A Guest of the Reich : The Story of American Heiress Gertrude Legendre's Dramatic Captivity and Escape From Nazi Germany

"From the co-author of The Zhivago Affair, a finalist for the National Books Critics Circle Award, comes the riveting story of a wealthy heiress who joined the OSS and was the only American woman in uniform to be captured by the Germans; her imprisonment among the Nazi elite and daring escape in 1945 comprise one of the more remarkable untold episodes of WWII. Gertrude "Gertie" Legendre was a society heiress from South Carolina who lived a charmed life during the 1920s and 1930s. But the attack on Pearl Harbor gave her a different focus and she joined the OSS (the predecessor to the CIA). First in Washington and then in London, some of the most closely-held government secrets passed through her hands. As the Allies advanced into France in September 1944, she was ordered to Paris. Headstrong and eager "to smell the fighting," she fell into Nazi hands. Subjected to repeated interrogations, including by the SS, she held to the fiction that she was merely a U.S. embassy clerk. Her toughness averted a potential intelligence disaster, and unlike most prisoners, Gertie was presumed valuable to Nazis who knew they'd soon need a bargaining chip with the victors. Moved from city to city throughout Germany for six months before her dramatic escape into Switzerland, she was able to witness the collapse of Hitler's Reich as no other American did. A Guest of the Reich provides a propulsive, heart-racing account of a little-known chapter in the story of the war, and a vivid portrait of a truly extraordinary woman"--;Map: Gertie's Europe, 1944-45 -- Paris -- Luxembourg City -- Wyoming -- Addis Ababa -- Hanoi -- Washington, D.C. -- London -- Wallendorf -- Limburg an der lahn -- Diez an der lahn -- Berlin -- Cologne -- Bad Godesberg -- Königswinter -- Kronberg -- Constance -- Bern -- Brandenburg -- Epilogue -- Acknowledgments -- A note on sources -- Notes -- Selected bibliography -- Illustration credits -- Illustrations -- A note about the author. "Thrilling! An intimate spy story, as though a dear friend is taking us along on her misadventure behind Nazi lines." -- Bill Dedman, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Empty Mansions From the co-author of The Zhivago Affair , a finalist for the National Books Critics Circle Award, comes the dramatic story of a South Carolina heiress who joined the OSS and became the first American woman in uniform taken prisoner on the Western front--until her escape from Nazi Germany. Gertrude "Gertie" Legendre was a big-game hunter and from a wealthy industrial family who lived a charmed life in Jazz Age America. Her adventurous spirit made her the inspiration for a Broadway play, Holiday, which became a film starring Katharine Hepburn. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Legendre, by then married and a mother of two, joined the OSS, the wartime spy organization that preceded the CIA. First in Washington and then in London, some of the most closely-held United States government secrets passed through her hands. In A Guest of the Reich, Peter Finn tells the gripping story of how in 1944, while on leave in liberated Paris, Legendre was captured by the Germans after accidentally crossing the front lines. Subjected to repeated interrogations, including by the Gestapo, Legendre entered a daring game of lies with her captors. The Nazis treated her as a "special prisoner" of the SS and moved her from city to city throughout Germany, where she witnessed the collapse of Hitler's Reich as no other American did. After six months in captivity, Legendre escaped into Switzerland. A Guest of the Reich is a propulsive account of a little-known chapter in the history of World War II, as well as a fascinating portrait of an extraordinary woman. From The Co-author Of The Zhivago Affair, A Finalist For The National Books Critics Circle Award, Comes The Riveting Story Of A Wealthy Heiress Who Joined The Oss And Was The Only American Woman In Uniform To Be Captured By The Germans; Her Imprisonment Among The Nazi Elite And Daring Escape In 1945 Comprise One Of The More Remarkable Untold Episodes Of Wwii. Gertrude Gertie Legendre Was A Society Heiress From South Carolina Who Lived A Charmed Life During The 1920s And 1930s. But The Attack On Pearl Harbor Gave Her A Different Focus And She Joined The Oss (the Predecessor To The Cia). First In Washington And Then In London, Some Of The Most Closely-held Government Secrets Passed Through Her Hands. As The Allies Advanced Into France In September 1944, She Was Ordered To Paris. Headstrong And Eager To Smell The Fighting, She Fell Into Nazi Hands. Subjected To Repeated Interrogations, Including By The Ss, She Held To The Fiction That She Was Merely A U.s. Embassy Clerk. Her Toughness Averted A Potential Intelligence Disaster, And Unlike Most Prisoners, Gertie Was Presumed Valuable To Nazis Who Knew They'd Soon Need A Bargaining Chip With The Victors. Moved From City To City Throughout Germany For Six Months Before Her Dramatic Escape Into Switzerland, She Was Able To Witness The Collapse Of Hitler's Reich As No Other American Did. A Guest Of The Reich Provides A Propulsive, Heart-racing Account Of A Little-known Chapter In The Story Of The War, And A Vivid Portrait Of A Truly Extraordinary Woman-- Peter Finn. Map On Endpapers. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [225]-228) And Index. "From the co-author of The Zhivago Affair, a finalist for the National Books Critics Circle Award, comes the riveting story of a wealthy heiress who joined the OSS and was the only American woman in uniform to be captured by the Germans; her imprisonment among the Nazi elite and daring escape in 1945 comprise one of the more remarkable untold episodes of WWII. Gertrude "Gertie" Legendre was a society heiress from South Carolina who lived a charmed life during the 1920s and 1930s. But the attack on Pearl Harbor gave her a different focus and she joined the OSS (the predecessor to the CIA). First in Washington and then in London, some of the most closely-held government secrets passed through her hands. As the Allies advanced into France in September 1944, she was ordered to Paris. Headstrong and eager "to smell the fighting," she fell into Nazi hands. Subjected to repeated interrogations, including by the SS, she held to the fiction that she was merely a U.S. embassy clerk. Her toughness averted a potential intelligence disaster, and unlike most prisoners, Gertie was presumed valuable to Nazis who knew they'd soon need a bargaining chip with the victors. Moved from city to city throughout Germany for six months before her dramatic escape into Switzerland, she was able to witness the collapse of Hitler's Reich as no other American did. A Guest of the Reich provides a propulsive, heart-racing account of a little-known chapter in the story of the war, and a vivid portrait of a truly extraordinary woman"-- Provided by publisher The dramatic story of a South Carolina heiress who joined the OSS and became the first American woman in uniform taken prisoner on the Western front?until her escape from Nazi Germany. Gertrude "Gertie" Legendre was a big-game hunter from a wealthy industrial family who lived a charmed life in Jazz Age America. Her adventurous spirit made her the inspiration for the Broadway play Holiday, which became a film starring Katharine Hepburn. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Legendre, by then married and a mother of two, joined the OSS, the wartime spy organization that preceded the CIA. First in Washington and then in London, some of the most closely-held United States government secrets passed through her hands. In A Guest of the Reich, Peter Finn tells the gripping story of how in 1944, while on leave in liberated Paris, Legendre was captured by the Germans after accidentally crossing the front lines. Subjected to repeated interrogations, including by the Gestapo, Legendre entered a daring game of lies with her captors. The Nazis treated her as a "special prisoner" of the SS and moved her from city to city throughout Germany, where she witnessed the collapse of Hitler's Reich as no other American did. After six months in captivity, Legendre escaped into Switzerland. A Guest of the Reich is a propulsive account of a little-known chapter in the history of World War II, as well as a fascinating portrait of an extraordinary woman A Guest of the Reich is the incredible true story of Gertrude “Gertie” Legendre, an American heiress taken prisoner by the Nazis. Born into a wealthy family, Legendre lived a charmed life in Jazz Age America. But when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, she joined the OSS—the wartime spy organization that preceded the CIA—and headed to Europe. In 1944, while on leave, Legendre accidentally crossed the front lines along the Luxembourg–Germany border and was captured. The Nazis treated her as a “special prisoner” of the SS and moved her from city to city throughout Germany, where she witnessed the collapse of Hitler’s Reich as no other American did, before escaping into Switzerland. A gripping portrait of a multifaceted and deeply fascinating woman, A Guest of the Reich is a propulsive account of a little-known chapter in the history of World War II.