Lieutenant Violette Szabó, George Cross, Croix de Guerre with Star, Médaille de la Résistance, was a renowned undercover secret agent for SOE (Special Operations Executive) in occupied France during the Second World War (1939-1945).
In August 1940, she married Adj.-chef of the 13th DBLE, Etienne Szabó, Légion d'Honneur, Médaille Militaire, Croix de Guerre with Star and Palm, Colonial Medal, a career legionnaire of great leadership qualities, who led his men from the front with formidable courage in Norway, Bir Hakeim and El Alamein - to name just a few battles. On 24 October 1942, he was killed leading his men in the impossible deception plan at El Himeimat, south of El Alamein.
A daughter, Tania, was born in June 1942.
These pages will be increasingly about them and Tania's first book, Young Brave and Beautiful, her exhaustively researched reconstruction of Violette's missions and life, with help from many people, inlcuding archives from the Foreign Office, SOE and National Archives, FANY archives, along with help and archives from private, public and family archives. Her book was published in November 2007. She is planning that a second book on Etienne's amazing and exotic life will be published in a year or so.
The Governor of Jersey, Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway, after reading a long extract of the book to the guests at the launch of Young Brave and Beautiful last November, said of Violette:
“She’s an inspiration to those young people today doing the same work with the risk of the same dangers”. Mirrors the author's sentiments perfectly.
Chief Executive of Jersey War Tunnels, Paul Simmonds said: “Jersey War Tunnels firm belief in the success of this publication was the motivation for purchasing the entire first edition of Young Brave and Beautiful. Whilst there have been many publications in the past detailing an account of Violette’s life, it is only now that such a comprehensive and accurate account of her missions as a Special Operations Executive Agent is told and by the most appropriate person, her daughter Tania. The response has been tremendous, even before the launch we received a number of both local and overseas requests for signed copies. As a consequence we have added extra signing dates to give everyone a chance to meet Tania and take away the very unique keepsake that is Young Brave and Beautiful.”
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| Etienne & Violette still on honeymoon in 18 Burnley Road garden |
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