Fearless matriarch of resistance (most decorated woman of World War II, dies aged 98

The Australian ^ | 9th August 2011 | Graeme Leech

[naturalman1975]

THE most decorated woman of World War II, Nancy Wake had a five-million-franc price put on her head by the feared German secret police, the Gestapo, for helping the French Resistance. Branded the White Mouse by her hunters, she became the most wanted resistance fighter in France.

.....

By 1940, Wake was running messages and smuggling food for the French resistance, the Maquis. She branched out into helping downed Allied airmen escape capture and returning them to Britain. It has been estimated that she helped more than 1000 airmen escape.

.....

But in 1943, Gestapo agents were closing in. One day, she took flight. Wake told her husband she was going shopping and would soon return. They never saw each other again.

It took several attempts to cross the Pyrenees into Spain and on one occasion she was held and interrogated by the Vichy French collaborators of the German occupiers. She eventually reached Britain where she persuaded the Special Operations Executive to train her as a spy.

.....

Wake helped recruit an additional 3000 fighters to build a force of about 7000. She led groups of these fighters on guerilla attacks against German troops, installations and equipment.

.....

Wake was leading a force of more than 7000, a highly motivated army that was making life decidedly uncomfortable for about 22,000 German storm-troopers stationed in the Auvergne. In June 1944, the Germans attacked the resistance stronghold with the help of artillery and aircraft. At the end, about 1400 German soldiers lay dead; the resistance lost about 100.

During a later attack on an arms factory, Wake killed a sentry with a karate chop to the neck.

[naturalman1975]

[RitchieAprile]

they don’t make them like her anymore.

[Maverick68]

Incredible stuff, thank you...

[donhunt]

There is a movie. “The White Mouse”.

[rawhide]

[Tijeras_Slim]

Excellent post, thanks.

[truthguy]

Now there's a Hollywood movie waiting to be made if they could find a movie maker with enough talent to do it. They would also need a good screenplay which is really difficult to find nowadays owing to the lack of talent in Hollywood. And what actress has what it takes to play Wake?

Okay, Spielberg have at it. You were okay with the fictional Private Ryan. Why not the real thing with Wake?

[robowombat]

The casualty figures cited are pure fiction. What was significant was that most of the partisans got off their plateau with their weapons and met up at pre arranged rendezvous points. That shows real discipline for an irregular force.

[coydog]

If done right, there would be enough action to keep the guys interested, and enough romance and period atmosphere for the girls. It could be a winner.

[Krodg]

Amazing woman!

[Krodg]

Amazing woman!

[Frank_2001]

“And what actress has what it takes to play Wake? “

Well, Angelina Jolie has been the go-to gal for action movies...;)

[wjcsux]

thanks for this wonderful article

[Shannon]

Super article. Worth the read. RIP, great lady.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Oztrich Boy]

“And what actress has what it takes to play Wake? “

Well, Angelina Jolie has been the go-to gal for action movies...;)

Always with the typecasting. It's called acting. The last actress to do the role credit (in a mid 80s TV miniseries) was a childrens TV presenter.

Noni Hazelhurst was a few inches shorter, but in appearance, she and Nancy could have been mother and daughter

Angelina may have the height right, but for the role today, I'd have Gigi Edgley (Nancy's exact 1944 age height 32 5'7") dye her hair.