction to this informative book which gives me a touch of history I knew little about, and puts the book on my list I want to read in its entirety.
I was immersed in the details of the social, economic, and political conditions in Holland before, during, and after the German invasion, the persecution and execution of dissenters and strikers, and the suppression of the Jews which resulted in their removal to the extermination camps. We get a picture of the country’s geography, the society and living conditions in each major city before the war, the bombings and deaths during the occupation of German troops and politician figures.
The rightwing leanings of the families of the girls, their dislike of Fascism, their hiding of people in danger from the Germans, and the upbringing of the three girls who will be the focus of their upcoming true story was explained. The excerpt concluded with the amazing recruitment of the two younger girls, teenaged sisters, as saboteurs and assassins in pursuit of freedom from German dominance. The older girl from another, more affluent family, made strong friendships with Jewish students while attending University, and is appalled at what has happened to her country with restrictions on freedom increasing.
This selection from the book has made me anxious to learn more about the role played by these three young freedom fighters. Their heroism should not be forgotten.
I was immersed in the details of the social, economic, and political conditions in Holland before, during, and after the German invasion, the persecution and execution of dissenters and strikers, and the suppression of the Jews which resulted in their removal to the extermination camps. We get a picture of the country’s geography, the society and living conditions in each major city before the war, the bombings and deaths during the occupation of German troops and politician figures.
The rightwing leanings of the families of the girls, their dislike of Fascism, their hiding of people in danger from the Germans, and the upbringing of the three girls who will be the focus of their upcoming true story was explained. The excerpt concluded with the amazing recruitment of the two younger girls, teenaged sisters, as saboteurs and assassins in pursuit of freedom from German dominance. The older girl from another, more affluent family, made strong friendships with Jewish students while attending University, and is appalled at what has happened to her country with restrictions on freedom increasing.
This selection from the book has made me anxious to learn more about the role played by these three young freedom fighters. Their heroism should not be forgotten.
August 24, 2022
Amazing book. I am always inspired by the work of resistance movements. This one is about the Dutch resistance in WWII.
Specifically , it is about the areas of Amsterdam and Haarlem. I am very familiar with Netherlands because we lived around that area of Europe for almost ten years.
The bravery of the three teenagers was inspiring.
The book was a fast read. I loved it.
Specifically , it is about the areas of Amsterdam and Haarlem. I am very familiar with Netherlands because we lived around that area of Europe for almost ten years.
The bravery of the three teenagers was inspiring.
The book was a fast read. I loved it.
June 23, 2023
While the story of these three remarkable, courageous and dedicated young women should have been compelling, riveting and hard to put down, sadly I found the telling of it dry, dull and ponderous. As interesting and inspiring as the lives of Truus, Freddie and Hannie and their fellow resistance members were, I was disappointed by the way it was told and struggled to maintain my interest for more than 20-30 minutes at a time.
All that said, I do think this is a story worth reading given the subject matter and the dedication and sacrifices these women made to resist the occupation of the Netherlands and assist those in the gravest of peril from their Nazi occupiers and their sympathizers.
5 stars for the subject matter.
2.5 stars for the listless telling of what should/could have been vibrant, engrossing and captivating story.
All that said, I do think this is a story worth reading given the subject matter and the dedication and sacrifices these women made to resist the occupation of the Netherlands and assist those in the gravest of peril from their Nazi occupiers and their sympathizers.
5 stars for the subject matter.
2.5 stars for the listless telling of what should/could have been vibrant, engrossing and captivating story.
January 14, 2021
This book, about three teenaged Dutch girls who fought in the resistance against the Germans in WWII during the occupation of their country, was really the kind of book I can’t get enough of. I stayed up all night reading it because I became so engrossed in it, and it was just so good. Two of them were sisters, but later they all ended up working together. It’s filled with action and danger, and so many close calls, yet the girls keep going back for more. You will meet the sisters, Truus and Freddie, and then there is Jo, who is also known as Hannie, the girl with the red hair. Each of them is special in her own way, and valuable to the resistance. This is an amazing true story of courage, as so many of these types of war books are, and I do recommend it if you like this genre. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Tim Brady, and the publisher.
March 19, 2024
The story of 3 ordinary teenaged girls joining the resistance and becoming assassins should have been a thrilling, emotional read. Instead, it was a bit dry. This is a shame, since the stories of women and girls are often overlooked, and their accomplishments are downplayed. This is a well-researched book, but a missed opportunity to truly hook new readers.
February 12, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for providing me with ARC.
I love biography so much, it allows me to live in a time that i am not even born.
This the first book to me by Tim brady but will not the last , the writing is so smooth, i felt in love with it.
I love biography so much, it allows me to live in a time that i am not even born.
This the first book to me by Tim brady but will not the last , the writing is so smooth, i felt in love with it.
July 25, 2023
I am wholly disappointed with this book. The least of my qualms about it was Brady’s sub par writing.
Somehow the author and the editors found it acceptable to use Wikipedia as a source. Not only does the average person learn Wikipedia is not a good source in grade school, but there are ample sources listed in the index of these pages which Brady could’ve easily followed and cited. Apparently that was too much work.
In addition, he used Google translate for Dutch phrases as if there aren’t millions of Dutch people he could easily have crowd sourced to double check these translations. Google translate is widely known as unreliable to anyone who has ever taken a language class.
Furthermore, his use of largely only the memoir of Truus and a sole book about Hannie really conveyed he had no interest in reading other sources about these resistance fighters. It makes me think I would’ve used my time better just reading the memoirs themselves.
These elements illustrated Brady as a lazy historical author. The brave women in this story don’t deserve their stories told in such a half-assed way.
Somehow the author and the editors found it acceptable to use Wikipedia as a source. Not only does the average person learn Wikipedia is not a good source in grade school, but there are ample sources listed in the index of these pages which Brady could’ve easily followed and cited. Apparently that was too much work.
In addition, he used Google translate for Dutch phrases as if there aren’t millions of Dutch people he could easily have crowd sourced to double check these translations. Google translate is widely known as unreliable to anyone who has ever taken a language class.
Furthermore, his use of largely only the memoir of Truus and a sole book about Hannie really conveyed he had no interest in reading other sources about these resistance fighters. It makes me think I would’ve used my time better just reading the memoirs themselves.
These elements illustrated Brady as a lazy historical author. The brave women in this story don’t deserve their stories told in such a half-assed way.
April 8, 2022
An editor at Citadel, the publisher, wanted a book on this topic. The project eventually landed on the author’s desk.
The stories of the three girls appear to be well known in the Netherlands, but not in the US. So a book that makes the stories accessible to a US audience is a good idea.
But Citadel needed a better writer, not this sloppy, lazy, careless execution. It’s a good story. It could read like a novel. But I was slapping my forehead at a silly error 😣 every few pages; this prevented me from being immersed in the story.
Some of the deficiencies relate to content: information the author should have included but didn’t. Others (many) relate to presentation.
1
—
Americans do not know much about Dutch history or geography or politics or culture. We desperately needed background on these topics. We certainly needed maps: we needed to understand the routes between cities, the distances characters pedaled, the campaigns waged by allied troops and retreating Nazis.
And we needed a political context: It appears that the Nazi invaders put native Dutch right wingers (members of a political party called the NSB) in charge. What was the configuration of Dutch politics at the time? Was the NSB party dominant? What proportion of the population was communist? Was the Netherlands a democracy? It’s called the kingdom of the Netherlands, which implies that Queen W was an absolute ruler.
I apologize to Dutch readers if these questions reveal shocking ignorance. I am demonstrating why the author should have included background.
2
—
It would be helpful if the author could refrain from intrusive editorial comments, such as “Fat chance of that!” (Page 4). I don’t know if the sarcastic attitude is the author’s or the subject’s. If these words were taken from the subject’s memoirs, and are representative of her attitude, then that’s helpful in vivifying Truus. But we do not know if the speaker is Truus or the Minnesota-based author.
3
—
Although the author graduated from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, he is a terrible prose stylist. Just one example; I could cite many: “All roads out of the city were jammed into impassible human dams packed solid by the press of refugees trying to escape the burning city.” (Page 17).
A sentence with half as many words would get the job done better and move the story along.
4
—
He also didn’t learn basic grammar: on page 9, the single subject “Kingdom of the Netherlands” is replaced with a plural pronoun later in the sentence (“...further reducing the likelihood that the Kingdom of the Netherlands would be able to remain neutral...as they had during the first World War”).
5
—
The book contains at least one misspelling: “stymy” for “stymie” (page 174). Did the author run a spellchecker? How could he have skipped so basic a step?
6
—
And he misuses words, as on page 177, where “disinterested” is used for “uninterested.” This is so basic. Did he read the final manuscript? Did his editor?
7
—
And Brady just mixes up the facts sometimes, so you pause and struggle to make sense of nonsense. Example, from page 21: “...bulbs of this still exotic flower (its European origins were from Turkey...”
Huh? Most of Turkey is in Asia. A plant can have an origin, but not origins. What does this mean? Oh, I give up.
—-
I will skim for the content while wishing that the trio of far-from-ordinary girls had gotten a more skilled presenter.
The stories of the three girls appear to be well known in the Netherlands, but not in the US. So a book that makes the stories accessible to a US audience is a good idea.
But Citadel needed a better writer, not this sloppy, lazy, careless execution. It’s a good story. It could read like a novel. But I was slapping my forehead at a silly error 😣 every few pages; this prevented me from being immersed in the story.
Some of the deficiencies relate to content: information the author should have included but didn’t. Others (many) relate to presentation.
1
—
Americans do not know much about Dutch history or geography or politics or culture. We desperately needed background on these topics. We certainly needed maps: we needed to understand the routes between cities, the distances characters pedaled, the campaigns waged by allied troops and retreating Nazis.
And we needed a political context: It appears that the Nazi invaders put native Dutch right wingers (members of a political party called the NSB) in charge. What was the configuration of Dutch politics at the time? Was the NSB party dominant? What proportion of the population was communist? Was the Netherlands a democracy? It’s called the kingdom of the Netherlands, which implies that Queen W was an absolute ruler.
I apologize to Dutch readers if these questions reveal shocking ignorance. I am demonstrating why the author should have included background.
2
—
It would be helpful if the author could refrain from intrusive editorial comments, such as “Fat chance of that!” (Page 4). I don’t know if the sarcastic attitude is the author’s or the subject’s. If these words were taken from the subject’s memoirs, and are representative of her attitude, then that’s helpful in vivifying Truus. But we do not know if the speaker is Truus or the Minnesota-based author.
3
—
Although the author graduated from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, he is a terrible prose stylist. Just one example; I could cite many: “All roads out of the city were jammed into impassible human dams packed solid by the press of refugees trying to escape the burning city.” (Page 17).
A sentence with half as many words would get the job done better and move the story along.
4
—
He also didn’t learn basic grammar: on page 9, the single subject “Kingdom of the Netherlands” is replaced with a plural pronoun later in the sentence (“...further reducing the likelihood that the Kingdom of the Netherlands would be able to remain neutral...as they had during the first World War”).
5
—
The book contains at least one misspelling: “stymy” for “stymie” (page 174). Did the author run a spellchecker? How could he have skipped so basic a step?
6
—
And he misuses words, as on page 177, where “disinterested” is used for “uninterested.” This is so basic. Did he read the final manuscript? Did his editor?
7
—
And Brady just mixes up the facts sometimes, so you pause and struggle to make sense of nonsense. Example, from page 21: “...bulbs of this still exotic flower (its European origins were from Turkey...”
Huh? Most of Turkey is in Asia. A plant can have an origin, but not origins. What does this mean? Oh, I give up.
—-
I will skim for the content while wishing that the trio of far-from-ordinary girls had gotten a more skilled presenter.
February 5, 2021
I received a free digital advance review copy from the publisher, via Netgalley.
Though it’s not characterized as such, this book reads to me like young adult nonfiction. Everything is explained in fairly simple terms, there aren’t loads of source materials cited, and its style seems intended to be an inspirational learning experience. Also, I have never experienced an adult history, even popular history, refer to somebody giving “the hairy eyeball.” Not that there’s anything wrong with those things; I just think potential readers would be better served if they had a fuller understanding of the book’s style before making a decision to buy or read it.
Author Tim Brady does a good job introducing the three Dutch girls who were teenagers when the war began, making the reader understand the world they grew up in and how it was shattered by the German invasion and the sudden transformation of their country into a Nazi satellite. It’s always illuminating to see what kind of person chooses to risk his or her life for the greater good. It’s often a person you wouldn’t previously have picked out as outstandingly fearless or heroic.
Though most books about the resistance to the Nazis focus on men, more and more books in recent years spotlight the women and girls who played roles. Women were able to go about their daily lives under the noses of the Nazis and their minions, generally overlooked and unsuspected. As a result, women were strongly represented for courier and other work that had to take place in plain sight. But the three girls of the title, Hannie Schaft and the sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, went far beyond that. They helped hide those fleeing from the Nazis, including Jews, they carried out sabotage operations and they even took the ultimate step to the killing of German occupiers and collaborators. Tim Brady is unflinching in telling these stories, but also about the toll the years of fighting took on these young women.
If you are interested in a popular/YA history of women in the European WW2 resistance, this is a good choice.
Though it’s not characterized as such, this book reads to me like young adult nonfiction. Everything is explained in fairly simple terms, there aren’t loads of source materials cited, and its style seems intended to be an inspirational learning experience. Also, I have never experienced an adult history, even popular history, refer to somebody giving “the hairy eyeball.” Not that there’s anything wrong with those things; I just think potential readers would be better served if they had a fuller understanding of the book’s style before making a decision to buy or read it.
Author Tim Brady does a good job introducing the three Dutch girls who were teenagers when the war began, making the reader understand the world they grew up in and how it was shattered by the German invasion and the sudden transformation of their country into a Nazi satellite. It’s always illuminating to see what kind of person chooses to risk his or her life for the greater good. It’s often a person you wouldn’t previously have picked out as outstandingly fearless or heroic.
Though most books about the resistance to the Nazis focus on men, more and more books in recent years spotlight the women and girls who played roles. Women were able to go about their daily lives under the noses of the Nazis and their minions, generally overlooked and unsuspected. As a result, women were strongly represented for courier and other work that had to take place in plain sight. But the three girls of the title, Hannie Schaft and the sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, went far beyond that. They helped hide those fleeing from the Nazis, including Jews, they carried out sabotage operations and they even took the ultimate step to the killing of German occupiers and collaborators. Tim Brady is unflinching in telling these stories, but also about the toll the years of fighting took on these young women.
If you are interested in a popular/YA history of women in the European WW2 resistance, this is a good choice.
March 28, 2021
3.75 stars.
This was mostly a "just the facts, ma'am" kind of book, but it introduces us to three teenagers who got caught up in the resistance movement in the Netherlands during World War II. The author learned about sisters Truss and Freddie Oversteegen and their colleague Jo Schaft from his agent, who saw one of the Oversteegens' obituary.
The Oversteegens were raised in a working-class, activist family, so their interest in resisting the Nazis was somewhat in their blood. But they took the lessons of their childhood to new levels. Jo grew up in a wealthier, more conservative home and with the values and ethics that led her to resist. The three learned to steal, lie, kill, plant home-made bombs, deliver underground newspapers, hide Jews, and help Jewish children find safe homes. All begun when the girls were under the age of 20.
This journalistic account tells about the successes, of course, but also the failures. And this is a book that is worth reading, even if you think you've read too many WWII books. Strong women -- well, girls, really -- who followed their convictions and did what was right. Can you rise to the challenge?
Their story and their heroism teaches us all that even ordinary people with few skills can become heroes and make a true difference to help others. It's a lesson that is particularly important today.
For my thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile Magazine.
This was mostly a "just the facts, ma'am" kind of book, but it introduces us to three teenagers who got caught up in the resistance movement in the Netherlands during World War II. The author learned about sisters Truss and Freddie Oversteegen and their colleague Jo Schaft from his agent, who saw one of the Oversteegens' obituary.
The Oversteegens were raised in a working-class, activist family, so their interest in resisting the Nazis was somewhat in their blood. But they took the lessons of their childhood to new levels. Jo grew up in a wealthier, more conservative home and with the values and ethics that led her to resist. The three learned to steal, lie, kill, plant home-made bombs, deliver underground newspapers, hide Jews, and help Jewish children find safe homes. All begun when the girls were under the age of 20.
This journalistic account tells about the successes, of course, but also the failures. And this is a book that is worth reading, even if you think you've read too many WWII books. Strong women -- well, girls, really -- who followed their convictions and did what was right. Can you rise to the challenge?
Their story and their heroism teaches us all that even ordinary people with few skills can become heroes and make a true difference to help others. It's a lesson that is particularly important today.
For my thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile Magazine.
May 5, 2021
A friend loaned this book to me, and when I picked it up I was not sure what to expect from a title that covered a subject that seems to be populating non-fiction books these days.
I enjoyed the read and found it to be well researched. While the author did provide helpful footnotes, I continually was pondering why he relied so much on one of the books written by a resistance survivor following the war.
To me, the book's most interesting aspect is how these young women (girls, really) performed the heroic acts described throughout the book. During the war, there were many brave citizens (particularly in war-torn nations) who were ready to, as the British would say, do their bit. It's fitting that the Netherlands, where these teenagers lived and fought, has recognized the various efforts of resistance fighters. Too bad that it took decades before an entirely new generation were the first to really appreciate the cause, without getting lost in the partisan purposes.
Finally, I found the book's best moments to be the descriptions of the tactics and deployment of these ordinary people in their fight to save all that was real and true to their way of life prior to the German invasion. I read many books that are related to World War II. I'm glad that I have now added this title to that grouping.
I enjoyed the read and found it to be well researched. While the author did provide helpful footnotes, I continually was pondering why he relied so much on one of the books written by a resistance survivor following the war.
To me, the book's most interesting aspect is how these young women (girls, really) performed the heroic acts described throughout the book. During the war, there were many brave citizens (particularly in war-torn nations) who were ready to, as the British would say, do their bit. It's fitting that the Netherlands, where these teenagers lived and fought, has recognized the various efforts of resistance fighters. Too bad that it took decades before an entirely new generation were the first to really appreciate the cause, without getting lost in the partisan purposes.
Finally, I found the book's best moments to be the descriptions of the tactics and deployment of these ordinary people in their fight to save all that was real and true to their way of life prior to the German invasion. I read many books that are related to World War II. I'm glad that I have now added this title to that grouping.
November 9, 2022
3.5🌟
Interesting story of some very brave Dutch girls and their exploits during WW2. The delivery of the story was a bit blase and dry. I enjoyed the epilogue and finding out what happened to the girls and how they were treated after the war.
Interesting story of some very brave Dutch girls and their exploits during WW2. The delivery of the story was a bit blase and dry. I enjoyed the epilogue and finding out what happened to the girls and how they were treated after the war.
April 13, 2023
During World War II, in many of the Nazi-occupied countries, some local citizens did not sit around thinking “Oh woe is me!” Instead, they found ways and means to harass their brutal occupiers. This true story, THREE ORDINARY GIRLS by noted historian TIM BRADY, tells a tale of the resistance and the resistors in the Netherlands (Holland) during the Nazi occupation. In the fall of 2023, I will be going to Amsterdam and will visit a museum dedicated to the heroes of the resistance.
The three “girls” of the title are Hannie “Jo” Schaft (now a cult hero), Truus Oversteegen and Freddie Oversteegen. Hannie was born in 1920 and was the oldest of the three. Truus was born in 1923 and her sister Freddie was born in 1925. On May 10, 1940, the Nazis invaded the Netherlands so the girls were 20, 17 and 15 when they began their activities. Hannie was a university student in Amsterdam while Truus and Freddie still lived at home with their divorced mother. All three were residents of Haarlem, not far from Amsterdam. All three had Socialist/Communist leanings in their political outlook.
Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart (nicknamed “six and a quarter”) was an Austrian installed by Hitler as the “new” head of the Dutch Government. Like many of his ilk, he was ruthless in his pursuit of Jews, Romani and Communists. Hanns Rauter, a German, was appointed Chief of Police for the country. At the start of their reign of terror, 80,000 Jews lived in Amsterdam. 75% of them did not survive the Holocaust.
Frans van der Wiel was the leader of the resistance cell that recruited the three girls. The group was very proactive in their missions. For the girls, it started with them delivering underground, Anti-Nazi newspapers. As the war continued, they graduated into sabotage. Eventually, they also became assassins. Their victims were members of the Nazi ruling class and Dutch traitors.
Hannie and her parents also aided Jewish refugees. Two girls they helped were Sonja Frenk and Philine Polak. They were roommates of Hannie at the university. Sonja tried to escape to Switzerland but was captured in Lyon, France. She did not survive. Philine stayed in Holland and lived.
In 1942 alone, 162,000 skilled workers were deported to work in factories in Germany. In October 1942, Otto Frank and his family, including his diary-writing daughter Anne, went into hiding in Amsterdam.
The girls’ cell attempted a bombing of a power plant but it only caused limited damage. They carried weapons between other resistance cells. Hannie compiled statistics on German defenses along the beaches of the Netherlands. On Christmas Eve 1944, the girls collected five boxes of munitions from a German soldier they had befriended. They were involved in more and more assassinations and attempted killings as the war continued into 1944 and 1945.
On May 5, 1945, the Canadian Army liberated Holland and for all intents and purposes, it was LIBERATION TIME!
This book is a must read for World War II buffs, fans of heroes thrust into uncomfortable roles and/or if you are interested in Jewish history. I would like to give the book more than five stars. EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
GO! BUY! READ! NOW!
The three “girls” of the title are Hannie “Jo” Schaft (now a cult hero), Truus Oversteegen and Freddie Oversteegen. Hannie was born in 1920 and was the oldest of the three. Truus was born in 1923 and her sister Freddie was born in 1925. On May 10, 1940, the Nazis invaded the Netherlands so the girls were 20, 17 and 15 when they began their activities. Hannie was a university student in Amsterdam while Truus and Freddie still lived at home with their divorced mother. All three were residents of Haarlem, not far from Amsterdam. All three had Socialist/Communist leanings in their political outlook.
Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart (nicknamed “six and a quarter”) was an Austrian installed by Hitler as the “new” head of the Dutch Government. Like many of his ilk, he was ruthless in his pursuit of Jews, Romani and Communists. Hanns Rauter, a German, was appointed Chief of Police for the country. At the start of their reign of terror, 80,000 Jews lived in Amsterdam. 75% of them did not survive the Holocaust.
Frans van der Wiel was the leader of the resistance cell that recruited the three girls. The group was very proactive in their missions. For the girls, it started with them delivering underground, Anti-Nazi newspapers. As the war continued, they graduated into sabotage. Eventually, they also became assassins. Their victims were members of the Nazi ruling class and Dutch traitors.
Hannie and her parents also aided Jewish refugees. Two girls they helped were Sonja Frenk and Philine Polak. They were roommates of Hannie at the university. Sonja tried to escape to Switzerland but was captured in Lyon, France. She did not survive. Philine stayed in Holland and lived.
In 1942 alone, 162,000 skilled workers were deported to work in factories in Germany. In October 1942, Otto Frank and his family, including his diary-writing daughter Anne, went into hiding in Amsterdam.
The girls’ cell attempted a bombing of a power plant but it only caused limited damage. They carried weapons between other resistance cells. Hannie compiled statistics on German defenses along the beaches of the Netherlands. On Christmas Eve 1944, the girls collected five boxes of munitions from a German soldier they had befriended. They were involved in more and more assassinations and attempted killings as the war continued into 1944 and 1945.
On May 5, 1945, the Canadian Army liberated Holland and for all intents and purposes, it was LIBERATION TIME!
This book is a must read for World War II buffs, fans of heroes thrust into uncomfortable roles and/or if you are interested in Jewish history. I would like to give the book more than five stars. EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
GO! BUY! READ! NOW!
December 21, 2020
What an amazing piece of history. Tim Brady has gathered so much information about the Dutch resistance during WWII, and in particular the stories of sisters, Truus and Freddie Oversteegen and their partner Hannie Schaft. These 3 girls took an active role in sabotaging nazi efforts in Harlaam, The Netherlands, throughout the war. They took their efforts to the next level, assassinating quite a few supporters of the nazi cause. In the end, so many of the people they were trying to protect were executed in retaliation for the enemies they killed. So it’s not always an easy read. It is a story of bravery and fortitude in the face of a formidable enemy. An astonishing piece of history that should not be forgotten. Thank you to Netgalley and publisher, Kensington Books, for this ARC.
November 29, 2022
This book intrigued me as my husband's father (as a toddler) was a first-generation immigrant to the US from Holland in the early 1930s. They were farmers and settled south of Chicago, where the family farm still exists. I also often read historical fiction and non-fiction about WW2.
Three Ordinary Girls reads more like a documentary film or textbook. I don't know how ordinary we would have seen them as their pre-war family of Truus and Freddie was socialist and communist leaning. I wish there was more known about their post-war lives, having lived with the trauma and compartmentalization of what they did during the war.
As other reviewers have written, there are hundreds of footnotes from books about these young women, and they become overlooked and almost distracting. I did appreciate the use of Dutch words and their explanations. The story of the Dutch resistance is not often talked about in light of the more well-known French efforts.
Three Ordinary Girls reads more like a documentary film or textbook. I don't know how ordinary we would have seen them as their pre-war family of Truus and Freddie was socialist and communist leaning. I wish there was more known about their post-war lives, having lived with the trauma and compartmentalization of what they did during the war.
As other reviewers have written, there are hundreds of footnotes from books about these young women, and they become overlooked and almost distracting. I did appreciate the use of Dutch words and their explanations. The story of the Dutch resistance is not often talked about in light of the more well-known French efforts.
April 11, 2023
Incredible story of the dangers that these young women went through fighting against the Nazis in WW2. Really impactful book.
June 9, 2024
Not particularly a page turner but certainly a worthwhile read about some brave women (girls, really, at the beginning). The footnotes indicate that the author relied very heavily on a couple of previously published books, which makes me wonder if those source materials might have been better reads (although perhaps not readily available in English translations). I recently read a fiction book that included a side character referred to as the girl with the red hair and didn’t realize she was based on a real person.
August 24, 2021
Wow. What an astounding read. Three Ordinary Girls is extraordinary. It tells the story of three teenage girls joining forces along with spies and veteran fighters to become saboteurs, assassins, cunning spies and ultimately WWII heroines. These three girls fought for the freedom of all Jews. They put themselves in dangerous and often times fatal missions for the greater good. Assassinating the Nazis and Dutch traders and informants because they were the enemy and it had to be done. “One does not shoot a human but the enemy, a traitor.”
It just never ceases to shock me after reading a book about the Holocaust. An unforgettable moment in history in which so many lives were brutally and inhumanly taken; it’s disgusting. You can tell the author did his research because there’s so much information and so many names and dates to take in. To think that this was only about 80 years ago..it’s despairing to think about.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corp for gifting me with a copy of Three Ordinary Girls through the Goodreads Giveaways. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
It just never ceases to shock me after reading a book about the Holocaust. An unforgettable moment in history in which so many lives were brutally and inhumanly taken; it’s disgusting. You can tell the author did his research because there’s so much information and so many names and dates to take in. To think that this was only about 80 years ago..it’s despairing to think about.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corp for gifting me with a copy of Three Ordinary Girls through the Goodreads Giveaways. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
March 4, 2021
I don't understand all these 5-star ratings. This book looks to me like plagiarism. Whole passages and even chapters are copied from the book Not Then, Not Now, Not Ever written by late Truus Overstegen herself. Also, Wikipedia is copied several times.
And btw these girls were everything except ordinary. What a joke this title.
And btw these girls were everything except ordinary. What a joke this title.
February 16, 2022
I am only a quarter of the way through this book. I love how the author incorporates Anne Frank and Corrie ten Boom in the narrative to give perspective to those of us who have read books by those ladies.
July 22, 2023
3.5 Stars
I read this book during one of my dives into the Holocaust. This is probably the fourth audiobook in a row that I listen to within the span of less than a month. I was particularly looking for stories of World War II and the Holocaust in the Netherlands because it is something that I hadn't really heard of before, except for in the case of Anne Frank.
This is the story of three young girls who during the war were either in their teens or early 20s who were actively involved in the Dutch resistance. The girls were involved in hiding Jews, stealing ration cards, executions which were known as liquidations, sabotage and so on.
I think what I enjoy about these particular stories is how they are about every day people who see an injustice and feel like they must do something. Each of these three girls were very left leaning politically, and where associated with the Communist party and were very antifascist. They all felt it was their duty to protect the Netherlands from fascist rule.
I think it's amazing what these three young girls managed to accomplish and save so many people. Even those in their own resistance group doubted their abilities because they were girls. These girls were feminists before the second wave of feminism. They were required to do some horrific things for their country and they did them almost unquestioningly.
I think what is particularly sad about these girls stories is that one of them gave her life for their country, and at her funeral her name was pronounced wrong. Not only that, but because their resistance group was Communist or left-leaning after the war they were essentially disregarded. And once when they were going to march for their fallen comrades and they were prevented with force by the police.
Overall very well written and researched, my only issue was I sometimes found it difficult to follow some of the girls and characters because some of the names were very similar and one of the girls names was used mum was referred to by both her real name her nickname and her coat day which I found a little bit confusing.
I read this book during one of my dives into the Holocaust. This is probably the fourth audiobook in a row that I listen to within the span of less than a month. I was particularly looking for stories of World War II and the Holocaust in the Netherlands because it is something that I hadn't really heard of before, except for in the case of Anne Frank.
This is the story of three young girls who during the war were either in their teens or early 20s who were actively involved in the Dutch resistance. The girls were involved in hiding Jews, stealing ration cards, executions which were known as liquidations, sabotage and so on.
I think what I enjoy about these particular stories is how they are about every day people who see an injustice and feel like they must do something. Each of these three girls were very left leaning politically, and where associated with the Communist party and were very antifascist. They all felt it was their duty to protect the Netherlands from fascist rule.
I think it's amazing what these three young girls managed to accomplish and save so many people. Even those in their own resistance group doubted their abilities because they were girls. These girls were feminists before the second wave of feminism. They were required to do some horrific things for their country and they did them almost unquestioningly.
I think what is particularly sad about these girls stories is that one of them gave her life for their country, and at her funeral her name was pronounced wrong. Not only that, but because their resistance group was Communist or left-leaning after the war they were essentially disregarded. And once when they were going to march for their fallen comrades and they were prevented with force by the police.
Overall very well written and researched, my only issue was I sometimes found it difficult to follow some of the girls and characters because some of the names were very similar and one of the girls names was used mum was referred to by both her real name her nickname and her coat day which I found a little bit confusing.
March 7, 2021
A trio of fearless female resisters demonstrated immense bravery during WW2 in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. Hannie Schaft and sisters Truus Oversteegen and Freddie Oversteegen joined the small resistance cell in the Dutch city of Haarlem. Each girl had leftist ideals and was loyal to her country.
As part of the resistance effort, the young women sheltered fleeing Jews, political dissidents and Dutch resisters. They also sabotaged bridges and railways, transported weapons, and led children to safehouses. They also assassinated German soldiers and traitors with the courage of veteran guerilla fighters and the cunning of seasoned spies.
Author Tim Brady compiles dozens of other works into this story about three ordinary girls who performed extraordinary acts. I really appreciated reading about these women, but I didn't connect with them emotionally. The book is more of a textbook, and I was expecting a novel. It would have been more moving if it had been written with more dialogue rather than lecture style.
As part of the resistance effort, the young women sheltered fleeing Jews, political dissidents and Dutch resisters. They also sabotaged bridges and railways, transported weapons, and led children to safehouses. They also assassinated German soldiers and traitors with the courage of veteran guerilla fighters and the cunning of seasoned spies.
Author Tim Brady compiles dozens of other works into this story about three ordinary girls who performed extraordinary acts. I really appreciated reading about these women, but I didn't connect with them emotionally. The book is more of a textbook, and I was expecting a novel. It would have been more moving if it had been written with more dialogue rather than lecture style.
March 6, 2021
This story has been told so many times. This book is more or less a copy of other books about Hannie Schaft and the Overstegen sisters that I have read before. Nothing new here.
February 10, 2021
Three Ordinary Girls is not just another World War 2 story from Europe. It gives a broad political and sociological view of the resistance movement in the Netherlands while narrowing the focus to a pair of teen sisters, Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, and college-aged Hannie Schaft, immediately creating a sense of investment and human compassion that can be lacking in a detail-heavy work of nonfiction/history. Of course, this same vulnerability is one of the key components that made the girls such effective members of the resistance: they were able to flirt their way into classified information and out of lethal situations regularly.
Famous books have been written about the ten Boom sisters and, of course, the Frank family. Three Ordinary Girls references these familiar works and develops a rich context around them. I learned things I did not realize about the complexity and depth of the engagement between the resistance and the occupying Germans in the urban setting of Amsterdam. I was also unaware of the length of time between D-Day and the actual liberation of the Netherlands, a time in which many Jews, civilians, and resistance fighters continued to die. I come away from this book with more awe and appreciation for the horrific losses and the heroic sacrifices.
Thank you to Tim Brady, Citadel Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Famous books have been written about the ten Boom sisters and, of course, the Frank family. Three Ordinary Girls references these familiar works and develops a rich context around them. I learned things I did not realize about the complexity and depth of the engagement between the resistance and the occupying Germans in the urban setting of Amsterdam. I was also unaware of the length of time between D-Day and the actual liberation of the Netherlands, a time in which many Jews, civilians, and resistance fighters continued to die. I come away from this book with more awe and appreciation for the horrific losses and the heroic sacrifices.
Thank you to Tim Brady, Citadel Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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