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Fearless matriarch of resistance (most decorated woman of World War II, dies aged 98
The Australian ^ | 9th August 2011 | Graeme Leech

Posted on 08/08/2011 1:58:26 PM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: frenchresistance; godsgravesglyphs; nazis; whitemouse; ww2

1 posted on 08/08/2011 1:58:30 PM PDT by naturalman1975
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To: naturalman1975

they don’t make them like her anymore.


2 posted on 08/08/2011 2:08:49 PM PDT by RitchieAprile ("..unass that money!")
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To: All

Incredible stuff, thank you...


3 posted on 08/08/2011 2:09:20 PM PDT by Maverick68
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To: naturalman1975

There is a movie. “The White Mouse”.


4 posted on 08/08/2011 2:09:40 PM PDT by donhunt (I am sick and tired of those bastards insulting and lying to me.)
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To: naturalman1975

5 posted on 08/08/2011 2:10:45 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: naturalman1975

Excellent post, thanks.


6 posted on 08/08/2011 2:11:10 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: naturalman1975
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?
7 posted on 08/08/2011 2:11:25 PM PDT by truthguy (Good intentions are not enough.)
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To: naturalman1975
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.
8 posted on 08/08/2011 2:17:48 PM PDT by robowombat
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To: truthguy

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.


9 posted on 08/08/2011 2:18:29 PM PDT by coydog (Time to feed the pigs!)
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To: naturalman1975

Amazing woman!


10 posted on 08/08/2011 2:20:00 PM PDT by Krodg
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To: naturalman1975

Amazing woman!


11 posted on 08/08/2011 2:20:10 PM PDT by Krodg
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To: truthguy

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

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


12 posted on 08/08/2011 2:26:04 PM PDT by Frank_2001
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To: naturalman1975

thanks for this wonderful article


13 posted on 08/08/2011 2:28:05 PM PDT by wjcsux ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: naturalman1975

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


14 posted on 08/08/2011 3:39:43 PM PDT by Shannon
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 GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach
Note: this topic is from . Thanks naturalman1975.

Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.


15 posted on 08/08/2011 7:41:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Yes, as a matter of fact, it is that time again -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Frank_2001; truthguy
“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.

16 posted on 08/09/2011 11:35:22 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy (New gets old. Steampunk is always cool)
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