Party member and young aristocrat Libertas (Libs) Haas-Heye gets a job with MGM in Berlin, and discovers that she is able to work there, unqualified, because the Jewish staff are being replaced. She meets, and later marries, former magazine editor turned Luftwaffe officer Harro Schulze-Boysen, who along with the “suicide” of her work colleague Martin, quickly switches her political leanings. Together they use their connections to begin printing and distributing leaflets to inform their fellow Germans and give them a different perspective on current affairs to what they’re being fed through party propaganda.

This book was engaging from the very first chapter and the knowledge that it’s based on a true story made it all the more so. The author didn’t use someone’s memoirs to base her characters on (see The Tattooist of Auschwitz) - she used real people. Harro & Libertas we’re actual people and the book is based on their story. (For further information I’d recommend starting with Libertas Schulz-Boysen’s Wikipedia page; you’ll note this book uses a lot of key facts from her life story but leaves out a few too)

I consider myself quite well read on World War II but what draws me back to these stories is that every time I read a new book on the subject, fiction or non fiction, there’s always something I find that I didn’t previously know. In this case, it was that not all SS were Nazi supporters, some were forced into it and actually resisted from the inside , e.g. sending photographic evidence to other resistance fighters, a hugely dangerous thing to try to do.

Overall this is a romanticised take on the story but very accessible and enjoyable and is definitely look up the author’s other books.

This is the third novel by Ellie Midwood that I have read recently. All three occur during WWII and all are based on true stories.
"The Girl on the Platform", is based on the life of Libertas Schultze-Boysen, who is a member of a well-to-do German gentile family whose uncle is a high-ranking Nazi with friends such as Goring and Hitler himself.
Libertas, as her name implies does not agree with her uncles politics and becomes involved with Harro, a free-thinking former journalist who was beaten by the gestapo and saw his good friend die at their hands. Libertas chooses to live a bohemia life style, living with Harro with out being married, ( they do eventually marry), both of them using their jobs within the government and film industry to hide their covert activities working against the Reich to bring down Hitler's reign of terror.
This is another compelling story by Ellie Midwood, chronicling the lengths and risks these heroic men and women were willing to take to fight evil. Knowing all the while they could be discovered at any moment. Libby and Harro went to extremes relaying top secret information and documents to soviet agents they were working with, along with publishing and distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets as far and to as many people as they could. Acts that were considered treason and crimes against the Reich, the penalty for which was death.
Libby, Harro and their small circle of trusted friends and fellow free-thinkers worked hard to ignite a fire in the citizens of Germany, urging them to stand up and fight back. They paid the ultimate price for their work and their beliefs, but inspired many others to pick up arms and stand for what was right. Without people such as they, we may have very well lost the fight against evil. We have them to thank for freedoms we take for granted so easily today.
I recommend this for all historical-fiction fans, 5 stars. Thank you to the publishers at Bookouture and Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Girl In The Platform' by Ellie Midwood.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ellie Midwood, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 13th October 2021.


This is the fifth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Girl Who Escaped Auschwitz', 'The Girl In The Striped Dress', 'The Girl Who Survived' and 'The Violinist Of Aushcwitz' which I also recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover, its intriguing synopsis and title and its extremely talented author. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Lilac Girls will be utterly gripped by this heartbreaking page-turner. ' I am a huge fan of 'The Tattooist Of Aushcwitz' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Ellie and if this is half as good as' The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz', 'The Girl Who Survived', 'the Girl In The Striped Dress' and 'The Violinist Of Aushcwitz ' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 35 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is set mainly in Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪.


This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Libby Schulze-Boysen . The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

'The Girl On The Platform' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Ellie discusses/includes the persecution of the Jews, murder and death.


Well, what can I say but wow!!! This story is definitely not going to leave my head anytime soon. Firstly I must congratulate Ellie Midwood for yet another extraordinary novel that seriously needs to be made into a movie which I assure would be best selling!!!


This book is very powerful and extremely well written. It is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. The storyline of this book is based on a true story which is another thing that drew me to read it. It is absolutely rammed with emotions that will make you smile, cry and laugh on the roller-coaster ride to hell that is World War 2 and the persecution and murder of the Jews and many others. Nothing is left out and the author has done an immense amount of research and brings Liberta and Harro's story to life. Liberta, Harro and their comrades are such powerful, strong and kind hearted heroes and I am looking forward to reading more about them. I had never heard of either before reading this but have read 'The Violinist Of Aushcwitz', 'Celia' s Journey', 'The tattooist of Aushcwitz', 'The Girl Who Escaped From Auschwitz,' The Girl Who Survived' and 'The librarian of Aushcwitz', all of which I enjoyed so when I seen this I was intrigued to discover the ongoing of the war through another person's eyes and from a different perspective also. All of Ellie's books that I have read so far are based in holocaust camps, mainly Auschwitz, so I was intrigued when I read this book to see what was going on in Germany and how some brave German's were doing their part to try and stop the slaughter and war by becoming a part of the resistance. I have now also added many books to my wish list thanks to Ellie, her own and ones that she recommends at the end of this story. This story is particularly unique as it is not one I have ever come across before seeing things from the German resistance side of the war.


This book did not disappoint. Some people believe that these stories should not be written but I am a strong believer that these victims earned the right for their stories to be told and to not be forgotten and this book does just that. I loved discovering not just Liberta and Harro's stories but those who surrounded them also. This amazing group of people who supported and lifted each other up during these dark times and helping them see the light are absolutely... Words can't really describe but I will go with angelic. This book was very hard to read as a whole but there were certain parts that will stay with me for a very long time and that we're soul destroying. What the Nazi's did to these innocent people makes me absolutely sick to my soul. I enjoyed learning about the loves of not only Liberta and Horro but the life's and parts of the resistance that Ricci, Gisela, Hans Coppi, Lisl, Kurt, Arvid, Günther Weisenborn, Martin and many more played.


Again congratulations Ellie Midwood on all your research and for writing this amazing story of both Libertas and Horro and other resistance members who deserved to have their stories told in a way that did them justice and you have done that. I would say this book is on par with the likes of 'The' diary of Anne Frank' which left me with the same feelings your novel has of not even more emotional.


Overall an unputdownable, heart wrenching, absolutely beautifully devastating story of lesser known heroes of the war.


Genres covered in this novel include War Story, Romance Novel and Jewish History amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Ellie Midwood, The Tattooist of Aushcwitz, The Librarian of Aushcwitz, 'Celia's Journey', 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and anyone interested in the holocaust and its history.


351 pages.


This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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The story is based on the life of Libertas Schulze-Boysen who worked at the MGM Studios in Berlin during in 1930’s when Hitler was in control and saw what was going on. When her friend Martin disappeared to later be found dead of apparent suicide but in fact he was thrown out of a window she knew something had to be done. With Harro by her side joining the resistance was the right thing to do. They devoted their lives tearing down Hitler’s regime and we follow them smuggling classified documents, distribute leaflets exposing the Nazi’s lies and holding clandestine meeting we only can see how resourceful and courageous these two were.

This is an incredible story of two strong resistance fighters and how careful they planned their every move and how they developed a rebellion that eventually cost them their lives. Ms. Midwood does an amazing recreation and has shown us how determined these two were despite all the dangers surrounding them.

I read quite a few books concerning the resistance but this is my first set within Germany that highlights the Red Orchestra, longest operating group within the borders. Amazing how interesting and what you can get out of an historical fiction such as “The Girl on the Platform” when it is penned by a master. Ms. Midwood is top notch in relating even that occurred during this terrible period in history in ways that hold our attention captive from start to finish. The characters come to live on the pages and I could feel how scared and how anxious they were....once more well-said and well-done.

I love historical Fiction especially World War II.

It's about the resistance in Germany.

The story kept me hooked from start to end and I will definitely read more from her in the future.

It's also based on true events which makes for good reading aswell

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

based on a true story, its about life before during and a bit before the end of the war, it did highlight for me what life was like for the germans who didnt want to go ahead with what was happening around them and how mortified some of them were with how the jews were treated....

but its also a love story about two people who in their own ways became freedom fighters

Berlin, 1939 and World War II has just begun. Libby moves to Berlin, to be as far away from her family as possible. She doesn’t like that her family has an alliance with the Nazis. She wants no part of that life. But when Libby’s friend vanishes, she decides that she has to do something. Then Libby meets fellow anti-Nazis and she is introduced to Harro. Harro persuades Libby to join the resistance, she does, and then she begins to fall in love with Harro. She and Harro smuggle classified documents during the day and at night they hold meetings to plot the fall of Hitler’s regime. Soon Libby and Harro are afraid that they are being watched by the Gestapo. Then, one day Harro disappears. Libby is terrified that she will never see him again. This amazing story of survival during some of the darkest days is so heart-wrenching. The fact that it is a true story tears at your heartstrings, so, reading with a box of Kleenex is a must. The fears that people overcame during this time and the hope that they held on to, is always so amazing to me. They never gave up, and they relied on each other so much. This beautifully written and powerful story is sure to be a favorite.

Thank you Ellie Midwood for such a phenomenal story. This is one that will continue to resonate in me for a very long time. It is a wonderful, phenomenal must read and I highly recommend this book.

I needed a few days to put together my thoughts for this book. So complex. So beautiful. So tragic.
What I loved best about this book is the honest portrayal of Libby, her friends and her husband.
In 1933, Libertas leaves her family estate at the age of 19 to becomes a publicity assistant in MGM's Germany offices. As a woman, Libby experiences much sexism - but her Aryan looks lend her plenty of freedom of suspicion as she discovers the trend of her country's political future.
Becoming friends with Ricci opens her life to immense possibility - not just meeting her husband and love her life, but also the connections to spark a grassroots effort to free Germany from Hitler's dictatorship.
Libby, as well as her husband and many friends, believe Hitler only represents a small minority of her country, those with immense wealth as well as racism.
I remember being in my 20's when I realized not all Germans supported Hitler, were anti-Semitic, nor racist. This is a massive misrepresentation.
Also Hitler didn't just come to power and open concentration camps. It was a slow progression - well represented in this novel.
I appreciate the plot may move slower for some readers - it follows the progression of Germany's history, slowly building and expanding.
Great book and well done.

Another World War II book, but once again I can say this one felt unique as it took place in the heart of Berlin through the eyes of Libby Schulze-Boysen as she was trying to find her role in the resistance and fighting the rise of Nazi party and the persecution of Jews.

Libby was such an interesting woman to follow. At the beginning of the book she takes a job with the Berlin office of MGM (which I didn't even know existed) and she is hopeful to start in the promotional department, but has dreams for so much more and then the Nazis come to power and there are better uses of her time. Reading about Libby and her husband, Harro, and their relationship both personal and professional was so enjoyable. I loved that at a time where women weren't expected to do much outside of the home, Harro encouraged Libby to play a role in the resistance and was such a supportive husband - that was fun to read.

I would recommend readers add this to their historical fiction/World War II pile as it gives a distinctive view of resistance within Germany and the avenues the people used in hopes of ending the war and in their favor.

I have made up my mind that I will read all Ellie Midwood's books and so I am super excited when I got this ARC! Like all her books, The Girl on the Platform is based on a true story, set in Berlin, during the 1938, when the Nazis were running the country.

Plot:- Libertas gets a job in Berlin to start new life.Libby's family has connections with the new regime in Germany. However, when one of her friends disappears, Libby realized how brutal this regime was. She meets a man named Harro who is actually a resistance worker. Libby is then drawn to the world of resistance as she assists Harro to resist against the Nazi regime. By 1942, Libby fears that the Gestapo are stalking them.

Writing:- Ellie Midwood's writing style is really unique and engaging as she brings the reader into the story, making the reader feel like they are living in the Nazi regime. However, unlike her previous books, I wasn't very much drawn into this story. Maybe it's just the story that wasn't really interesting and appealing to me. However, still, the author does a good job drawing the reader to the story.

Characters--Libertas and Harro are likable characters and you would be amazed at how courageous and brave these people are--in real life particularly when living during the Nazi regime.

Overall--though I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did with her previous book, this book worth four stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This one is difficult for me to review because I liked it but I didn't love it. Definitely not as much as Ellie's other stories.

I liked that we followed a story from a German perspective and see how differently the war affected the Germans.

I liked the fierce bond between Libertas and Harro...and that's about it.

I felt I could not really connect to the characters. Maybe it's because it's written in third person but I felt detached from the characters and the story.

I felt quite a few things were glossed over so I, as the reader, could not get a feel for their experience and what they went through. We saw it all from Libertas perspective but if we could have seen it from Harro's perspective as well so we could delve into the innerworkings of his workplace then maybe the suspense would have been more prevalent. However, seeing it just from Libertas' perspective made every obstacle and defeat come across as lukewarm.

My thanks to Ellie Midwood, Bookouture and Net Galley for the ARC of THE GIRL ON THE PLATFORM. A true story set in Berlin during WWII, Libby imagines Berlin to be a place of freedom when she leaves the family home to be the person she wants to be but is astonished that the city is run by Nazis intent on eliminating Jews. Libby meets Harro and realises that together they can fight the Nazi invasion of the city she loves, even though he is an SS officer in the Air Ministry. Putting their lives at risk they undertake resistant activities by smuggling government secrets. When the Gestapo have them in their sights they must decide to run or to fight!
This is an era that I enjoy enormously, and true stories of bravery are always heart-rending to read. The beginning was rather slow I felt, with a lot of unnecessary repetition, but further on it became very tense. Stick with it.

Based on a true story this latest novel by Ellie Midwood tells us of the heroics of Libby and Harro Schulze-Boysen who met whilst on a friends boat. Libby was a member of the Nazi party only because of her Uncle's links and Harro had been an editor of a banned publication. Both are disillusioned with the Nazi's and become friends with shared Liberal views. Along with friends they set up a resistance cell under the noses of the Gestapo and SS.. They resisted all to conform to Nazi Germany expectations. Their story is an inspiration to all, patriotic to their country whilst campaigning for freedom of speech.
Ellie brings their story to the readers notice with her usual aplomb, her tales of people who suffered at the hands of the Gestapo are empathetic showing their resilience and courage to inspire us all to stand up for what we believe in.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this marvellous novel in exchange for my honest review

Thanks NetGalley, Bookouture and Ellie Midwood for an ARC to review.
Libby moves to Berlin to try to have a life of her own away from her family.
Meeting Harro they start a life together while fighting for the Germany they dream of.

I have read many many WWII era historical fiction novels, but never one about resistance fighters right in Berlin, deep in the belly of the beast.

The Girl on the Platform is the story of Libertas and Harro and tells the true story of their fight against the Nazi regime. The story is remarkable because they live in Berlin and work in roles within the Nazi government.

The early part of the novel sets up their background. It IS a love story and the early part of the novel is heavy on the love story and not much about the residence part of their life. This section gives some insight into why they started resisting. This part is a little slow moving, but important to understanding their motivations.

The second half of the novel is a much quicker read. This is where the reader is taken deep into the active part of their resistance.

The most remarkable part of this novel is that it is a true story. The author had to fill in some detail to make the story flow but almost all of it is true. I am always amazed by the bravery and ingenuity of the resistance fighters in the era and I love reading novels based on true stories!

4 stars

Interesting read, a different look at how German's resisted the Nazi party. Very different to the other historical fiction books I've read recently

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Ellie Midwood's heartbreaking THE GIRL ON THE PLATFORM.

There are a countless amount of books set within or around Germany during the rise and fall of Hitler and the second world war. Many are pure fiction whilst others are fictionalised accounts based on true events and people. Each of them are heartbreaking in their heartfelt recounting of life in Germany under Hitler's harsh regime or in the concentration camps such as Auschwitz. But THE GIRL ON THE PLATFORM is a little different in the fact that is based on the inspiring true story of one woman's refusal to live by the Nazi regime or to back down to them. Through her comes the story of a brave resistance fought to the bitter end as she lived up to her name - Libertas, a freedom fighter - for Germany's freedom.

She was just 19 years old when Libertas (Libs) moved to Berlin in search of freedom from her otherwise suffocating family. But what she finds there is a city under seige by the Nazis. A harsh regime that takes away freedom and liberties from those classified as sub-human - Jews, homosexuals, communists - and "deporting" or rehoming them to death camps or just killing them where they stand for the fun of it. Jewish books are burned, as are those who do not meet the Nazi propaganda requirements, shops are smashed and looted and innocent people disappear without a trace.

Libs gets a job working as a publicist for MGM studios, liaising with journalists and editors. She is horrified to see the stars and famous faces being pulled from the gallery and their nameplates removed only to be replaced with those supporting the new regime under which Germany now finds itself, simply for being or having Jewish ties. Libs believes in freedom but is quickly learning that in the new Germany there is no such thing.

Then whilst sunbathing on her friend's boat one day, wearing a two piece bathing suit made illegal under the new regime as it goes against the Nazi's personification of the good German woman, she meets Harro. Almost at once, the couple are dazzled by the other and begin an affair of sorts living a bohemian lifestyle, also frowned upon by the new regime. Libs know there is more to Harro than his dazzling smile and his blue eyes. The scars on his back, whipped by the SS, tell their own story. Harro is a resistance fighter. and together they will make Germany the people's again.

Working for the Air Ministry, Harro rises through the ranks, infiltrating Nazi secrets. He cringes each time he must laugh at their racist jokes and share in their combined thoughts unified to make Germany great again under the Nazi regime. His position is imperative to gain inside intel into government secrets which he can then move on through their resistance cell to stop Hitler's advance to power. Together, Harro and Libs smuggle classified documents and hold clandestine meetings with blackout curtains under the cover of darkness. And then, they begin to distribute leaflets exposing the Nazi's lies, sending them all over the city and beyond in the hope they will tear down the regime that now strangles their once beloved country.

But after nearly ten years of resistance fighting and three years at war, Libs begins to notice strange occurrences. The same man outside their apartment each night seemingly reading a newspaper, a click on their phone line, a prickling sensation that tells her they are being watched.

And then the unthinkable...Harro disappears. And Libs is frantic with worry trying to find out where he may be. Nothing else matters as long as she can see him again...and only then will they decide what is more important - to be free or to be brave?

THE GIRL ON THE PLATFORM is not what I expected, though I'm not sure what I did expect. After reading "The Girl in the Striped Dress" which I totally loved and bawled my way through, I guess I was expecting something similar, but this story is a different one. It is absorbing as you step into the past and live alongside Libs and Harro but I found it didn't engage me quite as much as "The Girl in the Striped Dress" . It is slow to start as Libs begins work with MGM and I wondered what the significance of that was, and in some parts I did find the story drag a little. However, that being said, it is still a heartbreaking story where its end is inevitable, though I didn't find myself reaching for the tissues as I have in other similar tales.

Overall, THE GIRL ON THE PLATFORM is an eye-opening account of life as a resistance fighter living under the radar of the Nazi regime with the threat of death should you be caught. It is most certainly not a life I would embrace but it is one that I admire. They stood up for the truth, for the people and for the good of the Germany they loved and weren't afraid of the consequences. It was most certainly brave and very admirable.

THE GIRL ON THE PLATFORM is perfect for fans of historical fiction who enjoy stories surrounding the Holocaust and wartime Germany and readers of Suzanne Kelman, Lily Graham and Marion Kummerow.

I would like to thank #EllieMidwood, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGirlOnThePlatform in exchange for an honest review.

Would you be willing to risk everything for freedom?

In 1933, Libertas is fresh out of boarding school and simply wanted to work. But in 1933, Germany…in order to obtain a job…Libertas had to join the Nazi party. At first, she was just grateful to have a job and didn’t realize just what was happening until Hitlers control. Then she befriends a journalist and little by little, her eyes are opened to the horrors unraveling on the streets of Berlin and beyond. Then she meets, falls in love and marries Harro. Together, they use their inside information to spread the word of the atrocities that threaten Germany’s freedom.

Based on a true story of Libertas, Harro and their efforts to stop the Nazi regime in its tracks….The Girl on the Platform introduces us to the unsung heroes of WWII. They’re bravery is incredible. My only issue with this story is that for me, as a fan of the author, it lacked the emotional connection to the characters that I’ve come to love from Midwood’s writing. It was very dry and it didn’t leave me on the edge of my seat. Having said that, I’m always grateful for the history lesson and the knowledge that I took with me when I closed the book.

Thank you NetGalley? Bookouture and Ellie Midwood for early access to this story. I look forward to the authors next story.

"Be brave. Don't run. Fight." Words that I kept hearing and seeing as I read.
" Bravery in the face of fear."
When Libby and Harro met ,he felt like he could trust her.
He was a resistance fighter who would do whatever he could to defy Hitler.
Libby and Harro were a strong, brave pair of resistance fighters and the story is based on their lives.
An incredible story with a devastating end, a story that needed to be told.
One I will not forget.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this heartbreaking story.

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.