WOMEN SPIES

Some of the most daring spies of World War II were women. Female spies were some times dropped by parachute into occupied Europe. They went as part of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), set up by the British government in 1940. By disguising themselves as peasant women, the spies would not attract suspicion and were often able to observe enemy operations and send home vital information. But they faced serious risks.

World War II spy and heroine of the French Resistance Odette Sansom (1912–1995). She returned to her home in Hampshire after the war.

ODETTE SANSOM

Odette Brailly was born in France and moved to England when she married Roy Sansom. Odette became an SOE agent and went to France in 1942 as a radio operator. In 1943, she was caught and tortured by the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police), who pulled out all her toenails to make her talk. She refused to give them any information and was condemned to death and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Remarkably, she survived, and after the war, she was awarded the George Cross for bravery.

VIOLETTE SZABO

Violette Bushell was born to a French mother and English father and grew up in London. She married a soldier, Etienne Szabo, who was killed in battle in 1941. This prompted her to join the SOE. She was parachuted into France in 1944 and led a French Resistance group on secret raids sabotaging bridges. She sent back radio reports giving the locations of armament factories, which the Allies could bomb. She was eventually caught and tortured by the Gestapo. Violette was executed by firing squad. After her death, she was awarded the George Cross.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Shortly after Violette Szabo’s execution, a London newspaper described how she tried to avoid capture:

… She was surrounded by the Gestapo in a house in the south west of France. Resistance appeared hopeless but Madame Szabo, seizing a Sten-gun and as much ammunition as she could carry, barricaded herself in part of the house and, exchanging shot for shot with the enemy, killed or wounded several of them. By constant movement, she avoided being cornered and fought until she dropped exhausted.

Violette Szabo was just 23 years old when she was executed. Her four-year-old daughter was presented with Violette’s George Cross medal in 1946.

NOOR INAYAT KHAN

Noor Inayat Khan was a British SOE agent of Indian descent. She was the first female radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France. Noor was betrayed by a Frenchwoman and arrested. Because she kept copies of her secret signals, the Germans were able to use Noor’s radio to trick London into sending new agents—into the hands of the waiting Gestapo. Noor refused to reveal information under torture and was shot. She was awarded the George Cross.