VIOLETTE SZABO: The Life That I Have - Hardcover

Ottoway, Susan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0850527805 ISBN 13: 9780850527803

Publisher: Pen and Sword, 2007

Synopsis

The story of Violette Szabo is one of the most extraordinary in the annals of World War II espionage and covert operations, but her story is little known in the United States. Violette Szabo was by all accounts extraordinarily beautiful, but also totally fearless and a dead shot. She became a member of the Special Operations Executive, Britain's premier sabotage and subversion organization of the time. On June 7, 1944 Violette Szabo left behind a two-year-old daughter to parachute into France on a special mission for SOE.

Szabo and other British agents were assigned to organize French resistance fighters to hinder the advance of the SS Das Reich Division to the Normandy beaches. Unfortunately, Szabo's party was soon ambushed by the SS.

Unable to walk due to a twisted ankle, Szabo covered the retreat of her comrades with machine-gun fire. Captured, she went through a series of interrogations and changes of confinement before ending up at Ravensbrück, the German all-women's concentration camp. She was finally executed on January 26, 1945. She was 23 years old. This exceptional work has been written with the assistance of Violette Szabo's daughter Tanya, and unravels fact and fiction about one of the most fascinating characters of World War II.

About this title

About the Author

Susan Ottaway is the author of a number of successful books including Dambuster - The Life of Guy Gibson VC and She Who Dared, the dramatic story of an underground intelligence operator in Northern Ireland. She lives near Andover, Hampshire.

Review

‘Ottaway confirms that she is a meticulous researcher and first-rate historian.’
Alliance Advocate

‘This excellent biography presents a vivid portrait of Violette as an agent and as a person. Extensive research and interviews with people who knew and worked with her have enabled the author to set out the facts and re-examine Violette's remarkable life. This is a moving and gripping read which offers a valuable insight into the character of one of Britain's greatest heroines.’
This England

“Susan Ottaway’s biography of Szabo is in many ways, a counter point to Crave Her Name with Pride. Ottaway was able to interview not only Szabo’s brothers but also her daughter Tania. What is interesting is looking at what Szabo and her daughter think about Szabo’s work and the “morality” of a mother doing such duty. Ottaway also details life after the war and how the family was treated by the makers of the film. Four stars.”
The Fish Shelf

“In 1935 at the age of only fourteen Violette Bushell left school.  In 1944 she was a beautiful widow and the Mother of a young daughter when she undertook two secret missions in France as a Special Operations Executive.  Shortly after D-Day a few days into her second mission she was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp. She was executed at the beginning of 1945. I give this book five out of five stars!”
Random Ramblings
 

“Well written and informative, I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Second World War.”

Kazimiera Pendrey - Reviewer

Edition details

• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0850527805
• ISBN 13: 9780850527803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224