Odette: World War Two's Darling SpyOdette Brailly entered the nation's consciousness in the 1950s when her remarkable - and romantic - exploits as an SOE agent first came to light. She had been the first woman to be awarded the GC, as well as the Legion d'Honneur, and in 1950 the release of a film about her life made her the darling of the British popular press. But others openly questioned Odette's personal and professional integrity, even claiming that she had a clandestine affair with her supervisor Capt. Peter Churchill, with whom she had worked undercover in France. Soon she became as controversial as she was celebrated. In the first full biography of this incredible woman for nearly sixty years, historian Penny Starn delves into recently opened SOE personnel files to reveal the true story of this wartime heroine and the officer who posed as her husband. From her life as a French housewife living in Britain and her work undercover with the French Resistance, to her arrest, torture and unlikely survival in Ravensbruck concentration camp, Starns reveals for the first time the truth of Odette's mission and the heart-breaking identity of her real betrayer. |
Contents
Baker Street Specials | |
Becoming a | |
Operation Clothier | |
Cannes and the Spindle Network | |
Ravensbrück | |
Liberty 13 Counting the Cost | |
Darling of the Press | |
SOE Undermined | |
Fallen Heroine | |
The Ward Vendetta | |
The Official Line | |
The Apology | |
Marseille | |
Radio Days | |
Betrayal | |
Interrogations | |
Reflections | |
Awarding of the George Cross | |
Recommendation for | |
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Common terms and phrases
accused aircraft Allied American Annecy April Archive Treasury Files Arnaud arrested Brailly Britain British Buckmaster bunker Cammaerts Cannes Captain Peter Churchill captured cell Chaillan claimed commanding officer comrades concentration camp Dame Irene Ward documents dropping enemy fact field film Foot Foot’s France Francis Cammaerts French Resistance French Section Fresnes Fresnes prison George Cross German German forces Gestapo Henri heroine Ibid Imperial War Museum intelligence interrogation interview with Odette invade Irene Ward knew letter London M.R.D. Foot Marsac Marseille messages military Nazi November Odette Hallowes Odette recalled Odette Sansom Odette’s official history operations oral history interview organisation parachute Paris political postwar prisoners radio Raoul Ravensbrück recruits Resistance groups sabotage Selwyn Jepson SOE agents SOE officials SOE personnel files SS guards St Jorioz story Suhren things told torture undercover Vera Atkins Violette Szabo wanted Ward’s woman women