A very well-researched book by Sarah Rose about the women agents the British government sent to France (and to other European countries) during World War II to help setup, work with and support local Resistance groups and send vital information on the enemy back to Britain. While the story of the SOE (Secret Operations Executive) Office is likely well-known to those interested in WWII, it is probably less so in the US, especially the key roles the SOE agents played in the D-Day invasion. Sarah Rose takes the reader on the dangerous journey five of the female agents faced in enemy territory (about one-third of roughly 50 women agents did not return) and the hardships they endured both during the war and, for some survivors, adjusting back into society. The story is fast-paced, simply told and for a history enthusiast like myself, it added a new perspective about D-Day and events in France. I would recommend the book. A couple of comments outside of the book’s story. I personally did not care for title “D-Day Girls”, which to me, did not lend itself to the very serious story it is trying tell. For a fictional version of SOE activities (with some of the real personages from “D-Day Girls”), see Wilbur Smith’s “Courtney’s War” which was published last fall.

Men didn’t want women to serve in World War II, but they needed help. The British Special Operations Executive (SOE) trained women to write in invisible ink, pick locks and crack safes, mask their scent, build up a network, lose a follower, fight unarmed combat, and be an assassin, an arsonist, a train wrecker, key maker, forger, blackmailer, and stalker. The women had to be fluent in French because they were dropped inside German-occupied France.
Three women are followed in D-Day Girls. Two survived, one just barely, and the third was shoved alive in a cemetery oven. Their lives were horrendous. Strict rationing left little to eat. Interrogations by the Gestapo were brutal. Trust anyone was precarious. Many captured spies were easily convinced to betray their colleagues.
The writing is at times rude. Captain Jepson, who recruited the women, is described as a “sniveling man” with the look of being “eternally constipated.” The book starts out on the wrong foot with the outrageous claim that the experiences of these D-Day Girls is relevant today’s political situation in the US.
The accomplishments of Lise de Baissac, Andrée Borrel, and Odette Sansom required amazing courage and fortitude.

I knew something about England's SOE and its activities France during WWII because of the Maggie Hope novels, but the facts are better than any fiction could be. Rose's book tells the story of the brave folks, including many women, who worked behind enemy lines in France, aiding the Resistance and preparing the country for the Allied Invasion.

It's everything god history should be: a compelling story, nicely set out, mostly objective. You see all sides from Nazis to spies to the folks back in England struggling with the idea of women behind enemy lines.

Based lots of primary sources, it's a wonderful story, beautifully written, and very important to tell. It's one of the best books on the War I've ever read.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and Crown Publishing. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review.

D-Day Girls tells the extraordinary stories of three of the first female soldiers and spies that helped win WWII. Well researched and excellently written with wit and wisdom, this shows what we are capable of in the face of a true adversary.

Inevitably, these stories will probably become fodder for the #Resist movement that is currently fashionable. Here though, there was a true villian that needed to be fought, not just imaginary monsters in the collective consciousness.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading.

Good addition to the WWII histories. Strong and interesting characters and stories. Important coverage of women's role in the secret war to liberate France.

Bravo to Sarah Rose for bringing to the foreground the heroic a factual historical account of the WW ll contributions of three talented and brave women agents of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) who served in occupied France: Andrée Borrel, Odette Sansom and Lise de Baissac. This book has all the elements of a great thriller and the best part is that it is all true not historical fiction. The courageous clandestine acts of these women have been predominantly unrecognized both during and after WW ll. Those women accomplished great feats after only a very brief period of training due to wartime pressures. These women sacrificed everything towards defeating the Nazis. They accepted that the odds for their survival were slim. They have very little training due to wartime time constraints. Yet they were able to perform remarkable feats including: code breaking, blew up bridges, sabotaged the occupation etc.
Lately there has been a plethora of historical fiction novels centering on women's roles involved in Resistance movements. D-Day Girls is the perfect historical text to read in order to clarify the actual events and scenarios that occurred during the WW ll time period leading to D-Day. Sarah Rose does a great job in explaining the evolution of women's participation in the SOE and other Resistance. groups. This is a great companion book to be included in a reading list for WW ll history classes which include a unit on the resistance.

There have been several non-fiction books lately to revisit wars and tell the hidden stories of women’s contributions. The stories behind this narrative are interesting, but something is lost here in the telling. This narrative lacks some cohesion and the writing is very general and lacks the factual detail that draws me into non-fiction reads.

This book will sell well to general readers. It shouldn't. It's disorganized and messy, and both condescends to its readers and lacks essential information on its topic. Author Sarah Rose makes sweeping generalizations about France and its citizens during WWII; misstates historical facts; engages in inaccurate and sometimes offensive hyperbole; and has apparently done little research into the role of women in war, women in WWI, or the history of war in general. She refers to figures in the book by their first names, which diminishes them in contrast with the leaders: she gives Hitler his self-appointed titles, though. She characterizes figures in the book with no documentation to do so: is this person really "sniveling," was this one "no longer fecund" and why do those things matter? She uses outdated and unacceptable ethnic terms--"gypsy" comes to mind--and uses other inappropriate or incorrect words that an editor should have caught ("snarked," "fulsome," others). I'd like to read a good book on the work of women--who, no matter how young, were not "girls"--in the French Resistance in France during the war, but this definitely isn't it.

While most books about World War II focus on military maneuvers or the Holocaust, there have lately been more books and novels about women and their contributions during that time period. The D-Day Girls focuses on the women of the Special Operations Executive, which was a spy agency. 39 women served, half were caught, and 1/3 did not make it home alive. One nice aspect of this book is the use of declassified files to help tell the story of Odette Sansom, Lise de Baissac, and Andree Borrel. If you are looking for a real life action book, this should be your next pick.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.

A book of fact and fiction of the role played by the women of the SOE, Those women sacrificed their lives for France but received very little recognition from France or the English government who enlisted them. They are part of the tragedy of war. After all the decades since their stories are finally being told.

I loved this! Usually when it comes to WW2, we hear about the scientists, the atomic bombs, the Holocaust, and Anne Frank. Of course, these are all learned about for <i>very</i> good reasons. We never really hear much about women in WW2, except for women taking over many manual labor jobs back at home, giving a charge to those far away. I loved this being non-fiction. It was nice to be able to read stories about some women who were able to have some kind of impact during those years. Whether it was diaries, oral stories, or old medical documents, I felt interested in the stories of these women, and it never once felt boring. This is a WW2 book that I think people should check out sometime, as it does give a new perspective in what can go on behind the scenes at home.