| The Official Violette Szabó GC Site |
| Young Brave and Beautiful |
| Site still very much under construction. Please bear with me, a debutant. TS |
| "She was the bravest of us all." Odette Churchill GC, SOE |
Lieutenant Violette Szabó, George Cross, Croix de Guerre with Star, was a renowned undercover 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 ill-conceived deception plan at El Himeimat, south of El Alamein.
A daughter, Tania, was born in June 1942.
These pages are about them and Tania's book, Young Brave and Beautiful, her exhaustively researched reconstruction of Violette's missions and life, through Foreign Office, SOE and National Archives, FANY archives, private, family and public archives. Her book was published last November in 2007.
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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| Violette and Etienne Szabo in our garden in Burnley Road, Stockwell, South London |
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We would be delighted if you visit our Guestbook. Thank you for your interest in Violette.
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Young Brave and Beautiful has 496 pp including a foreword by Jack Higgins, the author, a bibliography, a comprehensive index; plus an additional 28 pp of images, and a colour plate on the front and back page. ISBN 1-905095-20-1
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The most highly decorated married couple for gallantry awarded by their respective countries
Guinness Book of Records
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