Beyond Rosie: Women in World War II - Kennesaw State University

Beyond Rosie: Women in World War II
Source Sheet 24:
VERA LEIGH
Born: March 17, 1903
Birth Place: Leeds, England
When the Germans invaded France in May of 1940,
Leigh joined the French Resistance and became involved
in underground escape lines for Allied servicemen trapped
behind enemy lines. Using the same escape route, Leigh
was captured and imprisoned in Spain while crossing the
Pyrenees. She was eventually released and made her way
to England. She was trained to become a British special agent using the code name
“Simone” and was flown to Tours in May of 1943. Leigh made her way to Paris where
she rented an apartment, carried messages in and out of the city and escorted Allied
soldiers through the streets of Paris to freedom. She was arrested by the Gestapo in
October of 1943. In July of 1944, Leigh was taken to the concentration camp at Natzweiler
where she was injected with Phenol and burned in the crematorium furnace.
Teacher’s Guide
PAGE 49
1. Why did women have the advantage as spies?
2. What were the benefits of Vera Leigh speaking both English and French?
3. What do you feel were some of the biggest challenges for the French Underground?
4. How do you think the Parisians felt during the German occupation?