Mission Europe : The Secret History of the Women of SOE.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vigurs, Kate.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (370 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Haven : Yale University Press, 2025.

Summary:

The remarkable history of the women who worked for Special Operations Executive across occupied Europe In the wake of the Nazi invasion of Europe, the tentative sparks of resistance in occupied countries were fanned by Britain’s Special Operations Executive. Across the continent, SOE recruited women to “set Europe ablaze.” Working as secret agents and saboteurs, these individuals bolstered resistance from within and provided much needed support and weapons. F Section’s actions in France are renowned, and today some operatives have become household names. But what happened to the women who worked outside France and those who were locally recruited? In this gripping account, Kate Vigurs tells the stories of the lesser-known women who worked across Europe, from the Netherlands to Belgium and Poland to Denmark. She explores too the lives of Jewish agents recruited in Mandate Palestine for missions in Eastern Europe. These are stories of trial and error, escape and even execution. Mission Europe examines why women were recruited, analysing their successes and contributions—and celebrates the ordinary women who did extraordinary things.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

ABBREVIATIONS

PROLOGUE

1 MISSION POLSKA

2 THE UPRISINGS

3 MISSION FRANÇAISE

4 NACHT UND NEBEL

5 MISSION BELGIQUE

6 MISSION NEDERLANDS

7 BEYOND ‘ENGLANDSPIEL’

8 MISSION DANSKA

9 ESCAPE AND EVASION

10 MISSION PALMACH

11 DEATH BE NOT PROUD

EPILOGUE

ENDNOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INDEX OF TRAINING SCHOOLS

GENERAL INDEX

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9780300283785

0300283784

OCLC:

1513534419