In May 1940, the French were shocked to hear that the German troops had succeeded in crossing into France. By mid-June they reached Paris. Armistice was signed on June 22nd. The Republic was dissolved and replaced by a new system of government led by Maréchal Pétain.

For many French people this was unacceptable. They started to resist. Some took up arms. Some wrote and distributed pamphlets and newspapers. Some collected intelligence and informed the Allies. Some offered refuge to those hunted by the Germans and the Vichy police and organized the escape of those that were in danger.

Women accounted for between 20 to 30 percent of all Resistance members. And yet, only six women have been honored as Companions of the Liberation – Marie Hackin, Berthy Albrecht, Laure Diebold, Marcelle Henry, Émilienne Moreau-Évrard and Simone Michel-Lévy – compared with 1,038 men. Of those that received a medal for having contributed to the Resistance only 8,6% were women. Yet 6,700 women were arrested and deported from occupied France, most of them members of the Resistance.

My aim is to talk about these women – those that have been forgotten by history.