Mission France: The True History of the Women of SOE

by Kate Vigurs

Formed in 1940, Special Operations Executive was to coordinate Resistance work overseas. The organization’s F section sent more than four hundred agents into France, thirty-nine of whom were women. But while some are widely known—Violette Szabo, Odette Sansom, Noor Inayat Khan—others have had their stories largely overlooked.

Kate Vigurs interweaves for the first time the stories of all thirty-nine female agents. Tracing their journeys from early recruitment to work undertaken in the field, to evasion from, or capture by, the Gestapo, Vigurs shows just how greatly missions varied. Some agents were more adept at parachuting. Some agents’ missions lasted for years, others’ less than a few hours. Some survived, others were murdered. By placing the women in the context of their work with the SOE and the wider war, this history reveals the true extent of the differences in their abilities and attitudes while underlining how they nonetheless shared a common mission and, ultimately, deserve recognition both collectively and individually.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Espionage, Historical, Audiobook

328 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2021

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 'Mission France', Kate Vigurs takes the reader on a journey through the lives of the women working for Special Operations Executive in France, from their selection and training to their eventual return - or death. Unlike previous works on women in SOE, Vigurs takes a new - and much-needed - approach, trying to put equal emphasis on all 39 (the official 38 plus Sonia Olschanesky, who was never trained in Britain) women, regardless of how famous they became after the war. So, as well as revisiting the work of people like Noor Inayat Khan, who became something of a folk hero post-bellum, Vigurs also considers the little-known women: people like Yvonne Baseden (who received one of the biggest daylight supply drops of the war) or Pearl Witherington (who trained, armed, and commanded 1,500 men of the Resistance).

To Vigurs, each woman should be taken holistically, appreciated for their courage, determination, and their willingness to take the very unusual and dangerous step of actively participating, and bearing arms, in the war behind enemy lines. Yet each woman should also be understood as human, not the glamourized, semi-divine creatures portrayed in so many films and hagiographies. They were not all young, and they were not all beautiful. Nor were they all martyrs. They had foibles, and they made mistakes - sometimes very costly ones. They each did their best in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

This unwillingness to create another book of flattery will, I'm sure, cause some outrage in particular circles. In sticking with honesty, Vigurs has sometimes accidentally participated in her own form of iconoclasm. Some who were hailed posthumously for their bravery, should never have been made agents in the first place; some endangered the lives of their colleagues, and thus the success of the overall mission. But this is a complete, and thorough, reappraisal of the women of the SOE, and so pedestals have no place here.

This thorough analysis makes 'Mission France' an incredibly detailed book. The amount of information could in other hands overwhelm the reader, but Vigurs has done well to weave a narrative thread through the mountains of data available to her - using everything from what remains of the original SOE archives held at Kew, to memoirs, audio recordings taken in the years following the war, war crimes trial records, and interviews with the few remaining survivors and their families and friends. The depth of detail does mean that Vigurs occasionally strays into the realms of monograph, but her writing style is strong and can be extremely emotive: possibly the most harrowing thing I've ever read occurs in this book.

As such, 'Mission France' is not only an essential book to read, addressing the imbalance and myths of previous 'studies', but it is also a gripping, astonishing account of all 39 female trailblazers who gave so much to fight for the liberation of France during the Second World War.

[Clive Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1940 Winston Churchill, the British prime minister, approved the creation of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Its job was to coordinate the infiltration of secret agents to assist local clandestine activity against the Axis powers in territories across Europe and beyond. Different sections looked after different areas. F section handled the 480 agents sent into France; thirty-nine were women. Twenty-five survived the war.

Mission France tells the stories of the thirty-nine women: their recruitment; their training; their work in the field; and what happened to the twelve who went missing presumed dead.

Part of the potential agents’ training was done in requisitioned manor houses with extensive grounds. It became a standing joke amongst the trainees that SOE actually stood for Stately ‘Omes of England.

All the women dropped behind enemy lines were extraordinary. At least two were pregnant when they left England and gave birth in France. Agents captured were considered spies by the enemy … imprisoned, interrogated, tortured and invariably executed. They showed enormous courage. Three women received the George Cross, two the George Medal.

After 8th May 1945 (Victory in Europe Day), SOE personnel still in the field or liberated from imprisonment began to make their way home. Just as the transition to becoming skilled SOE agents had taken time and patience, so did the reverse process. Many just wanted to disappear to lead a quieter life. Others agreed that a film could be made of their exploits and some allowed books to be published. One died of cancer two years after the war ended; another was murdered; and a third was killed in a scuba diving accident.

The research undertaken by the author is commendable. She deals compassionately with each of the thirty-nine women and many of those working behind the scenes. Kate Vigurs has written a book that’s compelling, enlightening and readable.

[Karen Werkema]

A wonderfully written book and a well read audiobook. This is not a subject I knew anything about before picking up. Kate Vigurs beautifully tells the stories of amazingly brave women from WWII who, despite claims in the book that a few became household names, I had never heard of previously (potentially because the focus was a contingent of British agents and I'm American). The book relates both the everyday and extraordinary tasks undertaken by these women and the agency that employed them. It also did not shy away from their faults or hide their missteps. I was blown away by both the bravery displayed and the circumstances faced by these women. I studied the war in school like most do, but there were descriptions that really demonstrated to me for the first time what the reality of the occupation was like. I don't typically read non-fiction,  but this was compelling and informative. Anyone with interest in WWII or the history of women in espionage roles should read it. 

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It is unique in the annals of this organisation for a circuit to be so completely disintegrated and yet to be rebuilt because, regardless of all personal danger, this young woman remained on her post, at times alone, and always under threat of arrest."

This was a really wonderfully done study of the women of the SOE's F Section. Vigurs did a great job of personalizing every woman, sharing anecdotes and experiences within their lives that went on to inform their wartime service. I love that she focused on all of the women and their heroics without shying away from their sometimes difficult personalities. I only wish it'd been longer!

So far my favourite read of 2024!

[Sally Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating and thoroughly researched book about the SOE, especially their female operatives. The deprivation, hardship and cruelty they endured is hard to understand or in many comprehend why humans can be so horrid to one another even if their country is at war.
I struggled with the author’s writing style, she had a lot of information she wished to share but her constant diving off at a tangent made it difficult to follow. I feel her editors did not guide her adequately or perhaps she just would not listen.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t believe I’d never reviewed this from last year!
So sorry Kate Vigurs!

Very interesting and lots of information about the ladies behind the scenes and their colleagues.
I’m not a history book person but this was different. It’s a personal touch in a difficult time.
I’ve also got audiobook to share on car journeys with hubby

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept and book are cool, although, through no fault of the author, it was sad. The book also was ill-suited to be an audiobook as there were many long lists making it hard to understand and enjoy.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOE operations in occupied France during World War II are a perennial topic of fascination for me, and this book provides some excellent examples why. Collecting the stories, as far as they are known, of all 39 female SOE agents active in France at one point or another, Vigurs has written a book as engaging as it is informative, highlighting successes and personal accomplishments as well as failures - and ways in which the agents themselves were failed, in some cases fatally.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the women who worked undercover in occupied France is so interesting it would be hard to tell it badly. Kate Vigurs tells it very, very well.

There are the moments of incredible heroism as well as the moments of ghastly, life-threatening stupidity (incidentally they were all AT IT LIKE RABBITS let me tell you), but Vigurs also covers those agents who kept on quietly and competently doing their jobs, unknown and unnoticed but getting vital messages in and out.

She doesn't shy away from describing the fates of those women who ended up in concentration camps, and she chronicles the lasting physical and mental effect on those who survived the war, as well as the efforts made to trace what became of those missing, presumed killed.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really long audiobook - and that might sound like a bad thing, but its really not. There is a lot going on in this book; a lot of people that the narrator is talking about that the listener has to keep track of. Due to that fact, if this is a topic that is a passion and interests you - I would recommend to get an actual physical copy of the book where it might be easier to keep track of everyone in the book.

As for the audio book, it runs about 10 hours long and the narrator is excellent.

This review does contain spoilers from here until the end.



The first bit of the book (while interesting) concerns the names of the women, their recruitment and training as well as what the thought process and actual process was like to get to the point of sending women to the field. At the start of the book, it quickly moves between person to person and location to location which made it a little difficult for me to keep track of everyone involved.

However, by about one-third to a half of the way through the book was when the women were starting their missions and being deployed - the book became much more engaging and lively to me. All of the women that were involved in the SOE were all located in the same general country, but they rarely, if ever interacted even when their missions might have aligned or been the same.

Probably my favorite part of the audiobook was towards the end of the book which was talking about the end of the war and the fates of the women - those that survived and those that didn't.

This book was very educational for me. There was moments of laughter and moments were I almost cried.

This was a very enjoyable audiobook and I will be putting the hardcover copy on my wish list for books.



I was given this audiobook by NetGalley and the publishers to listen and review. This is my honest review.

Five out of five stars

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every one of these women volunteered to go into France during the German occupation and work for the British government intelligence. They were given the same training as the men in their units and suffered the same privations, including those who were captured. Some were held prisoner for long periods of time, and some were executed. They didn't do it for recognition, but because it was the right thing for each of them to do at that time. Some did come home and tried to pick up the pieces of their lives. Some quietly and some utilized the press and publishing. This work is well researched and documented despite the careless shredding of many records by the very departments they served. A very moving book.


Esther Wane gives a very professional narration with clearly correct pronunciations of place names as well as clear interpretive English which saves it from feeling repetitious.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Tantor Audio via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction audiobook that takes you through a ton of information about the women in the SOE (Special Operations Executive), a secret British World War II organization.

I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction books; so many that I've gotten to the point that unless they are based on actual events I usually pass on them. This book was non-fiction and (of course) it reads completely different. Sometimes non-fiction is tragic and brutal, my heart goes out to those agents.

Documentation from this era has been disappearing, I'm so glad that Kate Vigurs was able to capture these details in Mission France. This book is filled with heroines who weren't looking for fame and attention. I'm going to consider this a best of 2021 book in the non-fiction category.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Kate Vigurs, the narrator Esther Wane and the publisher Tantor Audio for the opportunity to review the advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terribly heartbreaking to read the stories of these amazing women. I had to have a break towards the end as the stories were so harrowing. I found the book a bit hard to follow with so many characters, all with aliases that were sometimes used and other times not. Rather confusing.
Also in the Aftermath chapter the footnotes didn’t line up, in my book they were one out, that may have been true of other chapters as well but I didn’t pick it up until then. Disappointing editing.
Overall this book was hard work due to the subject matter and although well written I think it could have been edited more to enable it to flow more.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fascinating story.

This tells the story of the 39 women who went into France as agents in the Special Operations Executive of British Intelligence in WWII.

I've been reading a lot of historical fiction about women serving in WWII lately and it was nice to read a non-fiction story in the same vein. The stories of these women are absolutely fascinating. These were women who served alongside their male counterparts in the same position with the same training.

If you're a history buff like me, you need to read this book.

[Tina Milledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission France is an engrossing read about the lives of SOE operatives during World War 2. The author’s accounts are detailed and fascinating, bringing an in depth understanding of the bravery and dedication of those chosen to defend Britain and France.
The book cover, I must say, is attractively eye catching and reflects the adventure of the air drops into France.
I’d highly recommend a read if the subject appeals to you.
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to review a digital copy.

[James Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important and fascinating book which documents the courageous contributions of female SOE agents to the Allied war effort against the Nazis. The actions of these women who invariably did their duty in the face of often insurmountable odds and frequently in the realization that they would be captured deserve to reach the widest possible audience. In many cases they met horrible deaths. This will written book helps achieve this outcome.

[tomasz ☝️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As everyone else says: this is an excellently well-researched and passionate history of all F section SOE women, with an admirable dedication to telling their stories equally. The result is a rich tapestry of interwoven lives that offers a profound insight into the attitudes of the time and how they affected the decisions made by all parties in German-occupied France. Devastating, harrowing, and on all counts inspiring.

[Bob Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really terrific book about some amazing women who stepped forward during WW 2. Their courage, resilience and commitment should be an inspiration to us all. If I have any complaint it is that the book contained very little in the way of maps. This wasn't a real hindrance, but even a few more maps would have been greatly appreciated.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well-researched. I would have preferred it to be arranged by the protagonist, as I found it a little difficult to keep track of each individual thread especially when jumping backwards and forwards in time. I was also a bit annoyed by the tendency to use a woman's first name but the last name for every male participant.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women freedom fighters of WWII; good and bad. Mostly good. Brave, decent, and not so you’d notice, a study of women taking a proper place in the World’s history. The first chapter could be boring, stick with it as it gets extremely interesting. Well narrated. 4-1:2 stars.

[Darlene Golbitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This history of the women of the SOE was important, informative, enlightening, and compelling. I wish I listened with a map and a timeline in front of me to keep it all straight! A must for those wishing to extend their knowledge of WWII history!

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

“All the women who were infiltrated into France by F Section were extraordinary.”

Each of these women displayed extreme courage and patriotism in the face of danger and possible capture, torture and death. Each one a heroine.

[Huw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, concise, fascinating.

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book about the 39 female agents who worked for the SOE in World War II. These women should never be forgotten.

[John Majors · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Better in print than audio for me given the high number of characters involved. Hard to keep up with the stories.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her, love this book, what a wonderful full history of the women of the SOE. I screamed happily when she called out Marcus Binney. 10/10

[Jim Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just finished the audio book of Kate's very good book on the women of SOE. A lot of the main characters and their exploits I have read about before, but this did not detract from the overall read. A super basis for further reading on these remarkable women.

It must have been quite a monumental task to piece together the careers of over 30 agents and tell their stories in around 350 pages. Hence each of the women's career is condensed, but well told. The format follows their careers in sections, so Kate takes you through training, deployment, operations, capture or escape.

[Sass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing daring do

[Raeann Baldwin]

Loved it!

[Keeley Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well it took me a lot longer to listen to this than expected due to lack of time to fully take it in, but I greatly enjoyed it once the intro was over.

Kate Vigurs has written an amazing book on the working life of 39 female operatives, detailing how they were recruited into F section, the training required to become an operative, the way in which they infiltrated France, the missions that they undertook and whether they survived the war to return home and how. Vigurs has perfectly shown the hell in which they had to survive, and has compassionately and empathetically written about the deaths of some of the 39. I did feel that the introduction felt lengthy and slightly monotonous, however, this is a necessity to fully understand the rest of the book.

Mission France was narrated by Esther Wane who I feel provides the perfect voice to tell the tale of these courageous women. She provides an attractive voice to listen to and bring the book to life.

Overall I found this audiobook enthralling to listen to, not just due to an interesting narrator but also due to how in depth the details are and how much research the author must have undertaken to ensure that the stories of the 39 female operatives are heard.