Lisa Rogak introduced me to a facet of history I had never heard of…Propaganda Girls. She introduces the reader to four different women - 3 are unknowns and the 4th is Marlene Dietrich. I found their stories to be fascinating. Each worked for the MO ( Morale Operations) division of the OSS ( Office of strategic Services). Rogak writes chapters about each one’s contributions to the war. I found their use of propaganda fascinating, especially in the case of Zuzka Lauwers. She truly changed the war by using information she gleaned from the interrogations she performed. I found her to be the most interesting of the four women - and agreed with the assessments of her peers that she definitely should have had a higher rank given all she was given to do and excelled at. I could feel her frustration being overlooked because of her gender.
Marlene Dietrich also fascinated me due to her immense dedication and joy she found in enduring horrible living conditions in order to perform for her boys.
I also found it fascinating that each of them felt most alive during the war years as well as that each of them lived a long fulfilled life.
I found this read to be very interesting and informative. Many thanks to Lisa Rogak, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this fascinating glimpse of a little known facet of history published on March 4th.
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This book didn't appeal to me like I thought it would. I'm not totally certain why, either. It might be a matter of morality. Propaganda is a type of lying. I do perfectly understand why the US felt it was a necessary weapon against Germany and Japan, but I still can't totally accept it. It's nothing personal against the four women, but I wasn't left feeling what glorious jobs they did during the war. I wasn't left feeling proud of them and all they accomplished.

My problem started off in the beginning of the book, when one of the women was a newspaper reporter in Hawaii, and she encountered a child outside in back of a blown-up drugstore on her way to Pearl Harbor. A photographer was with her, and they saw a 5-year-old boy sitting all alone playing with a ribbon. He is smiling, not looking distressed at all, obviously in shock. The photographer tells her it won't be a believable picture if the child looks content and tells her to pinch him so he'll cry. She goes up to the child, speaks some kind words, and then pinches him hard. He screams out, tears flood his eyes, the photo is taken and is sold to "Life" magazine. She pats the child on the head and then leaves with the photographer to go to Pearl Harbor to cover the bombings. What sort of woman would do that? Cruelly pinch a traumatized small child all alone after a bomb hit, and then leave the child crying in the rubble?

The author didn't appear to think that was wrong, either. The woman was most dedicated to her job! Like all the women in this book. That bothered me. It's not that I think all women are obligated to be motherly, and I certainly don't think women should not be allowed to do the jobs men do. Plus, they definitely should be paid what men doing their jobs would be paid, as they unfairly were not during the war. I do realize, too, that the propaganda they created probably helped save countless lives. I don't know . . . I was glad when I reached the end of the book. Maybe I simply dislike war books, and dislike seeing women dragged into the wars that men create, where they sometimes behave like men with limited moral consciousness.

(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.)

Lisa Rogak (https://www.lisarogak.com) is the author of more than 25 books. Propaganda Girls was published a couple of days ago. It is the 16th book I completed reading in 2025.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! I categorize this book as G.

This book focuses on four women recruited into the OSS during WWII. Unlike most women who served in the OSS, these four were not in the field behind enemy lines. They were part of the Morale Operations branch. Contrary to what that name implies, their job was not to boost Allied morale. Their job was to develop and clandestinely distribute black propaganda - disinformation, lies, and rumors. Anything they could think of to diminish the enemy’s morale.

The four women were Betty McIntosh, Barbara “Zuzka” Lauwers, Janes Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich. One had a law degree, most had experience as reporters, and Dietrich was an experienced singer and actress. A brief biography of each woman is presented. A few projects are described, along with an analysis of their effectiveness.

I enjoyed the 5.5 hours I spent reading this 225-page WWII-era history. I have read much about the OSS. This was a story I had not come across before. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

I absolutely loved this book. I loved learning about the women involved in the O.S.S., especially Marlena Dietrich. All of these women had an amazing impact on World War II. I learned so much about each woman's life and impact on the War. Thanks again to NetGalley and MacMillan for access to both the ebook and audriobook. #PropogandaGirls

This book is about four American women who worked for the OSS during WWII, making propaganda to share ideas about the war. One, Marlene Dietrich, was famous, but the others worked quietly. It has four parts: before the war, during the war, and after the war. The best part is the start, where it talks about why they joined and has cool descriptions of Pearl Harbor. Later, the story gets less exciting, even though they were busy (except Dietrich, who left more records). It mentions problems like low pay and harassment but doesn’t talk much about the bigger war or women’s roles. It ends too fast with Jane’s chapter and needs a better ending to wrap things up. WWII fans will like this simple, fun book.

I am generally one who does not read books about WW II. I can take only so many sinking ships and amazingly heroic army divisions. But this book is so different, I really liked it. Plus, it was about women playing a vital but generally unknown part in that war.

I found each of the four stories engaging with so many personal anecdotes. A Czech who became an American citizen and joined the Women's Army Corps. How Marlene got that name, renounced her German citizenship and played a musical saw. Jane being held in the US embassy in Tokyo for six and a half months. Betty's missteps being trained as a secret operative were sometimes humorous.

Rogak did a great deal of research to provide the personal stories included in this book. I think it would be of interest to readers who would like to know more about unusual WW II efforts like writing fake military commands, spreading rumors through the enemy military, writing pamphlets and much more. I recommend this very interesting book.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins for th opportunity to read Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak. Excellent. Painstakingly researched and presented in an interesting manner.

A fascinating (and well-researched) look at Marlene Dietrich, Zuzka Lauwers, Betty Macdonald, Jane Smith-Hutton and their efforts for the OSS that helped win WWII. Before reading this, I was only familiar with Ms Dietrich, but never knew of these accomplishments.

I had a difficult time putting this one down, and recommend. Publishing early in Women’s History Month, Propaganda Girls is a great choice for book clubs, and those interested in history.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the DRC

A compelling look at women who defied convention and worked in secret against the Nazis in WWII. I really enjoyed the incredibly thorough look at the lives of each of these brave ladies and the courage they showed not only as soldiers, but as females in a male dominated field. The tales of their determination and fortitude are inspiring. The research is impeccable and each story jumps from the page.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan audio for my copies. These opinions are my own.

This is a really good book about women in the OSS. By following four particular women, it gives a grand overview of how creative all these women were. That one of them is Marlene Dietrich is a surprising bonus. The stories are fascinating and fun to read. The fact that these women were mistreated and abused because they are women is touched on. Highly recommended.

Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak, covers four of the most famous women to join the OSS a.k.a. Donovan‘s dreamers and goes on to talk about what motivated them. from German Bourne actress Marlena Dietrich to women’s reporter Betty Macintosh, Jane Smith Hutton who lived in Japan when the war started and last but not least Barbara “Zuzka” Lowers a native of Czechoslovakia but like all of these women will prove to be a child of the world. these women proved to be brave and started a wartime tradition not a propaganda but of entertaining the troops and at the same time cording danger. Some would use their feminine wilds some a damsel in distress persona but all was back by intelligence stealth and an aim to fight for good. Molina Dietrich has been my favorite actress for many years but now she is my hero. Some of the act the women do are small and summer are big but all were for the American cause and that of peace. This is a great book I have never read a book by this author before but I will not make that mistake again. If you love historical non fiction then you would definitely love this true story about four brave women in their fight for justice. I especially liked the set up of the book how each ladies chapter win an order so if you want to pass up someone else’s story it is easily done the way she set it up by myself did not pass up anyone’s story and found them all so very interesting. #NetGalley,#SaintMartin’sPress, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #LisaRadek, #PropagandaGirls,

This was such an engaging read! It's a very well-researched book, but the information never feels dry or boring. I loved learning about each of the women profiled in the book. And I loved the glimpse into that side of WWII, at all of the effort that went into demoralizing the Axis side. I did find the book confusing when it jumped around (which didn't happen often), and sometimes I had questions or wanted the author to go into more detail about certain events, but she didn't. I also struggled to keep Betty and Jane's stories separate sometimes and I wish they'd been differentiated a bit more. But those are minor complaints. Overall I loved this book!

This book exceeded my expectations; it was such an amazing read. I was totally engaged throughout the entire novel.
The book was full of vivid descriptions and vivid imagery to the point where I felt like I had slipped into the pages.

5 out of 5 stars

A thrilling look at four talented women from around the world who worked for the United States to produce different forms of propaganda to assist the Allied Powers during World War II.

Lisa Rogak examines the careers of four women: Betty MacDonald from Hawaii, Zuzka Lauwers from Czechoslovakia, Jane Smith-Hutton, a navy attaché wife living in Tokyo, and Marlene Dietrich from Germany, in her book Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS. These four women came from different backgrounds and lived all over the world. Still, they each had talents that made them perfect candidates for the Office of Strategic Services or OSS, the precursor to the CIA, and their goal of fighting the Axis Powers outside the battlefield. The book follows the lives of each woman before, during, and after their work with the OSS. It also discusses the impact the women had on the war efforts and how the jobs affected their lives.

Although Propaganda Girls is not a long book, Rogak condenses her topics enough and adds plenty of detail, so the book feels much longer. I was captivated the whole time while reading. The exploration into Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene provided interesting perspectives into the lives of people, women specifically, outside the battlefield. Rogak shows how women had (and wanted) to work during the war, and how they were welcomed by some but still faced the pushback from the ingrained sexism of the 1940s. This was particularly evident with Jane and Zuzka who were both in the United States military, doing as much work as the men, but could not get a promotion without a great fight. The same issue also came up at the end of the war when women were expected to go back to being wives and mothers, even women who worked hard for their country during the war.

Along with covering the impact women had on the work of the Allied Powers, Rogak explores the use of propaganda in World War II. Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene each had specific talents they used to produce different kinds of propaganda. These talents created leaflets, songs, books, and other mediums that were spread to both soldiers and civilians in war-torn areas around the world. The women all knew multiple languages and used that knowledge to make believable pieces in various languages, including German and Japanese. These skills allowed for the propaganda to spread further and made it more believable. The women’s work impacted the view of the war for soldiers and civilians and contributed to the success of the Allies. Rogak successfully shows all of this through her analysis of the four women.

Even though I enjoyed this book, the one critique I have is, I wish Rogak kept the order of the women the same for each section. The book is split up into four acts, with a chapter dedicated to one woman for each act. However, the order changes for every act and, at times, it becomes hard to follow which woman is being discussed. It was not hard to follow the clues back to whom the chapter focused on, but I often found myself tracing back to earlier chapters to find out who was doing what and from where.

Overall, this book is a very well-written history book. It provides an abundance of information without being overwhelming. Rogak discusses Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene without making the reader feel like they are receiving a play-by-play of their days. I particularly like how Rogak looks at each woman’s life before, after, and during their work with the OSS. It shows the struggles these women faced during those times, while also showing how they rose above the struggles and became successful in fields traditionally held by men. I highly recommend this book for those interested in a different woman-led exploration of World War II.

I've learned so much about the role women played behind the scenes in several wars just because of this book, I believe it will add to the growing literature of books that highlight the importance seen and unseen ways women have contributed to history.

4.5 stars

While I might not adopt this for my classroom, I might very well use anecdotes from this book to share with my students. It is rare to see female representation in World War II history, except as nurses or Rosie the Riveter. Fascinating stories, including someone as exotic and glamorous and exotic as Marlene Dietrich! I try to teach my students that propaganda sometimes gets a bad rap. That's it's not always about demonizing the good guys. That sometimes it can be used to sink the bad guys. And, I love that women used their smarts to do it! Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book description: .The incredible untold story of four women who spun the web of deception that helped win World War II.

The four women in question, Betty Macdonald, Zuzka Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich. The four women worked for the OSS( Office of Strategic Services) and created propaganda that was aimed at shaking the morale of Axis soldiers.

What I Thought:

Well researched. split into four sections, chapters alternating between Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene made it easy to become familiar with each woman. I appreciated so much that, instead of resorting to " this is what she thought," the author, Lisa Rogak, would write "according to____" which just made me like this book even more.

World War II stories continue to flood our book publishing world because let's face it, there are still so many more stories to be revealed and/or further explored. If readers are interested in this topic of history, you will certainly enjoy it. If you're looking for a good Women's History Month read, I do recommend this one.




Publication Date 04/03/25
Goodreads Review 04/03/25

Propaganda Girls is a fascinating look at the women who played key roles in propaganda during World War II. It is thoroughly researched and the writing is engaging and easy to follow.

The book focuses on Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene, who worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during the war. It takes us through their lives before they joined the OSS, their important work during the war, and what came after. For these women, their time in the OSS was the most meaningful part of their lives, knowing they made a real impact. Despite their significant contributions, their work often went unnoticed next to the achievements of their male counterparts, but their roles were crucial in shaping history.

Overall, Propaganda Girls is a must-read for anyone interested in history or media studies. It shines a light on the often-forgotten but incredibly important role these women played in history.

Propaganda Girls is a meticulously well-researched, well-organized, and well-written account of the lives of four women whose work in World War II truly changed the course of the war for the Allied forces, and it's a refreshing peek behind the curtain of how propaganda and the crafting of stories can alter a society.

The book focuses on the sometimes-intertwining lives of Betty Mcdonald, Bozena (Zuzka) Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich. Each woman worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II in various capacities, but all of their roles, in one way or another, consisted of crafting black propaganda to target the Axis forces. In different ways, they created stories, entertainment, political cartoons, and leaflets that, when carefully disseminated and distributed into the hands of their enemies, had the power to sway thousands of soldiers to surrender.

Not only did I find the stories of these four individual women fascinating, I also thought the subject matter posed a fascinating perspective on the role of propaganda. It's something that our public consciousness should focus on more, especially in today's climate of social media and our access immediate information distribution. It's important to think about who is crafting the messages that we read and to ponder the subversive messages beneath them. The impact that these four women and their talent, ideas, and brains alone had on the messaging of World War II was massive - to imagine how much more impactful some of their work would be in today's world is staggering to consider.

I'm coming away from this book feeling grateful to know the names of these women who added so much to the effort of World War II and to our nation's (and world's) history. Too often, the stories of women in history are overshadowed by their male counterparts', so a big thank you to Lisa Rogak for highlighting Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene!

And thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. This book is out today & it's one I'd encourage anyone to pick up and read.

I enjoyed reading Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!