[UKRAINIAN DP] Ravensbruck: naibil'shyi zhinochyi kontsentratsiinyi tabir u Nimechchyni [Ravensbruck: The Largest Women's Concentration Camp in Germany]

[Munich]: [Association of Ukrainian Political Prisoners], [ca. 1947]. Vityk-Voitovych, Olena, illustrator. A copy showing signs of spotting, wear and light chipping along the spine. Item #1237

The album, measuring 12 × 18 cm, consists of 10 vividly illustrated color plates, each accompanied by captions in Ukrainian. This copy shows noticeable wear, including frayed edges and creases on the cover. An organizational stamp appears on several pages, and the pagination is handwritten. The number "91" is stamped consistently on the cover and throughout the booklet. There is no significant damage to the colored illustrations or text. Overall, the booklet is in fair condition

Commissioned by the Ukrainian League of Political Prisoners in Munich, founded in 1947, this rare work was likely published the same year with the specific goal of raising funds for Ukrainian survivors and displaced persons. Created by Olena Vityk-Voitovych, herself a survivor of the Ravensbrück concentration camp, the album offers a poignant and visually powerful collection of ten color illustrations, each portraying scenes from life in the largest women’s concentration camp during World War II. These images, accompanied by Ukrainian captions, provide a vivid and emotional account of the daily struggles and experiences of Ukrainian women imprisoned there.

Vityk-Voitovych’s illustrations are more than artistic expressions; they serve as historical testimony to the resilience of women who faced unimaginable hardships during the war. Through her work, this album stands as an important document of resistance, survival, and memory, offering insight into a tragic yet significant chapter in both Ukrainian and global history. It is not only a depiction of the women’s suffering but also a tribute to their enduring spirit.

The Ukrainian League of Political Prisoners, formed in Munich in the aftermath of the war, had the critical mission of supporting former political prisoners and the families of those who had died. It also sought to publish and preserve literary and artistic works related to the experiences of Ukrainian political prisoners, whether living or deceased. Through projects like this album, the League played a key role in ensuring that the stories of these individuals were neither forgotten nor erased from history.

The rarity of this publication is underscored by its limited circulation and historical significance. A recent sale in the United States fetched $1,750, and another copy is currently listed for $3,500.

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