Violette Szabo GC (1921-1945)
Silk escape map used by SOE agents. NAM 1985-06-171-1
‘She was the bravest of us all.’ - Odette Churchill
In 1946 Tania Szabo, aged four, received the George Cross (GC) from King George VI on behalf of her mother Violette.
Violette Szabo was one of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) members who gave their lives helping to liberate France during the Second World War (1939-1945). Born of a French mother and an English father in 1921, Violette grew up in London. Following the death of her French husband at the Battle of El Alamein in 1942, Violette joined the Auxillary Territorial Service (ATS).
SOE silenced pistol. NAM 1996-08-226
Her French background made her an ideal recruit for SOE’s French Section and she was enlisted into the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) as cover. SOE’s mission was sabotage and subversion behind enemy lines. This included blowing up trains, bridges and factories alongside fostering revolt and guerrilla warfare. SOE agents also used silk maps, like the example shown, that could easily be concealed. Violette was parachuted into occupied France with her suitcase radio transmitter and forged papers. The life expectancy of SOE wireless operators in France was only six weeks. During the Normandy landings in June 1944 she assisted the French Resistance in sabotaging German lines of communication. This included delaying the deployment of the 2nd SS Panzer Division ‘Das Reich’. Had this elite force reached Normandy prior to the Allied breakout it would have wreaked havoc.
Violette was captured on 10 June 1944. Following her interrogation and torture she was sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp where she was executed on 5 February 1945. The French government awarded Violette the Croix de Guerre.
