How much do you know about the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the World War II predecessor to the CIA? Want to learn more, then join Lisa Rogak as she twines the tales of four women who worked in the Morale Operations branch of the OSS.

Lisa Rogak opens with background chapters on each of the four women in Propaganda Girls - Elizabeth "Betty" McDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, Barbara "Zuzka" Lauwers, and Marlene Dietrich. The background chapters lay the groundwork and motivation of why each woman volunteered to be part of the OSS's black propaganda operation. The next several rounds of chapters laid out the various jobs they held and how each of these jobs whether in Washington D.C., in India, China, Italy, or France managed to aid the Allied cause while raising havoc with the Axis forces. For example, Zuzka had toilet paper created with the image of Hitler's face and the German phrase "Use this side" airdropped behind enemy lines. She also used POWs to sneak behind German lines in Italy with pamphlets saying that the war was over and Kesselring was in charge. Betty used her skills as a newspaper reporter to create newsletters dropped on Japan and behind the lines in China to create division in the enemy population. Jane used her hard-earned knowledge the Japanese language and culture to hold "rumor mill" sessions that proposed various rumors to be spread by spies and to create black propaganda items. Marlene was involved radio broadcasts from London that were beamed to Allied troops, but picked up the Germans as well. She was also in the MUZAK Project which had popular American songs sung in German by German artists. Marlene recorded 12 songs, some with special lyrics, for the program. Years later, all 12 songs were released as an album. Finally, Lisa Rognak covers the lives and careers of all four women after the end of the war.

So, if you are looking for a readable, well-documented account of some of the women who worked for the OSS, pick up Propaganda Girls and settle in for the ride.

Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this title!

Well, I just loved this book! It's inspiring, it is educational, it's funny at times - I think that this should be required reading in schools. It felt very modern for a book that is covering events from 80 years ago. It made me want to learn even more about Marlene Dettrick. These stories are ripe for an on-screen adaptation. Loved.

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 propaganda campaign that contributed to the Allies winning the war. Unputdownable!

This is a concise and engaging account of four women who helped to end WWII in a way no one ever expected them to be able to. I really enjoyed this and will be using the stories of these women in my classroom.

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 decisions that were difficult at that time. We follow several ladies, Betty, Zuzka, Jane and Marlene. These four women made their own impact during the war which sadly could not be recognized. I will be looking for more of Rogak’s work.