Twelve of these were women and among Atkins’s most cherished spies. Throughout the war, Atkins recruited, trained, and mentored the agents for the SOE’s French Section, which sent more than four hundred young men and women into occupied France-at least one hundred of whom never returned and were reported “Missing Presumed Dead” after the war. Once rumored to have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s Miss Moneypenny, Vera Atkins climbed her way to the top in the Special Operations Executive, or Britain’s secret service created to help build up, organize, and arm the resistance in the Nazi-occupied countries.

It presents a more realistic view of the role of SOE operations than that portrayed in more popular books and films. This is a serious book well worth reading (or listening to ) for anyone interested in WW2 in Europe. The post war period is very well described. This book spells out clearly the repeated and serious errors of judgement made by Maurice Buckminister which led to the death of many agents and resistors in France. Through records, from a diverse range of worldwide sources, a compelling picture is painted of the central figure Vera Atkins, the SOE staff, the secret agents, the role of German officials and officers, resistance members, the horror of imprisonments suffered, the strangeness of the war crimes trials, and the many unanswered questions. Her research leads the author to interview and meet numerous people -often descendants - from both sides. The author uses this biography of a key figure to delve into and document complex interactions between agencies and enemies during and after WW2. Unfortunately much of her story died with her in 2000, but, following in the footsteps of others who followed it somewhat earlier, this author tireless dug for evidence & drew some conclusions of her own that are very thought provoking & entertaining to hear.įascinating history of SOE operations WWII This woman had an intimate personal view of the inside of goings on in a complex time.

It stretches from her childhood in Romania across many countries & decades & characters. While espionage has captivated many, Ian Fleming's James Bond fans to name just some, Miss Atkins' story was deep & interesting beyond her short time in a leadership role from London during the war. She was a Romanian born British intelligence officer who worked in the France section of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during WWII.

I became aware of Vera from the 30+ hours of Sarah Helm's thorough history of Ravensbruck (concentration camp for women). This was subject matter I would not have expected to choose or care a thing about. We will never know much of what she knew/did

A Life in Secrets by Sarah Helm