This book is centered around Madeline with very little mention of the rest of Blue Squadron and is mostly about Madeline’s efforts in the Concentration camps after WWII ended. It was still interesting to read about efforts to save Concentration camp victims that I hadn’t known about.

One of the best books I have read all year, The courage of nurse Madeleine Pauliac and her colleagues rescuing French nationals in World War Two is remarkable and inspirational. The book has been impeccably researched and delves into a little known aspect of World War Two. I read it and then had to pause for thought thinking of those women and particularly Madeleine Pauliac and their bravery.

Want something done? Send in the nurses.
WW2 is ending in Europe and the Iron Curtain is rapidly descending on Poland. The Blue Squadron, consisting of French Army doc Pauliac and her 11 Red Cross nurses are given orders to repatriate wounded French soldiers and civilians in Poland and bring them home. With the Red Cross emblem and status serving as cover they navigate through dangerous political and physical situations. Ambulances loaded and rolling across Europe en route to Warsaw they come upon several newly liberated concentration camps and mission orders change to help where they can along the way. They bear witness to the horrors of not only Hitler’s Army, but also Stalin’s as they are operating on borrowed time. The Iron Curtain is swiftly closing around them as they squeak out their final missions. Managing to execute over 200 rescue missions, save thousands of lives, and run the French hospital in Warsaw, Pauliac and her nurses become a glimmer of hope as the lights are fading for many in Poland, all in service to their beloved France.
Truly an inspiring story, these Sisters defied every force working against them. Fingers crossed this will be adapted into film to reach the masses with their heroic story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rowan & Littlefield Publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting story of the authors relative. Not a full story as much as the timeline of the experiences of the relative.