Nancy Wake, born in New Zealand in 1912, died today in London aged 98. She was famous for the work she did for the French Resistance during the Second World War. She was a spy for the British and a fighter for freedom against the Nazis in France. She was very brave and clever. She saved the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers by helping them to escape from France. She destroyed the Nazi headquarters in Paris. The Germans called her “The White Mouse” because she was so clever at escaping. At the end of the war she was awarded medals from France, Britain, New Zealand and Australia.
Although she was born in New Zealand, she moved to Australia at the age of 10. In her 20s, she went to France where she married a French businessman in 1939. He was also active in the French Resistance. She did not know until the war ended that the Germans had caught and killed her husband.
Her story was made into a novel called “Charlotte Gray” and then into a movie in 2001. Cate Blanchett played the part of Nancy in the movie.
Vocabulary
• The French Resistance movement worked secretly to fight for freedom and to destroy the enemy.
• The Allied soldiers were from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA and others fighting against the Germans.
• awarded – given a prize or a medal
Questions
• Although she lived in many countries, she called herself a New Zealander and kept her New Zealand passport. Why?
• Why would a New Zealander or an Australian risk her life for the freedom of France?