Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS

by Lisa Rogak

The incredible untold story of four women who helped win WWII by generating a wave of black propaganda.

Betty MacDonald was a 28-year-old reporter from Hawaii. Zuzka Lauwers grew up in a tiny Czechoslovakian village and knew five languages by the time she was 21. Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of a naval attaché living in Tokyo. Marlene Dietrich, the German-American actress and singer, was of course one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. These four women, each fascinating in her own right, together contributed to one of the most covert and successful military campaigns in WWII.

As members of the OSS, their task was to create a secret brand of propaganda produced with the sole aim to break the morale of Axis soldiers. Working in the European theater, across enemy lines in occupied China, and in Washington, D.C., Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene forged letters and “official” military orders, wrote and produced entire newspapers, scripted radio broadcasts and songs, and even developed rumors for undercover spies and double agents to spread to the enemy. And outside of a small group of spies, no one knew they existed. Until now.

In Propaganda Girls, bestselling author Lisa Rogak brings to vivid life the incredible true story of four unsung heroes, whose spellbinding achievements would change the course of history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II, Audiobook, Biography, Feminism, War

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2025

About the author

My new book Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS will be published on March 4, 2025.

Lisa Rogak is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 40 books, which have been published in more than two dozen languages. Her books Barack Obama: In His Own Words, and Angry Optimist: The Life & Times of Jon Stewart, hit the New York Times bestseller lists. Haunted Heart: The Life & Times of Stephen King was nominated for both the Edgar and Anthony Awards.

Her books have been reviewed and otherwise mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and hundreds of other publications. She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show as the featured guest in a show about small towns to promote her book, Moving to the Country Once and For All.

She lives in New Hampshire and is currently at work on a memoir.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, meticulously researched, informative WWII non-fiction book. It is told from the point of view of four distinct women who served in the OSS during WWII. I was thoroughly immersed in their fascinating stories, and look forward to learning more about these incredible, brave, intelligent and heroic women. The author's acknowledgement, bibliography, and footnotes are enlightening and are truly appreciated. Many thanks to Ms. Rogak, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this engrossing book. This is my honest opinion.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Propaganda Girls, by Lisa Rogak, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Zuzka Lauwers, Marlene Dietrich, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Betty MacDonald, conspired together to break the morale of Axis soldiers. These amazing ladies did so much for the war effort, unrecognized until now. This was a very interesting read.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book description: .The incredible untold story of four women who spun the web of deception that helped win World War II.

The four women in question, Betty Macdonald, Zuzka Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich. The four women worked for the OSS( Office of Strategic Services) and created propaganda that was aimed at shaking the morale of Axis soldiers.

What I Thought:

Well researched. split into four sections, chapters alternating between Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene made it easy to become familiar with each woman. I appreciated so much that, instead of resorting to " this is what she thought," the author, Lisa Rogak, would write "according to____" which just made me like this book even more.

World War II stories continue to flood our book publishing world because let's face it, there are still so many more stories to be revealed and/or further explored. If readers are interested in this topic of history, you will certainly enjoy it. If you're looking for a good Women's History Month read, I do recommend this one.




Publication Date 04/03/25
Goodreads Review 04/03/25

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty MacDonald, Jane Smith Hutton, and Zurka Lauwers are not names you will have encountered before. Marlene Dietrich, you likely know. These women all worked for the Morale Operations [MO] branch of the Office of Strategic Services [OSS] during WWII. They were intrepid, creative, and patriotic. You won’t forget them after reading this book.

These women found the challenges they longed for in the OSS. They faced discrimination, not garnering the rank and salary they deserved, even when out performing the men. After the war, they floundered, longing for the challenges and satisfaction of their OSS work.

Betty observed first-hand the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. She was proficient in Japanese as she and her husband hoped to become foreign correspondents.

Zuzka was Czechoslovakian with a Jewish Father.She was fluent in multiple languages and had studied in Paris. She married an American, and while he was at war worked in the Czech embassy.

Jane was held captive by the Japanese inside the US embassy. She became involved with helping Jews escape Germany.

Marlene was revered in Germany–until she became a US citizen. Her career as a violinist and singer and actress didn’t challenge her, but she loved being a OSS Secret Intelligence translator.

All four women were recruited into the MO creating propaganda to demoralize enemy troops. The creative ideas they came up with are amazing. Their subversive rumors undermined enemy soldiers’ confidence. They disseminated ‘fake news’ that the enemy soldier’s governments were encouraging women to become pregnant so the men would worry about what was going on back home. Marlene recorded songs with changed lyrics to depress the soldier’s mood.

I sped through this short book, entertained and enlightened, and will recommend it to our book club.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lisa Rogak is a writer who specializes in writing biographies of well-known figures. In her 2025 book Propaganda Girls, Rogak profiles four women who worked with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) across various war theaters during World War II - one well-known figure (German-born American actress Marlene Dietrich) and three lesser-known figures (reporter Betty McDonald, naval wife Jane Smith-Hutton, and Czech lawyer Zuzka Lauwers). All four women were engaged to some extent in black propaganda, intended to lower the morale of German, Italian, and Japanese troops and turn them against their countries, or at least induce surrender.

This was an interesting book, and I can see why Rogak chose the four women that she did, as each represented a different focus of black propaganda. I did note many instances of my nonfiction pet peeve of speculating about what characters were likely thinking and feeling at a given time -- though I listened to the audiobook version which, as is standard for audiobooks, doesn't include citations, so I'm unsure which primary and secondary sources the author used.

Further reading: black propaganda and similar stories of World War II:
How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler by Peter Pomerantsev (about Sefton Delmar) | my review, which also links several other books on this topic
Our Man in Tokyo: An American Ambassador and the Countdown to Pearl Harbor by Steve Kemper

My statistics:
Book 125 for 2025
Book 2051 cumulatively

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROPAGANDA GIRLS

A really fascinating look at the lives of four women during WWII and their efforts to develop war propaganda. All four were members of the OSS, the precursor to the CIA. Like most programs developed by Bill Donovan, the Morale Operations department focused on unconventional methods of warfare. This book takes an in-depth look at each of these women, before, during, and after the war. Each brought a unique set of skills, abilities, and connections that contributed to the success of their contributions to the war effort.

Elizabeth “Betty” MacDonald was a journalist living in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Božena Lauwers “Zuzka/Barbara” was lawyer of Czechoslovakian descent. Jane Hutton-Smith was the wife of a naval attaché living in the American embassy in Tokyo. German born Marlene Dietrich was a famous singer and actress. All were intelligent, hard working, and dedicated to securing an Allied victory. Several were multilingual and knowledgeable of the culture in the locations where they served, including Germany, China and India.

It was fascinating to learn of the creative ways that each woman developed their war propaganda, from writing demoralizing pamphlets, degrading cartoons, newspaper reports, and revisions to operating procedures, to changing the words to popular songs and newscasts. Special programs like The League of Lonely Women, The Yoke of Shame, and the MUZAK Project all focused on demoralizing and confusing the enemy. These efforts worked to cause the enemies to worry about what was going on back home with loved ones, and to convince them that for them the war was already lost. Working with the USO providing entertainment, and prisoner interrogation and recruitment for special operations, were also used to give an advantage to the Allies.

It was very interesting to read these women’s perspectives of the war from the propaganda angle, the inside scoop. How they managed their personal lives and careers after the end of the war was fascinating, utilizing many of the skills they had learned in future endeavors. Although at times it was a little difficult to differentiate the women, the overall message of what they accomplished was worth the challenge. Extensive bibliography and notes, well researched.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Lisa Rogak, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Kristen Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 3.0
An OK introduction to the world of women during WWII, but not the deep-dive I was hoping for.

Engagement: 2.5
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked that Rogak selected four women with vastly different backgrounds and experience, but the stories themselves were surface level only and didn't provide the detail i was hoping for. At 240 pages, each woman received roughly 60 pages to describe their early life, wartime activities and their post-war doings, not nearly enough to fully understand and immerse yourself into their lives or experiences. As a primer for the topic, its a good first book, but if you are looking for a deep dive into the topic of female service during WWII I suggest you look elsewhere.

Storyline: 3.5
This book tells the story of 4 women's contribution to Allied cause during World War II. We learn the stories of Jane Smith-Hutton, Betty MacDonald, Zuzka Lauwers, and Marlene Dietrich before, during, and after the war. The book is separated into these three sections; pre-war, during, and post-war, giving each woman their own chapter in each in order to fully understand where they each came from and their motivations for helping in the war effort.
Readability: 3.0
As an audiobook this was a solid OK. The narration was clear and easy to listen too, but the story was dry and droned on at times and I found my mind wandering sometimes, especially early in the book when discussing the early lives of the women. Anyone with a middle school or higher education should have no problems reading or listening to the book with regarding to language or historical context, but I wouldn't operate heavy machinery if listening to it as it may put you to sleep.

[Nancy Yager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lisa Rogak’s Propaganda Girls – The Secret War of the Women in the OSS introduces readers to an overlooked chapter of World War II history, shining a light on the contributions of four women—Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene—who served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and its Morale Operations branch (MO). Through their stories, Rogak unpacks key themes surrounding gender inequality, manipulation, and the complexities of patriotism in wartime.

Themes and Messages from the author

One recurring theme throughout the book is the blatant gender inequality faced by women during World War II. While men in the military and intelligence received higher wages and frequent promotions, women were relegated to supporting roles despite their hard work and critical contributions. This stark disparity is evident through the lives of Rogak’s four main characters Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene, who all felt, despite playing pivotal roles in propaganda campaigns, they were not given the recognition or opportunities they deserved.

Another key theme centers on the ethics of manipulation and deceit in warfare. The women in the OSS's MO branch were tasked with fabricating rumors and spreading propaganda to weaken the morale of Axis forces. Rogak subtly explores the moral ambiguity of these actions, asking the reader to consider whether lies are justifiable in the context of war. She even explores the guilt associated with knowing their plans could result in the deaths of the players involved.

Interestingly, the women are portrayed as highly qualified and educated yet bored by the constrained roles offered to them. The book suggests that much of their dissatisfaction with the men in their lives—a dynamic that often left them feeling misunderstood, underappreciated and a longing to be free. However, their defiance and resilience speak volumes about the lengths women had to go to assert their ambitions in this time period.

An Overview of the Key Women

The narrative focuses on four women—Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene—offering glimpses into their wartime work. Each contributed to the OSS and MO’s mission to wield propaganda as a weapon. However, one glaring flaw in the writing is the lack of individuality among these women.

Their personalities blur together, making it difficult to distinguish their distinct voices or motivations. While their contributions were undeniably significant, they all come across as sharing similar frustrations and ambitions, which limits the richness of their characterization.

• Betty is introduced as a sharp, determined operative who excels in crafting demoralizing rumors aimed at Axis soldiers.
• Zuzka, carrying a unique European perspective, brings insight into cultural nuances of enemy nations, demonstrating a knack for psychological warfare.
• Jane focuses on creating false materials—anything from counterfeit enemy documents to deceptive broadcasts.
• Marlene is portrayed as an actor and entertainer. Through her entertainment platform, she bravely spreads false propaganda.

The roles they played were groundbreaking, but certain gaps in the narrative leave unanswered questions. For example, some of the women were mothers, yet the book skips over details about their children—what happened to them while their mothers were overseas? Such omissions prevent readers from fully understanding the larger sacrifices these women made for their country.

Strengths and Weaknesses

For history enthusiasts and feminists, the book rattles long-held assumptions about women’s limited involvement in military and intelligence work. The operations described—fabricating rumors, creating disinformation campaigns—demonstrate the strategic minds of the women working behind the scenes to influence the war’s outcome.

However, Propaganda Girls is not without its flaws. For one, the narrative tone sometimes veers into hyperbole, as it seems to imply the women could have single-handedly won the war, had the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki not occurred. This exaggeration detracts from the credibility of their extraordinary achievements.

Additionally, Rogak’s portrayal of the women lacks nuance. Each character’s story feels eerily similar to the other, with limited exploration of their individuality beyond their shared frustrations with male authority. This omission makes it hard to empathize fully with their experiences or see them as multi-dimensional figures. For readers expecting a character-driven narrative, this could feel underwhelming.

Finally, as someone who began the book expecting historical fiction, it’s necessary to mention that this is firmly a work of nonfiction. While it is well-researched, the lack of narrative artistry often associated with historical fiction may make the reading experience feel a bit dry to those unfamiliar with nonfiction writing styles.

Final Thoughts

Although Rogak’s Propaganda Girls has its shortcomings, it is ultimately a worthwhile read for those fascinated by World War II history and the evolving roles of women in military and intelligence. The book offers an important reminder of how often women's contributions in wartime are overlooked, making it an essential piece for history buffs and feminists alike.

For those who can look past its flaws—instilling individuality in these women and avoiding overstatement—the book offers an engaging exploration of the groundbreaking efforts of women in propaganda warfare. With better research on personal details and a more balanced tone, the book could have been much stronger. However, it still fulfills its mission of giving overdue recognition to unsung female heroes of World War II.

If you’re interested in the untold stories of women defying the odds and reshaping wartime strategies, this book is a good choice to add to your reading shelf.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are own.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel had me engaged the whole time.

The nostalgic time with women from Hollywood and a piece of history almost forgotten.

I learned a lot about Marlene Dietrich, which I knew from the movies, but her time during the war was difficult with what was happening with the Nazis, and she made decisions that were difficult at that time. We follow several ladies, Betty, Zuzka, Jane and Marlene. These four women made their own impact during the war which sadly could not be recognized.

I will be looking for more of Rogak’s work.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant true-life tale for fans of WWII stories. Features four women--the famous actress Marlene Dietrich, reporter Betty MacDonald from Hawaii, Zuzka Lauwers from Czechoslovakia, and Jane Smith-Hutton (spouse of a naval attaché based in Tokyo)--who helped pull off a highly successful secret propaganda campaign that contributed to the Allies winning the war. Unputdownable!

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Mar. 4, 2025

Betty, Zuzka, Jane and Marlene (as in Dietrich) were four very different woman living in different parts of the world who had a very important thing in common- they were all members of the O.S.S. who contributed to the creation of propaganda that helped Allied soldiers during World War Two. All four woman created pamphlets, delivered radio broadcasts and wrote and contributed to news stories, mostly fabricated, in order to break the morale of enemy soldiers. Although very talented in their own ways, they were overlooked for promotions and pay raises, due to their gender, and found themselves floundering to find their place when the war was over.

Non-fiction writer Lisa Rogak’s “Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS” is a clever examination of four very inspiring women who did not settle for the lot they had been given and instead chose to seek out adventure and danger in foreign countries, all with the aim of helping the United States and its Allies.

With the many stories, fiction and non-fiction both, that feature women in World War Two at the forefront, it was refreshing to read Rogak’s clever iteration. “Girls” alternates so that the reader learns about each female in turn, from their upbringing to their experiences in the U.S Army, their lives after the War and their partners and children. It was fascinating to learn about the “Girls” as women first and war heroes second.

“Girls” is a historical glimpse of female camaraderie and the powerful changes that can happen as a result. The four women in the story rarely crossed paths, being from separate parts of the world and often working in different parts of the world, yet they performed the same job and managed to uplift and support each other.

Rogak has written a story that is compelling and interesting. There were no slow segments and I was pulled in from the beginning. Each of the four women had an inspiring and fascinating story to tell and Rogak ensured they were given the proper respect. Marlene Dietrich’s contribution is just as important and entertaining as Betty or Jane’s, and I found myself invested in the outcome of all of the four women equally.

Fans of historical non-fiction who are seeking to find out more about females in World War Two and their contributions should not ignore Rogak’s “Propaganda Girls”.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

she's read TWO non-fiction books in the last month, who is she?? xD this was really interesting!! I didn't love the writing style, but these women were just incredible and so inspiring

[Chelsylynn91 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Releases March 4, 2025

Countless remarkable women have been lost to the annals of history. I am deeply grateful to authors like Rogak who bring their stories back to life in powerful works of nonfiction. It's both eye-opening and unsettling to witness the immense power of propaganda in shaping the course of war and politics. It underscores the importance of having accurate and trustworthy sources. In this context, black propaganda played a crucial role in ending WWII for the greater good. But how often has it been used to serve the interests of the corrupt and power-hungry? The thought is deeply unsettling.

[Annie J (The History Solarium Book Club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The knowledge about the roles of women in World War II has often been relegated to their contributions to industrial production with a little understanding of their acceptance into non-combat positions in the military. However, the secrecy surrounding their participation in Office of Strategic Services (later the CIA), has stymied the acknowledgement of their substantial involvement in espionage and counterintelligence. In Propaganda Girls, Lisa Rogak confronts that error and absence by telling the stories of four women who participated in the MO, or Morale Operations branch. Elizabeth “Betty” MacDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, Barbara “Zuzka” Lauwers, and Marlene Dietrich, with others in the MO, facilitated the creation and dispersion of “Black Propaganda” during World War I. Rogak provides a look into the believable lies these women fabricated and spread with the purpose of decimating enemy morale and encouraging civilian resistance. I was immediately hooked into the four stories of how the women became part of the MO and the particular circumstances of their roles. Despite some highly engaging stories, I ended up losing interest over time. I can’t quite put my finger on why, perhaps it grew to be a bit repetitive. Overall, though, I am glad information like this is becoming more commonplace and hope that it inspires more knowledge of the way women’s contributions throughout all of history have been grossly ignored.


I am grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Lisa Rogak’s Propaganda Girls.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely fantastic read about four fabulous and brave [out of MANY] who worked both as spies, and as propaganda writers within the OSS [which was 1. the precursor to the CIA, and 2. had several famous names were a part of the OSS as well; some are mentioned in the book], and their lives before *AND* after the war [and what storied, interesting lives they all led].

Detailed, expertly researched and written in an upfront, engaging way, this was one of the best books i have read this month, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a history buff or enjoys stories about truly brave and strong women.

Very well done!!

Samara Naeymi is a new-to-me narrator and I seriously hope its not the last time I get to listen to her narrate a book. She does an excellent job here and makes you really feel the story and the women within it. I highly recommend this audiobook!!

I was invited to read/review this book by the publisher [St. Martin's Press] and I thank them, NetGalley, Lisa Rogak, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the lives of four women who served in WWII in the OSS creating propaganda to use against the enemy.

I do like spy things, and this was a pretty interesting spy book—including Marlene Dietrich.

While some of the women do meet, the uniting thread between all of them (beyond their wanting to serve the United States) was their desire to do something beyond the confines of keeping house. They had language skills and education, and they wanted to use them.

Some of the ways they created the propaganda was fascinating and really creative.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this real life telling of these 4 women's stories in WWII and how they impacted the outcome of the war through their roles in the OSS. I loved that it focused on their work and didn't try to be a juicy tell all.

Their struggles in a male dominated world, as well as adjusting to life post WWII as everyone returned home was really well written. Great read.

[Amelia Venjoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four different memoirs of four different women during WWII. All from different walks of life around the world, but all with a desire to join in the USA army to fight.

They were part of a secret branch called the OSS. Their sole task was to spread what is called black propaganda, which is false propaganda to be spread to the enemies to crush their spirits and make them question their orders.

I had no idea this was a part of the war and was interested to hear their stories. Sometimes I felt bogged down with the dates and facts, but the stories will stay with me for a while.


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for my free copy in exchange for my honest review

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thsi is the story of four American women who worked for the OSS during WWII, producing propaganda and influencing public opinion about the war on both sides. One, Marlene Dietrich, was famous, but the others were among thousands of others in the war machine behind the front lines. The book is divided into four sections, pre-war, during the war, and post-war. I found the most compelling parts to be the first, describing their motivations for joining the war effort rather than staying home and living more conventional lives. The descriptions of Pearl Harbor are especially vivid. Somewhere along the way, the chapters begin to feel a bit less dynamic, even while the women were most involved in the war (exception being Dietrich, maybe because she left a more public trail to follow). There is obviously some reference to the obstacles they faced as women (lower pay, less recognition, harassment, etc), but the book doesn't focus on the broader context of the war, OSS, or women's place in them (maybe because that's well traveled ground)? And finally, the story ends abruptly with Jane's last chapter; I think it would benefit greatly from having an epilogue to tie everything together. All this aside, it's an interesting and concise book that WWII buffs will enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction and even more interesting. Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS by Lisa Rogak gives history-loving readers the inside look into the lives of four incredible women who sought adventure and a life with purpose during WWII.

Told chronologically in chapters for each woman’s story, Propaganda Girls jumps right into the action with Betty MacDonald’s experience as a resident of Oahu on December 7, 1941 (Japan attacks Pearl Harbor). Zuzksa Lauwers’ story starts in Czechoslovakia with her fleeing the homeland for America after Hitler’s invasion in March 1939— after a quickie marriage to a Belgian-American makes it possible for her to leave. The wife of a naval attache at the American embassy in Tokyo, Jane Smith-Hutton loved learning the Japanese culture and being in foreign land —until the attack on Pearl Harbor made the family captives in enemy territory. Finally we are introduced to our fourth, and most famous, woman in this book: Marlene Dietrich. The German actress was living in America when Hitler and the Nazis came to power in her homeland where her family still lived and sought to distance herself from their “disgusting” ways.

The first quarter of the book tells the stories behind their why, followed by how these women became involved in the secret work of black propaganda for the Allied Forces. Their unique tales are told in an engaging way that almost makes you forget you’re reading non-fiction. The book ends with a chapter on what each woman did after the war and a brief wrap-up of her life. Propaganda Girls is a great way to learn more about women’s history and World War II. It is a rather quick read, too.(If you’re reading on kindle, the final fifth of the book is actually notes and sources.)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's worth noting upfront that this 225-page nonfiction account, Propaganda Girls, reads more like memoirs, not historical fiction. Each chapter alternates between the perspectives of four heroic women who served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) from different parts of the world during WWII. The book shares the stories of Betty Macdonald, Zuzka Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich, all of whom bravely worked for the Morale Operations (MO) branch of the OSS. Their mission was to create “black” propaganda aimed at demoralizing enemy German, Japanese and Italian troops, with the mission of turning them against their respective countries. Despite facing gender inequality and a lack of respect while undertaking work akin to Special Ops, the book presents an interesting account of four women in different corners of the world, each possessing unique skills but united by the common goal of fighting for the US in WWII, even though their paths rarely crossed. Overall, while the topic is compelling and the research appears thorough, I wished for a more cohesive concluding chapter and a less abrupt ending without an epilogue.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review Propaganda Girls on NetGalley.

Published: 03/04/25

Stars: 2.5

Just okay. Frankly, this was exhausting. The book reads like a teen magazine article. I missed the point Rogak wanted to make. As I read the words appeared as conversations between guests at a conference; I was bored.

This isn't bad. I hope it finds an audience. Unfortunately I don't know who I would recommend Propaganda Girls to.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

They did untold damage to Western Civilization 😔

[Jackie Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies, fake news and propaganda: it’s bad unless it’s used to win a war. Four women are highlighted with the unconventional skills they used to help end WWII.

This isn’t new. Since the early times, all forms of propaganda have been used as a power tool. It makes sense that it was also utilized by General William J. Donovan, director of the Office of Strategic Planning (OSS later named CIA).

What’s new, however, is that this book gives credit to women -- Betty MacDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, Zurka Lauwers and Marlene Dietrich -- who were able to manipulate emotions with propaganda. Donovan understood the importance of women who could work behind the scenes in all sorts of ways. They formed a Morale Operations department and should have received awards for their outstanding roles undermining the enemies.

The book has four sections which documents the significant events that shaped the women before, during and after the war. It focused each of their lives and how they were able to influence the soldiers with their guilt-driven tactics through newswriting, radio broadcasting, and lyrics on stage.

However, I didn’t get an impression that these women worked together even though they were in the same department. You would think they might have stayed in contact somehow celebrating together in 1945 when it was over.

Nevertheless, a book like this takes an enormous amount of research gathering facts from interviews, news clippings and books. There was a lot to digest especially at the end when they had to bounce back into society after the war. It’s hard to imagine.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of March 4, 2025.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betty, Jane, Zuzka, and Marlene: four very different woman who found a place creating propaganda for the OSS (forerunner of the CIA) during the second world war. Their job was to convince enemy soldiers to surrender or desert. Betty was a reporter from Hawaii. Zuzka was a language scholar from Czechoslovakia. Jane was the wife of a naval attaché stationed in Tokyo. Marlene was a German-American actress and singer. I knew nothing about the role these woman played and recommend the book to anyone interested in women's history, or in the history of World War II. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Maddy Poplin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I definitely learned a lot! Non fiction is not my typical genre, but the story of the propaganda girls kept me more interested than I expected. Would recommend this to any history lovers!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Documenting four women who worked for the OSS spreading black propaganda during WWII, "Propaganda Girls" follows in the same vein as many books in the last few years featuring women who found ways to serve in the military in non-traditional ways at a time when women were not allowed to enlist. And it made me feel the same way as many of those books have in the recent past: disappointed, frustrated, incensed, but proud. To be reminded time and again of the intelligence, creativity, and power of women in any role, but especially male-dominated ones, can be tiring, but it's always nice to add a few more strong representatives to the list.

My only wish for this book was likely not possible for the author--with four POVs, the narrative occasionally felt disjointed beyond the connection that all four women held the same type of job in the same organization and faced the same issues. Rogak found ways to weave their stories together where they overlapped or to point out similarities in their experiences, but occasionally I found myself confused in the timeline and/or location.

But it didn't take away from my overall experience too much. You'll find moments to reflect on how this parallels women's roles today, moments to laugh at their wacky ideas to demoralize troops or foster anti-Axis sentiments, and moments where you'll feel joy and pride for the work these women did, no matter how unmeasurable.

[Bailey Douglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

This book follows the stories of four women who worked on Propaganda during WWII in separate chapters, one for each of the women during four phases of their time working on propaganda.

Their stories were remarkable and very interesting, but I felt that in some circumstances the stories felt a little repetitive from woman to woman. I also got a bit confused remembering who was who every time I started a new chapter about a personI hadn't read about since their last chapter--three chapters ago!

I also felt that the format made it so that there wasn't an obvious central thesis. rather than just sharing information about these women and their work. It would have been more effective to either have a combined narrative of propaganda in the war and how women worked in it, with these woman used as recurring examples, or if it were divided into sections about each women which built on each other around some kind of thesis.

While I do recommend the book as an interesting source of information for anyone interested in this topic, it was not nearly as effective as other biographies I've read of groups of women. Something about it felt incomplete.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC for unbiased review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know what propaganda is? Did you know there are different shades; gray,black white?
This book is done so very well! I think it would be amazing for a book group and it would make for a great discussion.
Marlene alone could run your discussion. How did she have such an amazing work ethic?
Loved learning about her and the women that helped win the war.
There are times I think I am burned out on WWII, and then something like this comes along that is truly fascinating.

[rose ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“outside of a small group of spies, no one knew they existed.”

propaganda girls is a thoroughly researched look into the fascinating lives and careers of four women in the OSS (the precursor to the CIA) who played an integral role in the propaganda that helped the allies to win WWII. rogak tells these women’s stories in four parts, spanning their lives before and after as well as during the war. as always, i’m intrigued by the roles women occupied during wartime, when their contributions were far less recognized and respected than their male counterparts, and the subsequent social shift to conservatism that pressured those same women to return to more “traditional” roles.

a quick read that offers an engaging, if narrow, glimpse at four extraordinary women and the impact of black propaganda on WWII.

arc provided by netgalley and st. martin’s press in exchange for an honest review.

rating: 4.0/5.0 stars