Virginia Hall: America’s Most Successful Female WWII Spy

Рет қаралды 69,409

Күн бұрын

Virginia Hall was a trailblazing spy. She didn’t let a hunting accident which robbed her of a leg slow her down. A Baltimorean with an interest in foreign languages and the gumption to overcome obstacles both physical and cultural, Hall operated courageously behind enemy lines in occupied France during World War II.
She coordinated French Resistance efforts and put her life on the line first as an agent for the English Special Operations Executive and then with the US Office of Strategic Services.
Award-winning author Sonia Purnell’s new book A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II takes a fresh look at Hall’s espionage activities and how they changed the course of the conflict. And who better to interview Purnell about Virginia Hall than another trailblazing spy: Jonna Mendez, former CIA chief of disguise and co-author of Moscow Rules.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoying our programs? Please consider making a donation and support the Spy Museum's educational mission: bit.ly/3NUqU9C
Spy Museum's upcoming VIRTUAL programs: www.spymuseum.org/calendar/
Follow us:
Facebook: / intlspymuseum
Twitter: / intlspymuseum
Instagram: / spymuseum
SpyCast: thecyberwire.com/podcasts/spy...
The International Spy Museum® is an independent nonprofit organization. Generous support from viewers like you fuel our nonprofit mission and make our collection, exhibits, and educational programs like this possible.

Пікірлер: 66

@jcortese3300 4 жыл бұрын

Why has no one optioned this book for an effing movie?! Why do we see dozens of made-up fictional spy movies with male leads and yet no one has touched this staggering real-life story?

@Noirzucar 4 жыл бұрын

You speak truth to word.

@jbllc6873 4 жыл бұрын

The British actress who plays Rey in the Star Wars films is supposed to portray Virginia Hall in a film based on this book

@jcortese3300 4 жыл бұрын

@@jbllc6873 Awesome, thanks! That will be wonderful!

@DeletedAccountxxx 4 жыл бұрын

J Cortese Hollywood blockbuster director of the moment JJ Abrams bought the film rights and is making it into a film, with Hall being played my Star Wars heroine Daisy Ridley. Let’s hope they do the story justice. can Ridley pull it off? I had imagined Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira as a more suitable choice.

@patdicarlo1 4 жыл бұрын

Im reading this one now. Also, another wonderful female spy book by Lynn Olsen, called Madame Fourcade's secret war. Also true!

@susansykes6855 2 жыл бұрын

There is a film called Call to Spy, it shows the incredible heroism of Virginia. The Gestapo posted wanted photos of her and named her the limping lady

@beverleyjohnson7434 3 жыл бұрын

The book was so well written and it made me wish I could have know her. It reminded me to continue thanking any man or woman in uniform for serving our country.

@liash1015 3 жыл бұрын

Once we can travel again, I'm signing up for the Virgina Hall tour of France!

@MaryJohanna 4 жыл бұрын

Just finished reading the book, what a badass woman that we just don't know enough about.

@ernarc23 2 жыл бұрын

What a phenomenal life and contribution to history Virginia made. Thank you so much for sharing this presentation! 💕

@michaelburrell6574 3 жыл бұрын

This story of such a remarkable woman, SHOULD be made in to a Movie or into a television series......truth is just more amazing than fiction......

@deniseIEW 4 жыл бұрын

Both of these women were delightful to listen to. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Virginia Hall's story.

@radiok2ua 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much for telling this story! Can't wait to read the book!

@brendafitch9589 4 жыл бұрын

Such a wonderful informative presentation and interview! Bravo ! 👍👍👍👏👏👏👏

@stellayates4227 3 жыл бұрын

A brilliant story which is so inspiring! Thank you for uploading.

@workingguy6666 4 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the coverage of Virginia. Knew about her already, but this was a nice addendum.

@icarustheother8591 2 жыл бұрын

I love what you said we have a microphone over there. There's more than one. Obviously because there's one sitting right in front of you. Thank you Mendez both of you alive or dead. You guys are awesome. Such inspiration. You can't be beat. I've been trying LOL it's not working out.. one of these days maybe we'll meet I hope doing it you guys are outstanding. Thank you so much.

@redbird726 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic story, fantastic presentation!!

@LeeAnnahsCreations 2 жыл бұрын

Seriously need a full length movie about this!!!

@sprayarm Жыл бұрын

Incredible story! Getting this book for Mom for Christmas.

@Viv8ldi 5 ай бұрын

Thanx this is so good

@footiefan51 Жыл бұрын

From the start, each page of this book was gripping. What an incredible life. I didn't want to finish the book. I hope the movie does the book justice.

@jorymil 9 ай бұрын

Anyone who buys her own gondola to get around Venice is someone worth knowing about.

@milandaertl9864 Жыл бұрын

Virginia Hall we will never forget you. Hero Hero Hero

@monelleny 3 жыл бұрын

Not to take anything away from this remarkable woman, I would love to know the source of information for Purnell's assertion that there was no Resistance in France until Hall showed up.

@Standinthegap4ever 8 ай бұрын

The cia should have made Hall a trainer or “professor”. If she’d been given more credit & tasks the cia would probably be a whole different agency today.

@debbiehill4248 Жыл бұрын

Nancy Wake (the white mouse) an Australian SOE agent , another brilliant story. I would love to have been by Virginia's side. What an adventure.

@Hebdomad7 7 ай бұрын

1:07:15 The Audacity of that child to ask a journalist who specializes in stories of espionage to reveal her sources! This one is going to go far...

@stanthology 3 жыл бұрын

Always engage your safety.

@thenorthernspinozist397 2 жыл бұрын

She was better than the best Navy Seal.

@DogKata 3 жыл бұрын

Why are they pretending that there are no other books about Virginia Hall? I bought Judith Pearson's book, Wolves at the Door, 2008, about Virginia, at the Spy Museum and there are other books as well.

@himartem 3 жыл бұрын

I Just finished watching "To Call to Spy". Movie about Virginia Hall when she was spying against Nazis for the British during WW2 working in occupied France.

@workman3951 4 жыл бұрын

So... when will Steven Spielberg be making Virginia Hall: A Woman of No Importance - The Movie?

@jessicaagriani 3 жыл бұрын

I think it’s in development. Back in 2017 it says Paramount acquired it and it has Daisy Ridley in it. No writers nor director yet unfortunately. I would like Spielberg/Bigelow to direct if possible. That would be cool

@BoodlooderJeet Жыл бұрын

HEY! you cut the intro song short....

@susansykes6855 2 жыл бұрын

When Ms Hall went to France before 1941, as an American, she was a neutral until Pearl Harbour but gathered ntelligence reports then went into SOE

@allangibson2408 3 жыл бұрын

Not exactly a one off. Nancy Wake was active during the same period in France - initially freelance running an escape network but from 1943 with SOE. SOE did give their female operatives military ranks with Nancy becoming a captain.

@susansykes6855 2 жыл бұрын

Nancy Wake, Noor Inyat Khan, Nearne sisters Violette Szabo, Odette Sansom, Denise Bloch and many other incredibly, brave agents

@icarustheother8591 2 жыл бұрын

I'm going to have her to reference the spies that were living together where Mrs Mendez said all I can see is like cigarette butted beer cans laying around.. those boys got it done though. What a fantasy to be able to walk through the Halls of such intellect! It's only because I'm KAREN I mean caring! Dang it I don't know where Karen came from

@georgesam363 6 ай бұрын

But the Germans didn't invade THROUGH the Maginot Line; they went AROUND it.

@losangeles1973 3 жыл бұрын

What was the name of the double agent priest that collaborated with the Nazis?

@lizkennebeck8855 3 жыл бұрын

Robert Alesch -known as the abbe

@emilyclark4804 3 жыл бұрын

Father alesch

@lornakim5706 3 жыл бұрын

All of my Comments via KZfaq Farther Mark Goring 26+ July and into August 2021; &, Kentucky Legend Whiskey-glazed Ham Recipe on additional Videos

@stevensibbet5869 2 жыл бұрын

People with good genes should BREEED! Pass on their good genes, they are so rare.

@amy-luna 2 жыл бұрын

Observation: Perhaps we should stop calling females who reject sex stereotype socialization "tomBOYs." It just reinforces those same sex stereotypes.

@victoriapendleton4099 3 жыл бұрын

Really bad hair day!

@ttrainor70 3 жыл бұрын

She appears a highly intelligent and attractive woman. Why would you say she has no importance? Are you a misogynist?

@patriciax3677 3 жыл бұрын

I think the title was tongue in cheek because of the fact that so many with power to recognize her talent and give her support did not do that ...and it was clearly sexism that was the barricade w/ attitudes from those w/ power that she was "not important" enough to be given the chance to prove her mettle She did it anyway but of course, all the prejuce just made her job harder. Imagine what she could have achieved if she'd had the kind of support men w/ her guts and ambition had?

@kat3400 2 жыл бұрын

@craigcrawford6749 4 жыл бұрын

Note to all on public speaking - you can use another adjective other than "amazing" 15 times in your intro. If you have to emphasize "amazing" 40 times when talking about women, it makes it seems like maybe they ain't really "amazing" at all. Nice clothing choice tho - 70's tube top under a lumberjack shirt and some floppy cleavage showing.

@Elwood2911 3 жыл бұрын

Craig Crawford: I thought I was the only one totally fed up with the overuse, ... and inappropriate usage of "amazing" . This exemplifies a LAZY mind ... with a limited vocabulary ... attempting to impress. I ain't impressed! In fact, I CLICK OFF anyone the second time they use "amazing". I take the same action whenever I hear (usually females) make a statement with a ? inflection in their voice. Is ENGLISH not a taught subject anymore?