سه شنبه ۲۰ شهریور ۰۳ | ۲۱:۲۵ ۱۱ بازديد
For thousands of years, governments have relied on
spies to gather information about their enemies. Until
the twentieth century, most spies were men. During
World War II, however, many women became active in
the world of espionage.
Yoshiko Kawashima was born in China but raised in
Japan. In 1932, she was sent to China by Japanese
authorities to gather information for the invasion of
China. Disguised as a young man, Kawashima was an
active and effective spy until her arrest by the Chinese
in 1945. The Chinese news agency announced that “a
long-sought-for beauty in male costume was arrested
today in Beijing.” She was executed soon after her
arrest.
Hekmath Fathmy was an Egyptian dancer. Her hatred
of the British, who had occupied Egypt, caused her to
become a spy for the Germans. Fathmy sang and
danced for British troops in the Kit Kat Club, a nightclub
in Cairo. After shows, she took British officers to her
houseboat on the banks of the Nile. Any information
she was able to obtain from her guests was passed on
to John Eppler, a German spy in Cairo. Eventually, she
was caught, but she served only a year in prison for her
spying activities.
Violette Szabo of French/Eng-
lish background became a spy
after her husband died fighting
the Germans in North Africa.
She joined Special Operations
Executive, an arm of British
Intelligence, and was sent to
France several times. In August
1944, she parachuted into
France to spy on the Germans.
Caught by Gestapo forces at
Salon La Tour, she was tortured
and then shipped to Ravens-
bruck, a women’s concentration
camp near Berlin. She was exe-
cuted there in April 1945
spies to gather information about their enemies. Until
the twentieth century, most spies were men. During
World War II, however, many women became active in
the world of espionage.
Yoshiko Kawashima was born in China but raised in
Japan. In 1932, she was sent to China by Japanese
authorities to gather information for the invasion of
China. Disguised as a young man, Kawashima was an
active and effective spy until her arrest by the Chinese
in 1945. The Chinese news agency announced that “a
long-sought-for beauty in male costume was arrested
today in Beijing.” She was executed soon after her
arrest.
Hekmath Fathmy was an Egyptian dancer. Her hatred
of the British, who had occupied Egypt, caused her to
become a spy for the Germans. Fathmy sang and
danced for British troops in the Kit Kat Club, a nightclub
in Cairo. After shows, she took British officers to her
houseboat on the banks of the Nile. Any information
she was able to obtain from her guests was passed on
to John Eppler, a German spy in Cairo. Eventually, she
was caught, but she served only a year in prison for her
spying activities.
Violette Szabo of French/Eng-
lish background became a spy
after her husband died fighting
the Germans in North Africa.
She joined Special Operations
Executive, an arm of British
Intelligence, and was sent to
France several times. In August
1944, she parachuted into
France to spy on the Germans.
Caught by Gestapo forces at
Salon La Tour, she was tortured
and then shipped to Ravens-
bruck, a women’s concentration
camp near Berlin. She was exe-
cuted there in April 1945
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