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Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS
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.
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.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2025
174 people are currently reading
23.9k people want to read
About the author
Lisa Rogak
53books123followersMy 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
February 24, 2025
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.
February 14, 2025
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.
March 8, 2025
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
ŷ Review 04/03/25
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
ŷ Review 04/03/25
January 18, 2025
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.
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.
April 24, 2025
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 , 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:
by Peter Pomerantsev (about Sefton Delmar) | my review, which also links several other books on this topic
by Steve Kemper
My statistics:
Book 125 for 2025
Book 2051 cumulatively
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:
by Peter Pomerantsev (about Sefton Delmar) | my review, which also links several other books on this topic
by Steve Kemper
My statistics:
Book 125 for 2025
Book 2051 cumulatively
August 29, 2024
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.
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.
February 10, 2025
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.
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.
August 31, 2024
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!
January 28, 2025
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 ’s “� 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�.
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 ’s “� 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�.
February 20, 2025
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.
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.
March 3, 2025
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.
I am grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Lisa Rogak’s Propaganda Girls.
March 16, 2025
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.
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.
April 18, 2025
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.
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.
February 8, 2025
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
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
December 14, 2024
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!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
January 26, 2025
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.
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.
January 28, 2025
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.
March 18, 2025
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.
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.
March 7, 2025
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.
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.
March 17, 2025
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!
March 19, 2025
Highly recommend listening to the audiobook! It’s a short but powerful nonfiction read following 4 women who made a huge impact in WWII. Super well written; I teared up multiple times.
Even in a hard time for women in the workforce, these women persevered and changed the world. I love that the author also went through their post-war lives - made me contemplate what a life well lived can look like. 4.5 stars!
Even in a hard time for women in the workforce, these women persevered and changed the world. I love that the author also went through their post-war lives - made me contemplate what a life well lived can look like. 4.5 stars!
March 13, 2025
Very informative non-fiction book about 4 extraordinary women in time of the biggest and deadliest war in history
February 13, 2025
During WWII these four "girls" (why not "women"?) generated black propaganda, which is disinformation, lies, and rumors calculated to sap morale and encourage surrendering:
* Betty MacDonald was a 28-year-old reporter from Hawaii. "One day she interviewed Lieutenant Howell M. Forgy, a Catholic priest who told her of one time when he was traveling with a group of soldiers and their boat came under attack. He mentioned that the men ferried ammunition from one end of the boat toward the other side where the guns were stored. When the priest jumped into the line to help, one of the men shouted at him to stop. “He yelled back, ‘Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!� and19 I wrote that up,� said Betty. In 1942, songwriter Frank Loesser would use her story with that quote to write “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,� which bandleader Kay Kyser recorded and which hit number two on the music charts in late 1942."
* Zuzka Lauwers grew up in a tiny Czechoslovakian village and knew five languages by the time she was 21, but that didn't help her fit in. "They called me DF, for Damn Foreigner...I ate like a European, knife in right hand and fork in left, and the other girls would just stare at me in the mess hall."
* Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of a naval attaché living in Tokyo and suffered interment. "On New Year’s Eve, with no release in sight, they grimly accepted that they had to settle in for the long haul. Since they had diplomatic immunity, the Japanese knew that they couldn’t beat them or hurt them in any way. The only option was to starve them. ...the resulting article, “Americans Return from Jap Prison Camps: American Diplomats Held in Tokyo Lived in a Virtual State of Siege,� appeared in a two-page spread in , featuring ten of her photographs."
* Marlene Dietrich, the famous German-American actress and singer, was one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. "Marlene wanted to hit back at the Nazis. 'What people don’t know is that I couldn’t resist twisting the knife in the arrogant hearts of those gentlemen,' she admitted. On June 6, 1939, Marlene declared the ultimate revenge when she renounced her German citizenship and officially became a US citizen� she had applied two years earlier� which created a huge ruckus in the media back home."
Dietrich rather outshines the others for her courage, zeal, and unique displaced perspective.
Both European theatres, where Dietrich initially worked, and the Pacific are covered in the scope of the work of "MO" (Morale Operations, I think). Betty had harrowing flights and memorable parties:
All four lives are followed out of the OSS and to the grave. Betty carried on productively and in thorough reflection:
[I was gratefully provided with a copy of this engaging book in exchange for an honest review.]]
...defined as any leaflet, poster, radio broadcast, or other public or private media that appeared to come from within the enemy country, either from a resistance movement or from disgruntled soldiers and civilians. In essence, black propaganda was a series of believable lies...
* Betty MacDonald was a 28-year-old reporter from Hawaii. "One day she interviewed Lieutenant Howell M. Forgy, a Catholic priest who told her of one time when he was traveling with a group of soldiers and their boat came under attack. He mentioned that the men ferried ammunition from one end of the boat toward the other side where the guns were stored. When the priest jumped into the line to help, one of the men shouted at him to stop. “He yelled back, ‘Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!� and19 I wrote that up,� said Betty. In 1942, songwriter Frank Loesser would use her story with that quote to write “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,� which bandleader Kay Kyser recorded and which hit number two on the music charts in late 1942."
* Zuzka Lauwers grew up in a tiny Czechoslovakian village and knew five languages by the time she was 21, but that didn't help her fit in. "They called me DF, for Damn Foreigner...I ate like a European, knife in right hand and fork in left, and the other girls would just stare at me in the mess hall."
* Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of a naval attaché living in Tokyo and suffered interment. "On New Year’s Eve, with no release in sight, they grimly accepted that they had to settle in for the long haul. Since they had diplomatic immunity, the Japanese knew that they couldn’t beat them or hurt them in any way. The only option was to starve them. ...the resulting article, “Americans Return from Jap Prison Camps: American Diplomats Held in Tokyo Lived in a Virtual State of Siege,� appeared in a two-page spread in , featuring ten of her photographs."
* Marlene Dietrich, the famous German-American actress and singer, was one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. "Marlene wanted to hit back at the Nazis. 'What people don’t know is that I couldn’t resist twisting the knife in the arrogant hearts of those gentlemen,' she admitted. On June 6, 1939, Marlene declared the ultimate revenge when she renounced her German citizenship and officially became a US citizen� she had applied two years earlier� which created a huge ruckus in the media back home."
Dietrich rather outshines the others for her courage, zeal, and unique displaced perspective.
...Everything changed in 1929 when she was cast as Lola Lola, a cabaret singer in a Weimar nightclub who has an affair with a local high school teacher, in the movie The Blue Angel. In the film, she sang the song “Falling in Love Again”� the song she would become most famous for� and her on-screen presence absolutely smoldered. Two versions of the movie were filmed, one in German and one in English; Marlene’s language lessons had paid off. When the movie was released in 1930, it was an instant hit, first in Germany and then internationally, primarily due to her screen presence and a couple of things that were shocking for the time: First, in an era where most women never wore pants, on-screen or off, Marlene wore a tuxedo and a top hat.
...
Just as quickly as her popularity had plummeted just a couple of years earlier, it was resurrected in 1939, starting with the Western Destry Rides Again with James Stewart.
Both European theatres, where Dietrich initially worked, and the Pacific are covered in the scope of the work of "MO" (Morale Operations, I think). Betty had harrowing flights and memorable parties:
was known for violent storms, wind shears, and unpredictable squalls caused by crosswinds that could cause a plane to drop six thousand feet in altitude in less than ten seconds. It’s estimated that between 1942 and 1945 more than three thousand American, British, and Chinese planes crashed while traveling over the Hump.
...
Sitting across from her on the flight was an annoyingly calm woman named Julia McWilliams, who serenely read a book for the entire flight while most people closed their eyes, prayed, and/ or got sick. McWilliams worked in the Research & Analysis branch of MO and would later be known as , who introduced French cooking to Americans.
...
Charles Fenn, an OSS colleague who would later write ... remembered these parties, where each night approximately eighty men and thirteen women easily finished off three cases of rum and whiskey. “Betty205 was queen of the ball, and wore a dress so tight you could read her pulse,� he wrote.
All four lives are followed out of the OSS and to the grave. Betty carried on productively and in thorough reflection:
“Did I hate the Germans? The Japanese? Not really. I helped make up the slogans to make the other people hate,� she said. “Packaged hate, like packaged breakfast foods, produced by the ad man in uniform. And249 a prize of a promise in every package� the corner drugstore, ice cubes, America.�
...
After she quit, Betty started writing a book about her years in the OSS for the Macmillan Company, a New York publisher;
[I was gratefully provided with a copy of this engaging book in exchange for an honest review.]]
March 4, 2025
Propaganda Girls is a meticulously well-researched, well-organized, and well-written account of the lives of four women whose work in World War II truly changed the course of the war for the Allied forces, and it's a refreshing peek behind the curtain of how propaganda and the crafting of stories can alter a society.
The book focuses on the sometimes-intertwining lives of Betty Mcdonald, Bozena (Zuzka) Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich. Each woman worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II in various capacities, but all of their roles, in one way or another, consisted of crafting black propaganda to target the Axis forces. In different ways, they created stories, entertainment, political cartoons, and leaflets that, when carefully disseminated and distributed into the hands of their enemies, had the power to sway thousands of soldiers to surrender.
Not only did I find the stories of these four individual women fascinating, I also thought the subject matter posed a fascinating perspective on the role of propaganda. It's something that our public consciousness should focus on more, especially in today's climate of social media and our access immediate information distribution. It's important to think about who is crafting the messages that we read and to ponder the subversive messages beneath them. The impact that these four women and their talent, ideas, and brains alone had on the messaging of World War II was massive - to imagine how much more impactful some of their work would be in today's world is staggering to consider.
I'm coming away from this book feeling grateful to know the names of these women who added so much to the effort of World War II and to our nation's (and world's) history. Too often, the stories of women in history are overshadowed by their male counterparts', so a big thank you to Lisa Rogak for highlighting Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene!
And thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. This book is out today & it's one I'd encourage anyone to pick up and read.
The book focuses on the sometimes-intertwining lives of Betty Mcdonald, Bozena (Zuzka) Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich. Each woman worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II in various capacities, but all of their roles, in one way or another, consisted of crafting black propaganda to target the Axis forces. In different ways, they created stories, entertainment, political cartoons, and leaflets that, when carefully disseminated and distributed into the hands of their enemies, had the power to sway thousands of soldiers to surrender.
Not only did I find the stories of these four individual women fascinating, I also thought the subject matter posed a fascinating perspective on the role of propaganda. It's something that our public consciousness should focus on more, especially in today's climate of social media and our access immediate information distribution. It's important to think about who is crafting the messages that we read and to ponder the subversive messages beneath them. The impact that these four women and their talent, ideas, and brains alone had on the messaging of World War II was massive - to imagine how much more impactful some of their work would be in today's world is staggering to consider.
I'm coming away from this book feeling grateful to know the names of these women who added so much to the effort of World War II and to our nation's (and world's) history. Too often, the stories of women in history are overshadowed by their male counterparts', so a big thank you to Lisa Rogak for highlighting Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene!
And thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. This book is out today & it's one I'd encourage anyone to pick up and read.
March 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 3/4/2025. Nothing makes me quite as happy as a well-researched, easy-to-read non-fiction book that inspires me to find out more about the topic. Propaganda Girls nails it. Focusing on four out of hundreds of women who threw their all into helping the Ally forces during World War II, this book is far from the Rosie Riveters or Army Nurses. This is about the women who thrived in the shadier side of things - propaganda, rumors, counterespionage, and generally working for the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) which later grew up to be the CIA. One born in Czechoslovakia driven by what happened to her home country, one who witnessed Pearl Harbor, one who found herself trapped with her family in the Tokyo embassy, and one of the most famous German-born movie stars ever. Each of them played an important but different role and Rogak does an excellent job balancing the various stories. While one might have been inclined to give more ink to Marlene Dietrich, the author spread the stories out evenly among the women, separated into before the war and during the war and after the war. She even gives us a few passing mentions of other luminaries such as a brush with the future Julia Child (who was, of course, a badass even before she picked up a chef's knife). The entire book flowed with a delicate balance of seriousness and dark humor while the humanity of these women shone over everything. The creativity and hard work and sacrifices made by these four women is astounding and, while not everyone at the time appreciated them, we are lucky to be able to read books like this and salute them for what they've done. Now excuse me while I go find Betsy MacDonald's book, Undercover Girl.
February 15, 2025
Wow! What a fabulous book! It entranced, mesmerized and amazed me at each page turn. This will undoubtedly be a favourite of the year for me. I was impressed by the sheer tenacity, courage and ingenuity of the four women who were entrusted and given free reign to pull out all the stops in espionage, forging letters, rigging radio broadcasts, creating black propaganda, changing postcards and inventing publishers. During World War II, these women called Donovan's Dreamers were sought out because they were women, a highly unusual move but a stroke of genius.
Elizabeth "Betty" MacDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, Barbara "Zuzka" Lauwers and Marlene Dietrich were all very different yet fiercely loyal to their cause and to Morale Operations Branch. They were trained in languages, translating, intercepting messages, disseminating materials, starting rumors, trailing people, firearm mastery, and eavesdropping. Marlene buoyed spirits with her seductive voice and live broadcast messages. All four worked tirelessly and after the war, some felt bereft without purpose. I like that the author described their lives before and after the war and gave a great sense of their personalities.
I learned more about Operation Sauerkraut and propaganda in general. The Pearl Harbour boy story particularly tugged at my heart. These women could think on their feet and were risk takers and adventurers.
This book is an important one, powerful and interesting, and the author manages to include a lot of information without any stuffiness or drudgery. It was a pleasure to read.
Elizabeth "Betty" MacDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, Barbara "Zuzka" Lauwers and Marlene Dietrich were all very different yet fiercely loyal to their cause and to Morale Operations Branch. They were trained in languages, translating, intercepting messages, disseminating materials, starting rumors, trailing people, firearm mastery, and eavesdropping. Marlene buoyed spirits with her seductive voice and live broadcast messages. All four worked tirelessly and after the war, some felt bereft without purpose. I like that the author described their lives before and after the war and gave a great sense of their personalities.
I learned more about Operation Sauerkraut and propaganda in general. The Pearl Harbour boy story particularly tugged at my heart. These women could think on their feet and were risk takers and adventurers.
This book is an important one, powerful and interesting, and the author manages to include a lot of information without any stuffiness or drudgery. It was a pleasure to read.
January 14, 2025
I was immediately drawn into this book as I read about Betty MacDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, Marlene Dietrich, and Zuzka Lauwers. These four amazing women came from very different backgrounds, but all four had a love for their country to join the OSS (precursor to the CIA) to create propaganda to help shorten the War. There were many pages where I learned something new and I love that about a book. Even though this is non-fiction, it is easy to read with a good blend of facts and details to move the story along. I had heard of Marlene Dietrich, but didn't know her background of leaving Germany and becoming a US citizen. Each woman used their creativity, language knowledge, and bravery in their own way to develop and share leaflets, songs, etc. to demoralize the enemy, either in Germany or Japan/China. I love it when I see facts that I've read in other book turn up in a different book. Here, Julia McWilliams (future Julia Child) was on a the same flight as Betty over the "Hump" in Asia. Julia was part of the OSS as well that I read about in The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers, an historical fiction story.
If you are looking for stories of women who had courageous contributions to the War effort, I highly recommend this book.
#PropagandaGirls #NetGalley #nonfiction #WW2
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you are looking for stories of women who had courageous contributions to the War effort, I highly recommend this book.
#PropagandaGirls #NetGalley #nonfiction #WW2
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 6, 2025
I am generally one who does not read books about WW II. I can take only so many sinking ships and amazingly heroic army divisions. But this book is so different, I really liked it. Plus, it was about women playing a vital but generally unknown part in that war.
I found each of the four stories engaging with so many personal anecdotes. A Czech who became an American citizen and joined the Women's Army Corps. How Marlene got that name, renounced her German citizenship and played a musical saw. Jane being held in the US embassy in Tokyo for six and a half months. Betty's missteps being trained as a secret operative were sometimes humorous.
Rogak did a great deal of research to provide the personal stories included in this book. I think it would be of interest to readers who would like to know more about unusual WW II efforts like writing fake military commands, spreading rumors through the enemy military, writing pamphlets and much more. I recommend this very interesting book.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I found each of the four stories engaging with so many personal anecdotes. A Czech who became an American citizen and joined the Women's Army Corps. How Marlene got that name, renounced her German citizenship and played a musical saw. Jane being held in the US embassy in Tokyo for six and a half months. Betty's missteps being trained as a secret operative were sometimes humorous.
Rogak did a great deal of research to provide the personal stories included in this book. I think it would be of interest to readers who would like to know more about unusual WW II efforts like writing fake military commands, spreading rumors through the enemy military, writing pamphlets and much more. I recommend this very interesting book.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
March 4, 2025
This was a very interesting peek behind the curtain of a little-discussed - but significant - element of WWII strategy: the OSS's Morale Operations division. I love espionage stories and learning the tricks of the trade, and the insight into the use of black propaganda was fascinating. I really enjoyed learning about the four women's experiences in the different theaters. There was so much intriguing history here, and it's information that doesn't get a lot of attention which made this all the more interesting a book for me.
There were some areas of overlap in the women's experiences that got a little repetitive as the book went on - and particularly as the war was wrapping up - but on the whole this was a very quick and engaging read and I learned a lot! Rogak's writing style is easy to fall into and her choice to focus on blending the women's war stories with personal information and anecdotes definitely drew me in. The only thing I would have liked to see added was pictures - although Google helped a lot there!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
There were some areas of overlap in the women's experiences that got a little repetitive as the book went on - and particularly as the war was wrapping up - but on the whole this was a very quick and engaging read and I learned a lot! Rogak's writing style is easy to fall into and her choice to focus on blending the women's war stories with personal information and anecdotes definitely drew me in. The only thing I would have liked to see added was pictures - although Google helped a lot there!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
March 3, 2025
Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak captured my attention instantly. This is one of the most fascinating and timely glimpses of not only the role of women in WW2, but also their employment of black propaganda to manipulate the minds of the Axis soldiers and their civilian counterparts in an effort to advance the cause of the Allied nations.
I really enjoyed learning more about these four women and their role in the war and the education on the history of propaganda was so enlightening as well. I heartily commend this book to you if you’re interested in learning more about a little known office and the women who used their skills to undermine the Axis powers and shape the way targeted groups of people understood current events in an effort to shorten one of the worst wars of our time.
I would like to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed learning more about these four women and their role in the war and the education on the history of propaganda was so enlightening as well. I heartily commend this book to you if you’re interested in learning more about a little known office and the women who used their skills to undermine the Axis powers and shape the way targeted groups of people understood current events in an effort to shorten one of the worst wars of our time.
I would like to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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