Nancy Wake: The gripping true story of the woman who became the Gestapo's most wanted spy Kindle Edition

Recent years have seen a flood of new books belatedly highlighting the role of women in espionage in World War II. Despite rampant sexism and misogyny, women did indeed fill vital roles as spies and analysts in intelligence-gathering as well as partisan activities behind enemy lines. And few women played as prominent a part as a phenomenal Australian woman named Nancy Wake (1912-2011). Her exploits in France during the war have been the subject of at least five books as well as a feature film and a TV series. The best of the books, I’ve found, is Peter FitzSimmons‘ Nancy Wake, which appeared in 2011, the year of her death at the age of 98.An “assisted autobiography”FitzSimmons’ book might be characterized as an assisted autobiography. It’s based in large measure on the author’s interviews with Nancy Wake, and the copyright was registered in both their names. The book appears to be a much updated version of his own biography of Wake that had been published a decade earlier. There are frequent quotes from his interviews with her.But Fitzsimmons clearly didn’t rely only on Nancy Wake’s own war stories. He’s obviously done his homework as well, drawing on many other sources, as you might expect of one of Australia’s most accomplished journalists. A clear picture emerges of a woman who was, to use a phrase in common use today, a piece of work. She was tough—she killed one German soldier with a karate chop—prickly, profane, disdainful of fools, and at times very, very funny. She was also a hard drinker who could (and did) drink the partisans she led under the table. An SOE officer she worked with in France told the author, “I had never seen anyone drink like that ever, and I don’t think the Maquis had either. . . In my long life, it remains one of the most extraordinary things I have seen.”Although Wake married a French millionaire and adroitly played the part of a society lady, she comes across as having been more comfortable shooting Nazis and blowing up trains and bridges than trading bon mots at cocktail parties.This female WWII spy led thousands against the NazisWake’s career as a spy began when she enlisted as a courier for the nascent French Resistance in Marseille in 1940. Over the months, her stature in the underground network grew, and her role evolved from courier to organizer. She engineered several diabolically clever and daring escapes from both French and Nazi prisons. She was known to the Maquis as “Madame Andrée,” but the Gestapo came to call her “the White Mouse” because she kept eluding their traps. She adopted the moniker as the title of her autobiography four decades later. Ultimately, Wake was responsible at least in part for moving more than a thousand downed Allied pilots, Jewish fugitives, hunted partisans, and other refugees to safety across the border in Spain.When Wake’s Marseille-based network was betrayed by a Gestapo spy, she fled to Spain herself—on the seventh attempt, and only after six months of trying—and subsequently by ship on to England. There, she attempted in vain to join General Charles de Gaulle‘s Free French. When the French declined to allow her into their ranks, she connected with Britain’s new Special Operations Executive (SOE).The most decorated heroine of WWIIFollowing months of intensive training to prepare her for combat, Wake parachuted into the mountains of central France to equip and lead a force of Maquis partisans that grew to thousands as the Allied invasion of Normandy grew near. FitzSimmons describes her as “the most decorated heroine of the Second World War” and one of the most decorated combatants of either gender, and that may well have been the case. She certainly received a lot of medals over the years—from France, the UK, the USA, and, eventually, from Australia as well. Nancy Wake was, undoubtedly, one of the most extraordinary female spies of World War II.A British officer reported to the London Telegraph in 1945, “The greatest and most sincere compliment I ever heard paid to anyone came from one of the partisans. After a skirmish with the Germans this man came to me and said: ‘Madame Andrée has more guts than Jacques, and he’s the bravest of us all.'”

I found this book especially interesting for the descriptions of the French Maquis during WW II.The writing style struck me as overly breezy and cheeky at the beginning but either I got used to it or it simmered down.This biography tells the story of a woman who found her life's greatest fulfillment in actively fighting against the Nazis occupying France.Men and women like her saved civilization in the 1940's. An issue raised in the book, about what peacetime occupations are suitable for heroic figures like this, is interesting to consider.Nancy Wake is worth knowing about. I don't enjoy the writing as much as her story.

Nancy Wake is one of those people who are destined for greatness despite the odds. Having a difficult childhood after her father abandoned the family and her mother became emotionally unstable, she had to figure out how to get on with her life and that self-education served her well for the things that would happen in the world shortly thereafter. This book describes her incredible journey (based on interviews with her many years after the fact) of how she became a force behind the French Resistance during WW2, a force which helped win the war by destabilizing the German armies in France and allowing the Allies to finish them off. This narrative goes into great detail about how that was achieved and I was fascinated having never read a detailed account of how they were able to conduct radio transmissions to London to request arms and ammo and supplies. These items were dropped in various locations on a regular basis allowing the French time to organize and grow to become a major force in destabilizing the Germans. Their techniques are described very well by the author in such a way that the reader feels they are right there with them as they plan their next attack. Nancy’s role was key to helping this band of brothers to turn the tide of the war. She was regarded and treated like a regular officer, having gained the respect of the resistance group by proving she could get things done in the best and quickest way possible. Her bravery in the face of frequent death-defying moments is just unbelievable - this review can not do it justice! Well written, well-researched and well-delivered. You will gain an insight into the French resistance movement that you’ e probably never read before. Great book and story!

I’ve read lots of WW2 related books, but only recently did I become aware of Nancy Wake. There are several books about Nancy Wake’s life and WW2 exploits so picking one to read was a roll-of-the-dice. I picked Nancy Wake’s biography by Peter FitzSimons and it was a good choice. The biography is very well written. It was a fast and enjoyable read.Nancy Wake’s recounting of her experience in Europe during the rise of Nazism reminded me of the Humphrey Bogart movie “Casablanca” with everyone in fear, despair, and hopelessness as civilization crumbles around them.There are people in life that you wished you had a chance to meet - Nancy Wake is one such person for me. Her accomplishments as a Special Operations officer is simply astonishing. If there had not been others who witnessed her wartime accomplishments, you would think that what she did was overblown or exaggerated. The many awards she received after WW2 is a testament to her accomplishments.While reading Nancy Wake’s biography, I was reminded that reading biographies of people who accomplish good deeds or perform extraordinary feats will always make your life better. Reading books about evil people won’t. Reading about Nancy Wake made me feel good that there are people out there like Nancy Wake who are willing to risk their own lives and endure hardship to protect others against evil and violence. Nancy Wake was a real life "Wonder Woman."

I couldn’t put this down. In fact it kept me awake at night as it was so exciting! The author wrote this with such passion and enthusiasm. The whole realisation of what risks Nancy took is breath taking.

I cannot recommend this book too highly. I read an old battered copy many years ago, bought my own and then lost it. So now I have the Kindle version. Nancy Wake was an amazing person. When you consider how old she was when she worked for SOE it is almost too hard to comprehend. She was known as the White Mouse by the Gestapo. I hope, like me, you will find this book a wonderful read and be grateful that Nancy Wake thought of others and not of herself.

Nancy Wake - extraordinarily heroic during WWII - and in her later years exposing some ugly right-wing traits. Only 2 stars because FitzSimmons' mediocre writing is engulfed in stuffy, archaic cliches that belong to flag-waving geriatrics. Puzzled that he's such a celebrated author.

This book should be included in the national curriculum. This amazing lady, and many others like her in the SOE, are true inspiration to others and there are many things that this lady could teach the current generations.

Travelling in the part of the world the book covers and researching WW2 at the time Iread it brought the time to life and the fact that it is a true experience with no holds barred was refreshing.