During WWII, numerous brave women, including an African American entertainer from the United States, Josephine Baker, served and risked their lives to defeat the Nazis in Europe. Baker, in particular, stood out as she not only served but also became a spy and a heroine of France, a testament to her extraordinary bravery.
Josephine, driven by a desire to showcase her unique dance style, a fusion of various influences she had made her own, left the United States due to racial discrimination. Her talent caught the eye of producers seeking a versatile performer for a touring show in France. Her dancing, a symbol of the vibrant Jazz Age and a part of the Harlem Renaissance, was hailed as a new form of artistry.
She became popular and inspired Parisians, writers like Ernest Hemingway, and artists like Pablo Picasso. Throughout her time in France, she became wealthy, and her popularity would only increase when she went on a European tour in 1928. During this tour of 25 countries, Baker began to realize that some people started to embrace the Nazi ideology in Germany and Austria. Audiences began to be hostile toward her, and she joined the organization International Against Racism and Anti-Semitism. It was then that Josephine knew she had to do something to fight the Nazis.
When the French military intelligence sought undercover agents, Josephine’s unique circumstances made her an ideal candidate. She gathered political information at parties and events, discreetly noting it down and concealing it in her undergarments. Her performances ceased when the Nazis invaded France and labeled her a decadent artist.
In southern France, Josephine’s private chateau, Les Milandes, became a crucial hub for the Resistance. It served as a stop-off for fighters, a safe house, and a storage facility for weapons. Despite being forced to leave her chateau, Josephine continued her mission, performing in Spain, Portugal, and North Africa and gathering information for the Resistance.
Josephine Baker’s contributions to the war effort did not go unnoticed. The French government, in recognition of her bravery and dedication, honored her with full military honors at her death in 1975. This acknowledgment of her service is a testament to the significant impact she had on the war and the respect she earned from the French government.