TWO GERMAN RESISTANCE FIGHTERS TAKE ON THE REICH

WWII stories are often about resistance. But this is the first story I have read about resistance from within Germany, resistance by "true Aryans". It made for a new reading experience for me with a different take on the familiar trope of resistance.

👍 What I Liked 👍

Plot: Hitler came to power in 1933. And this is where our story begin. We follow a group of Germans, who slowly realise what Hitler's new regime means not just for themselves but for their country and for humanity. I found this to be a very original approach to a WWII novel. Most of the story unfolds before the war even breaks out. In stead it explores the steps that let up to the way - and perhaps most importantly, it explores why the people 'permitted' Hitler to carry on unchecked.

Characters: Harro and Libs are our main characters, and they are adorable. Their affection, their love, their tenacity and their hope is infectious. I fell in love with them and their romance right off the bat. I felt their love flowing off the pages and it made me so happy.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Pace: While I loved that much of the story took place before the way, I also did feel like the pacing was a little slow. Not because I wanted to get to the war faster. But because I wanted to get to the point faster. The central theme of the book - resistance - was a little slow. There's a lot of stuff that leads up to it, and some of it could have been cut or made more pertinent.

This was a fascinating book to read. Based on a true story I found I couldn’t put it down. It was interesting and informative and quite sad at times. Definitely a five stars book. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

What a page turner this was. A work of fiction based on fact.
Libertas and Horro make a formidable pair, for their love and their bravery. If this book doesn’t bring tears to your eyes !


I liked this book because it really makes you appreciate how strong and brave past generations were. An observation, I felt it was a bit long drawn in places.

"Bravery in the face of fear." Every day Libertas and Harro lived could be their last. When they met their lives would be changed forever. Libertas was a film reviewer, and had hoped to make that a career. But her home city Berlin had come under Nazi occupation thus the very freedom she longed for was obliterated. Not fully knowing how far she would go, she knew one thing. She would fight. How she did not know.

When Libertas met Harro, he was able to trust her - with the scars that marred his beautiful body, and with his story. As a resistance fighter he would do anything to defy Hitler and his minions. Libertas and Harro were kindred spirits. They did not allow Nazi propaganda to sway them, although being born German. Re-education and gradualism was at play for German citizens in Berlin. Could the pair work together, despite unrelenting danger, both pushing fear aside and demonstrating incredible bravery in their efforts?

Harro used his work in the Air Ministry office to inflitrate the regime, to learn secrets. To trade secrets. To smuggle secrets. However, in order to do so, trust was paramount. Libertas's role was no less significant. Who would they work with and could they find others who shared a similar purpose without betrayal playing a hand?

What an incredible story based on the lives of Libertas and Harro Schulz-Boysen. They were a strong pair of resistance fighters, using whatever contacts they could find to futher the cause they relentlessly undertook. They displayed a hope that proved their reality. They developed a careful plan of rebellion, one that would eventually cost them their lives. However, they did not live a life of fear, instead, they led a life of bravery.

Ellie Midwood has done it again. She has penned an astonishing story based on true characters. This love story showed how Libertas and Harro displayed amazing bravery despite the bleakest of times. Heartbreaking throughout, with a devastating end, it was a story well told. One that needed to be told and one that will not soon be forgotten.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Based on the true story of German aristocrat Libertas "Libs" Haas-Heye and her husband, Harro Schulze-Boysen, who, appalled at Hitler's policies and the loss of freedoms and lives under his rule, became resistance fighters. Living in Berlin through the 1930's and early 1940's, they decided they would rather die fighting the Nazi regime than be silent but safe. The subject matter was fascinating and the story moved forward at a good pace, but I felt like there was not a lot of depth to the characters and I had trouble "connecting" with them. I enjoyed the book nonetheless, and recommend it to anyone interested in WWII resistance by Germans in Germany.

Which is more important: to be free and survive OR to be brave and stand for the truth?

It really depends on the situation, doesn’t it? How about if you are hungry, desperate and the gestapo is nipping at your heels? Can you still, when facing evil in the eye, vow to live by the truth or die by it? That is the question that Libby and Harro must contemplate and make a decision about in the winter of 1942.

Like most teenagers today, when Libertas Haas-Heye, 19, leaves home, it’s to enjoy a taste of freedom. Naïve, wide-eyed and privileged, Libby wants to move to glitzy Berlin and make a difference in the world. However, the timing couldn’t be worse for her arrival in Berlin; the Nazis have the city under siege. Horror struck, Libby feels that she can’t ignore what’s happening around her. She uses her position at the MGM studios to gain access to privileged information and strengthen her fight.

Harro Schulze-Boysin works at the Air Ministry and has been climbing the ranks within the Nazi army. Disillusioned with the regime, he, too, uses his position to fight from within. When he meets Libby, they fall in love, join forces to smuggle documents and work to expose the Nazi lies.

As is always the case with one of Ellie Midwood’s masterpieces in historical fiction, I learned while I read. I was enlightened about the Red Orchestra, the longest operating resistance group within Germany. I appreciate the lengths Midwood goes to ensuring readers get a change to know lesser known heroes who have given their lives for freedom and have inspired so many others to follow in their heroic steps. Almost based entirely on true facts, this novel showcases the opportunity to choose even when we think a choice or our freedom has been taken from us.

Told from a unique perspective, a privileged German girl who joins the Resistance, this is a fascinating look at the German resistance to Nazism. For historical fiction lovers who want to expand their wartime knowledge, this is a must read!

Publishes October 13, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Ellie Midwood, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Girl on the Platform" in exchange for my honest review.

This true story staring in 1933 Berlin tells of the lives of Libertas Haas-Heye and her husband Harro Schulze-Boysin tells about their belief in freedom of speech, love without fear, the ability to criticize the government, to choose to conform or to resist it - to truly live. They saved lives in the name of freedom.

As with all of Ms. Midwood's books the story stays with you long after the last page is read. It leaves you with so many things to think about.

While this was an enjoyable read and I liked how the story was told it just felt a bit rushed at times to me. Maybe it's because I have read so many of these historical fiction books based in this time period. This was good but not as spectacular as I expected

Libertas moved to Berlin to get away from her family, but it wasn’t any better there. Hitler was in control.​

Libertas worked at MGM studios and saw what was going on.

The first incident that caused her to think about resisting was when her friend Martin disappeared one day and she was summoned to the offices of the Germans to sign a paper saying he had committed suicide when in fact he was thrown out of the window of his apartment.

​​Libertas continues to work at the MGM studios offices, and once Libertas meets Harro, she seems as happy as she can be under the situation in Berlin.​​

This story is based on the life of Libertas Schulze-Boysen and follows Libertas as she and Harro join the resistance.

​​Very tense and heartbreaking as you see the harrowing, awful things they go through.​​

A little too non-fictionish for me, but excellent and very well written.

​​Readers of historical fiction and specifically WWII will enjoy THE GIRL ON THE PLATFORM.

Gorgeous cover. 4/5​​

This book was given to me by Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Now on to my thoughts
First off like always I want to say a huge thank you to the publisher Bookouture , the author Ellie Midwood , and to NetGalley for the invite to join this blog tour as well as letting me read and review it.Once again a big win when it comes to Bookouture's historical fiction WW 2 based stories, they've knocked it out the ball park once again with this one. For those who don't know me I'm a big reader of WW 2 stories wither its nonfiction or historical fiction ( that is even their down right ), because their on parts of our history and people that I never knew about , it brings their life to life and it helps us to never forget what they did wither its good like frighting for what they believed in and stood up for it or if they were the ones that was part of the horrendous crimes that happened doing those times. This story should that not all Germans was for Hitler and his way of life or his thoughts , they didn't see the color of the person's religion, they just saw people , and how they was treated so wrongly, that even though it could mean friends, family turning their backs on them as well as their own death , they stood up for what they believed in. And that in my book makes them heroes .

I have read previous works by Ellie Midwood and really enjoyed them so was looking forward to this new title. I’m sad to say that this new book just didn’t grab me like her previous books. It didn’t have the pull to read and I found I was skimming pages despite the subject matter.
Libertas (Libs) a young privileged woman leaves her family home in the countryside to go to work as the publicity manager at MGM in Berlin. It is the beginning of WWII and Libertas is wanting to do what is right not what she feels the Germans want her to do. Libs falls in love with Harro who has similar feelings to Lib’s ideology and as husband and wife they organised a resistance group called the Red Orchestra.
The book is based on the true story of Libertas and Harro Schulze-Boysen and like all WWII stories it is heartbreaking but does portray the bravery of the heroes of the time. Persevere with reading this book as it a story that needs to be told and remembered.

This was really good such a fascinating read. I really got into it and although I knew how it would end it was really important to understand the journey.

Such detail.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own opinion.

Freedom Fighters

In the town of Berlin Germany as the Nazi's rise to power two young people ,Libertas and Harro, meet and fall in love. Libertas is a member of the Nazi party because her Uncle is and she wanted a job at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Harro is a journalist friend of Libertas friend Ricco. Harro gets a job at the Air Ministry and works his way up the ranks in the Nazi army. Libertas goes to work for the propaganda ministry as a film reviewer.

Between the two of them they have access to important information from the Nazi Army. Although they pose as Nazi's they wish to bring down the Nazi's and restore Germany to freedom. They decide that the Soviet's would be the logical choice since they are fighting against the Nazi's. In the meantime when not interacting with the Soviet agent they are making flyers against the Nazi's and distributing them all around Berlin and the surrounding area.

This is the story of their fight for freedom. The story of brave young people Libertas and Harro, Gisela and Ricco, Libertas friend Martin, and her American friend Mildred and her husband Arvid. They fight not with guns and knives, but with words and pictures.

The story has some sad parts and the ending is very sad, but they didn't give in to the Nazi party and they kept resisting they only way they knew how. They vowed to fight even though it meant their lives were on the line. It is based on a true story. I would recommend it.

Thanks to Ellie Midwood, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of the book for my honest review.

I am not sure why... but I thought this book would be much different than it was! It was a story of 2 people, and how they wanted to change Germany for the better during the war. I like dhow these characters continually found new people to add to their "inner circle" There was little suspense, thinking "will they get caught" but it was well written . The ending was poignant... somewhat expected, while at the same time jarring.

I could not get into the story. The writing felt too simplistic and it's like a YA book . It's about a 19 year old German girl who is a member of the Nazi party working at MGM in Berlin. in 1933. " In the face of evil, she vowed to live by the truth––or die by it.". This story line has been done too many times and I just wasn't invested in the story. DNF
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wanted to love this book, this just wasn’t for me. I found the writing style to be very hard to follow, the characters not really lovable and the storyline a bit confusing. I read 28% of the book. For the most part I enjoy books of the World War II era and this is the first one that I have tried that just did not fit for me.

This is an historical fiction love story set in Berlin 1939 at the start of WW2 written by Eddie Midwood. I really enjoy reading historical fiction stories but was a little unsure when I discovered it was a love story but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. I don’t think it is an ideal fit for my tastes but was well written with good characters and was an enjoyable read.

Based on a true story, featuring Nineteen-year-old Libby who moves to Berlin to escape her over bearing family. The problem is this is 1939 and the city is under siege by the Nazis. Jewish books are burned, storefronts smashed and every day innocent people vanish into thin air. Libby is shocked but won’t just sit back and ignore what is happening.

Libby meets Harro and they fall in love, the whip marks on his back, scars from the SS, tell their own story: he is a resistance fighter. They are both committed to bringing down Hitler and all he stands for and through Harro who works for the Air Ministry they can obtain government secrets to use against the regime.

After awhile Libby becomes paranoid and she feels sure that the Gestapo is on to them, putting their lives in danger. They must decide whether to escape or stand up for all they believe in.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This story is based on the life of Libertas Schulze-Boysen and follows Libertas as she and Harro join the resistance. The story is set in the 1930's in Germany. Tense and heartbreaking as her ultimate goal is to gather information against the Nazis to use after the war. Well written, with a great deal of research, this is another WWII story. For those who crave WWII stories, this is a book that would interest you. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set during the second world war, The girl On The Platform will tug on all your heartstrings !!

Based on a true story we follow 19 year old Libby who moves away from her overbearing family - She meets Harro and the two hopelessly fall for each other, the couple then together form a resistance against the Nazi regime

This was such a great read and you could tell the author did a ton of research! Historical romances have always fascinated me and the fact that this was based on a real couple had me even more intrigued! You really get to see the bravery of all these characters despite everything that was happening. Books set during painful parts of history are always tough but Ellie Midwood does a great job with writing them.

The book tends to be slow paced at times but the characters most definitely make up for that!

Thank you Bookouture for the Arc!

It is hard for me to write this review, because Ellie Midwood is one of my favorite authors and I love her words. Sadly this book missed the mark for me, it didn’t pull me in the story and it didn’t compel me like her other books.

The first part of the book is very slow paced and not much is happening apart from Libertas finding her way in Berlin and a new job. She seems to be floating about most of the time. The pace picks up a bit of the 60% mark, but the story just didn’t give me the chills or goosebumps that I normally get while reading a Ellie Midwood book. I didn’t feel invested in Harro and Libertas life.