Propaganda Girls, Lisa Rogak
Propaganda Girls, Lisa Rogak
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Propaganda Girls
The Secret War of the Women in the OSS

Author: Lisa Rogak

Narrator: Samara Naeymi

Unabridged: 6 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/04/2025


Synopsis

“Naeymi's mesmerizing narration takes listeners into the heart-stopping intrigue and action of nations at war and into the souls of women with cool demeanors and spines of steel.” —AudioFile

The incredible untold story of four women who spun the web of deception that helped win World War II.

Betty MacDonald was a 28-year-old reporter from Hawaii. Zuzka Lauwers grew up in a tiny Czechoslovakian village and knew five languages by the time she was 21. Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of a naval attaché living in Tokyo. Marlene Dietrich, the German-American actress and singer, was of course one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. These four women, each fascinating in her own right, together contributed to one of the most covert and successful military campaigns in WWII.

As members of the OSS, their task was to create a secret brand of propaganda produced with the sole aim to break the morale of Axis soldiers. Working in the European theater, across enemy lines in occupied China, and in Washington, D.C., Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene forged letters and “official” military orders, wrote and produced entire newspapers, scripted radio broadcasts and songs, and even developed rumors for undercover spies and double agents to spread to the enemy. And outside of a small group of spies, no one knew they existed. Until now.

In Propaganda Girls, bestselling author Lisa Rogak brings to vivid life the incredible true story of four unsung heroes, whose spellbinding achievements would change the course of history.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

About Lisa Rogak

LISA ROGAK is the author of numerous books, including And Nothing But the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert. She is the editor of the New York Times bestseller Barack Obama in His Own Words and author of the New York Times bestseller Angry Optimist: The Life and Times of Jon Stewart. Rogak lives in New Hampshire.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sheila on February 14, 2025

I received a free copy of, Propaganda Girls, 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 wa......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on January 18, 2025

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. Yo......more

Goodreads review by Christine on August 29, 2024

This novel had me engaged the whole time. The nostalgic time with women from Hollywood and a piece of history almost forgotten. I learned a lot about Marlene Dietrich, which I knew from the movies, but her time during the war was difficult with what was happening with the Nazis, and she made decisio......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on February 10, 2025

Lisa Rogak’s Propaganda Girls – The Secret War of the Women in the OSS 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 Operation......more

Goodreads review by Literary on August 31, 2024

A brilliant true-life tale for fans of WWII stories. Features four women--the famous actress Marlene Dietrich, reporter Betty MacDonald from Hawaii, Zuzka Lauwers from Czechoslovakia, and Jane Smith-Hutton (spouse of a naval attaché based in Tokyo)--who helped pull off a highly successful secret pro......more


Quotes

"An enjoyable and briskly told group biography." —Kirkus Reviews

"A page-turning account of the courageous women who manufactured the fog of war and armed the OSS with an arsenal of lies. Rogak writes a story to rival those of her protagonists—except this time it’s true." —John Lisle, author of The Dirty Tricks Department

"A riveting journey into the covert world of female OSS agents who played a pivotal role in securing victory during WWII through strategic cunning, masterful deception, and razor-sharp wit. Readers will be pulled into this gripping account of four women whose unwavering determination and willingness to risk everything helped triumph over the forces of fascism." —Lorissa Rinehart, author of First to the Front

"Lisa Rogak’s extraordinary book centers around a select group of women during World War II who worked for the American Office of Strategic Services... Through the eyes of Marlene, Betty, Zuzka, and Jane, the reader is transported across enemy lines into the thick of clandestine war operations. Rogak’s vivid and engaging narrative launches the reader on a captivating journey. Five star entertainment that both educates and enthralls." —Heath Hardage Lee, author of The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon

"An astonishing slice of untold WWII history, Propaganda Girls is a stunning feat of storytelling. Rogak’s riveting narrative grants the often unknown but courageous women behind the OSS their much-deserved moment in the spotlight.” —Ric Prado, bestselling author of Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior