Overall Rating: 3.0An OK introduction to the world of women during WWII, but not the deep-dive I was hoping for.Engagement: 2.5I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked that Lisa Rogak selected four women with vastly different backgrounds and experience, but the stories themselves were surface level only and didn't provide the detail I was hoping for. At 240 pages, each woman received roughly 60 pages to describe their early life, wartime activities and their post-war doings, no...

PROPAGANDA GIRLS Lisa Rogak's *OSS Women: The Secret History of WWII's Female Spies* offers a genuinely fascinating look into the lives of four women during WWII and their efforts to develop war propaganda. All four were members of the OSS, the precursor to the CIA. Like most programs developed by Bill Donovan, the Morale Operations department focused on unconventional methods of warfare. This book takes an in-depth look at each of these women, before, during, and after the war. Each brought a ...

Lisa Rogak specializes in writing biographies of prominent figures. In her book, *OSS Women: The Secret History of WWII's Female Spies*, Rogak profiles four women who worked with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) across various war theaters during World War II. The group includes 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 engag...

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...

This is a well-written, meticulously researched, and informative non-fiction book about World War II. It tells the story from the perspectives of four remarkable women who served in the OSS during the war. I was completely engrossed in their fascinating experiences and am eager to learn more about these incredible, brave, intelligent, and heroic figures. The author's acknowledgments, bibliography, and footnotes are enlightening and greatly appreciated. Many thanks to Lisa Rogak, St. Martin's Pre...

I received a free copy of, OSS Women: The Secret History of WWII's Female Spies, 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. If you're looking for a solid WWII history book, especially one highlighting the often-overlooked...

Lisa Rogak’s *OSS Women: The Secret History of WWII's Female Spies* 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. This book is a must-read for those interested in...

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 *OSS Women: The Secret History of WWII's Female Spies* by Lisa Rogak. These women found the challenges they longed for in the OSS. They faced discrimination, not gar...

I was completely captivated by "OSS Women: The Secret History of WWII's Female Spies" from start to finish. The book offers a nostalgic glimpse into the lives of women, some with ties to Hollywood, during a nearly forgotten chapter of history. I gained so much knowledge about Marlene Dietrich. I knew her from the movies, but her wartime experiences and the difficult choices she faced due to the Nazis were eye-opening. We follow several remarkable women – Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene – each...

A truly brilliant real-life story for anyone fascinated by WWII history. Lisa Rogak's *OSS Women: The Secret History of WWII's Female Spies* focuses on four remarkable women—the iconic actress Marlene Dietrich, Hawaiian reporter Betty MacDonald, Zuzka Lauwers from Czechoslovakia, and Jane Smith-Hutton (wife of a naval attaché stationed in Tokyo)—who were instrumental in a top-secret and incredibly effective propaganda campaign that helped the Allies secure victory. Utterly unputdownable! If you ...