This well-researched book tells the story of 4 young women working undercover for the OSS to create propaganda to demoralize enemy soldiers during WW2. Bored with limited opportunities to get involved in the war, these women were recruited based on their sense of adventure. I was impressed by their creativity as well as the freedom they were given to spread false information. One of the women was Marlene Dietrich, the famed actress and singer of the 1930s and 40s. She recorded songs for the enemy soldiers with lyrics meant to bring them down. I didn't realize she had such a pivotal role in the war! While the stories of these women are true, the book reads like a novel. Unputdownable!

The Propaganda Girls were a small group of women in the OSS in the latter stages of World War II. Their job was to develop and distribute whatever they could to disrupt both German and Japanese war efforts. Rogak takes a deep dive into four of these women. It wasn't clear to me if there were more than four.

One of these women was the actress Marlene Dietrich who would just blatantly broadcast into Germany while undertaking a variety of other activities to undermine the Nazis. The other three women were obviously less well-known. One was an eastern European whose family had suffered at the hands of the Nazis, one was the wife of a US diplomatic officer who had served in Japan, and the fourth had a number of ties in a variety of countries around the globe.

Their activities ranged from simply creating and distributing pamphlets to recruiting spies to carrying out sabotage. They did all this while overcoming some real prejudices within the military leadership of some of the OSS officers.

This was a fund book. I found it a really good read about something I knew nothing about.

Did you know that Marlene Deitrich spent much of the war years traveling around the world uplifting US soldiers? This non-fiction work details the lives of 4 women who aided the US cause by creating propaganda for the Axis civilian population. In Marlene's case, since she was German, she recorded music with lyrics to demoralize the enemy.

The other 3 women had these kinds of false marketing jobs spreading leaflets and news stories. Some of them were hilarious, like sending leaflets throughout German camps in Italy as if written by women looking to provide comfort for soldiers. Those signing up were to wear an attached emblem. Many put the emblem on and eventually surrendered.

The stories were well-written and engaging, almost like a WW2 spy novel. The 4 women the author chose to highlight were a diverse group, including 2 German speakers and 2 Japanese speakers, some famous and most not, some rich and some poor. I found it interesting how the war changed these women so much, and most couldn't go back to the lives they had before. But not all. It was excellent representation.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Lisa Rogak, for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

This was such an amazing and informative read. I thought it was so interesting to learn about the women spies of WW2.

I really enjoyed this book about four remarkable women and their experiences in the OSS during World War II. The author’s choice of these four women gives us a range of experiences and a truly global tale. The women really come to life in these pages through their remarkable adventures.

Whether you’re interested in World War II history or women’s history, you’ll enjoy the stories in these pages. Plus, it’s a cautionary tale about the power of propaganda.

This was a fantastic book that showed a side of WWII that most of us have never seen. This book chronicles the lives of four very different women with a few things in common. However, one thing they did have in common was an aptitude for languages.

The of the women you most likely have never heard of unless you were in the OSS (now the CIA) and the very famous Marlene Dietrich (who gave up her German citizenship and became an Amercan because of the war).

As explained in the synopsis of the book, these four women (Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene) became famous for working with the OSS in a covert and successful military campaign that created propaganda of the dark kind.

This book is written with chapters based on each woman. We glimpse through their eyes the atrocities of this war, and we see them do their part to fight it. We also get a good look at the gender inequality of the times.

This was a difficult book for me to put down - so I didn't! I loved every minute of it and came out of this thinking that I could have been friends with any or all of them. The author made them into flesh and blood instead of just characters on a page.

I highly recommend this book and think it would be a perfect read for book clubs that are looking for a history book that isn't dry and is a bit unusual.

*ARC supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/ Macmillan, the author, and NetGalley.

This book was amazing! I have always been interested in reading about WWI and WWII, and especially involving women's role during this wars. Men went off to fight, but women also played a crucial role whether that was direct involvement in war efforts or taking over the husband's duties while they were serving.

This book did not disappoint!! I had never heard of these women before this book, but now that I have am I so impressed. Betty MacDonald really stuck out to me, but all of the women have amazing stories and roles.

Betty MacDonald, Zuzka Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich all felt the call during WWII to get directly involved... and their efforts are what ultimatley contributed to the end of the war by using their intelligence, wit and drive to produce propaganda which was sent out to essentially break the spirits of Axis soldiers.

It was so interesting to read the creative ways that these women got involved in WWII. They used their smarts and talents to raise morale for our men and to break the morale of Axis soldiers. I loved reading about the Marlene's involvement in the entertainement business and Betty's involvement in writing books.

This was such a face paced read and very inspiring if I do say so. I think it is so important that the efforts that women put forth in what may be deemed a male-dominated area are brought forth. There are so many intelligent women both today and in the past that we can look to as role models and any four of these women mentioned in this work of nonfiction do not fall short of that!

The stories of these four women are remarkable, made all the more so because the stories are true. The potential reader would think that the solo story of Marlene Dietrich would be more interesting than the others, but the other stories are as compelling as that of Ms. Dietrich, famous as she was for her many exploits in stage and screen, as well as her contempt of Nazis and Hitler.

I think most people know that women were involved in WWII, but I don't think most people realize how involved they were. This book carefully sketches the accomplishments of four women who took matters into their own hands and showed bravery and inventiveness in order to get information to our allies and maybe more importantly, to get disinformation to our enemies. More non-fiction stories should be written about the involvement of women in war-time.

My appreciation to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I find the older I get the more I find myself interested in historical fiction and so when I saw the opportunity to jump into a non-fiction about 4 badass women in world war 2, I jumped on it! That being said, maybe it’s my fiction loving self that found this a bit tough to get through. The histories depicted in this book brought new insight to me into world war 2 and how women were making strides despite the time but I craved a bit more from the story telling. It’s a quick read and definitely offers great perspective into something we definitely were not taught about the war!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Marten’s press for this e-ARC!

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in exchange for a fair review. Author Lisa Rogak presents the story of four remarkable women who worked for 'Wild Bill Donovan' and the OSS (the precursor to the CIA) during World War II. The ladies included: Betty McDonald (a reporter from Hawaii), Zuzka Lauwers (a multi-lingual lady from Czechoslovakia), Jane Smith Hutton (the wife of a naval attaché and living in Tokyo) and the very famous Marlene Dietrich (renowned actress originally from Germany) who vehemently denounced the Nazis. These ladies were fierce in churning out all types of propaganda--both written and oral--urging enemy soldiers to surrender by convincing them that they were losing the war. Their creativity and bravery should not go unnoticed and Rogak brings their stories up front and center. Donovan pretty much gave them free reign, allowing these women to come up with their own ideas and then execute them. My only complain about this book is that i wish it was more in-depth. It seemed to only scratch the surface of what these four ladies actually accomplished, and the bravery required.

Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak is a gripping, eye-opening look at the young women behind North Korea’s carefully crafted image. Blending history, politics, and personal stories, Rogak unveils the unsettling reality behind the regime’s propaganda machine. Fascinating, unsettling, and impossible to put down—this is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the power of media and control.

Propaganda Girls is an interesting read on an area of WWII that has received little if any attention. Rogak shares the stories of four women who worked to create black propaganda--propaganda designed to look as if it came from internal sources--to help win WWII on both the European and Pacific fronts. The four women each have their own unique story told in alternating chapters, and although there is some overlap between the women, each is described distinctly enough to keep their stories straight. Although this is a quick read, readers get a good look into the lives of the four women before, during, and after the war and specific details about their undercover work. A chapter at the end to wrap up the story and maybe give a bit of information on how black propaganda has been used since WWII would've been nice, but Rogak does a nice job of otherwise wrapping everything up with a neat bow.

This is a well-written, meticulously researched, informative WWII non-fiction book. It is told from the point of view of four distinct women who served in the OSS during WWII. I was thoroughly immersed in their fascinating stories, and look forward to learning more about these incredible, brave, intelligent and heroic women. The author's acknowledgement, bibliography, and footnotes are enlightening and are truly appreciated. Many thanks to Ms. Rogak, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this engrossing book. This is my honest opinion.

Where in the world do authors find these otherwise unknown stories and then bring them into the light for all of us to learn from?? Known as Donovan's Dreamers, I was fascinated by the heroism of these 4 women, who were part of the group who turned half truths into out and out lies in order to turn the Axis of WWII on its head and get the war weary enemy soldiers to defect to the Allies side. Through carefully designed slogans, stories in newspapers or magazines or pamphlets which were placed strategically throughout the Axis theatre, these women were able to "hurt people better, maybe, than men could think of."( @35%) General "Wild Bill" Donovan headed up the Office of Strategic Services, aka OSS, what would become the CIA today and found women who he believed had the brain power to pull off this "black propaganda." Over the course of the war, the OSS, was extremely effective in getting enemy soldiers to lose heart and go over to the other side.
At a time when men were off fighting, women were more than happy to help the war effort. The women highlighted in this book were already in the work force, when the thinking was that women should only be at home raising children and going to garden parties. The author shares each of their backgrounds and their discontentment in traditional roles. Betty MacDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, Zuzka Lauwers and actress Marlene Dietrich were some of those tasked with this incredible role which had amazing results over the course of the 4 years they were involved and all have said in interviews after the war, it was the best job they ever held and were gratified to help the war effort in this way. Working in this job however was not without the gender prejudice they felt in civilian life as many higher ups still looked down on the work they were doing for the war effort as women couldn't possibly be as effective as men in the role of propaganda agents.
Truly enjoyed the story but it could have benefited from some more tension-filled moments to keep it from becoming too dry. That said, I am glad to know about these amazing women and what
they did to put their stamp on turning the tide of WWII.

The book follows the pre-war, wartime and post-war lives of Betty MacDonald, Zuzka Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton and Marlene Dietrich. Although they all came from different backgrounds they shared a striving to be more than what society dictated women should be. What amazed me was that each woman spent an entire lifetime fighting. Fighting to have a career. To serve their country. To be taken seriously. For equality. Recognition. Equity. And finally for a life after the war that could be as fulfilling as the short time they were allowed to use their talents and brilliance to serve a greater cause. These women were remarkable and yet they are just a handful of women who represent the thousands throughout history who have done the hard work without recognition, glory or remembrance. I'm glad their stories are being told.

It is very frustrating how much of women’s history is not common knowledge. Lisa Rogak’s book brings to light the roles Betty MacDonald, Zuzka Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton and Marlene Dietrich played in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. They may not have been the front lines directly fighting the battles, but they were contributing to the war effort through their propaganda. Throughout the book, you learn about the creative efforts these women took to serve their country and the personal sacrifices they made. Also, as with most things, it highlights the lack of equal treatment for women in terms of pay, recognition and other areas in comparison to their male colleagues.

If you are interested in learning more about the important roles women have played in our history, this is a must read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#PropogandaGirls, #LisaRogak, #NetGalley

Four brilliant, creative, adventurous, resourceful women, finding a way to make unique contributions to the effort to win World War II. Finding a way to thrive in the macho culture of the Office of Strategic Services (the WW II precursor to the CIA) and the Army’s chain of command. It is a great story.

I doubt you have ever heard of three of these women. The fourth, though, is Marlene Dietrich.

I confess that Dietrich’s involvement in the story is what got me to start reading the book. That is what it took for me to invest my time in learning about the heroic contributions of the other three—Elizabeth “Betty” MacDonald, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Barbara “Zuzka” Lauwers-- who are given equal attention by the author and whose stories are relatable in ways that Dietrich’s is not.

Dietrich’s story probably will attract readers like me, who might not otherwise seek out this book. Certainly, the book benefits from the glamour Dietrich’s story brings to it. And I grant that Dietrich’s unrelenting efforts to defeat the Nazis (making her a special target of Hitler’s rage) m needs to be better known. So, if the presence of Dietrich in the book boosts the book’s readership, then I thank the author for her decision to include Dietrich. Though I think the stories of the other three are enough to make the book worthwhile on their own.

There are a few things that bother me about the book. The author sometimes is unable to avoid relying on clunky metaphors and cliches (for example, “a boatload of challenges”; “out from under her husband’s thumb and able to call her own shots”; “always up for an adventure”; “up-and-coming architect”; “wasn’t crazy about”; “deep literary roots”; “threw herself into”). And I think she is overly chummy with her protagonists. She writes as if she is their best friend.

Also, I am not a fan of the book’s structure. Each of the protagonists is given a chapter, not necessarily in the same order, in each of the four sections of the book. That is, chapters on “Betty”; “Zuzka”; “Jane”; “Marlene” in “Act One,” and then same titles but different order in “Act Two,” “Act Three,” and “Act Four.” Maybe there is no better way to tell four separate stories that run in parallel but do not overlap very much. Still, I wonder if your reading experience might be more rewarding if you read all the chapters on Betty, and then all the chapters on Zuzka, and so forth.

Those concerns aside, the narrative does charge along and consistently provides clear descriptions of how “black propaganda”—believable lies designed to weaken an enemy’s morale--was created by these women and how they and it helped win the war.

As I said at the outset, this book tells a great story. I can envision it as the basis for a bingeworthy dramatic series. I think it will have the same effect on you.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for providing an advance copy in galley form for review consideration via Net Galley. Please note: Quotes taken from a galley may change in the final version.
All opinions are my own.

Propaganda Girls
Lisa Rogak, author
St. Martins Press
Release: 3/4/2025

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this fascinating review copy of Propaganda Girls.

I gave it 5 stars due to the depth of information that is included in this book. It is a mini history of the world during World War II, reflected through the lives of the four protagonists who were: Elizabeth (Betty) MacDonald, Marlene Dietrich, Jane Smith-Hutton and Barbara (Zuzka) Lauwers.

William Donovan, director of the Morale Operations of the OSS during WWII got the idea to use “black propaganda" targeting both the civilian and military populations of enemy countries. The four women were employed with this task because as Betty said, “Women can hurt people better.” She proved this literally on December 7, 1941, when scouring Honolulu with her newspaper's photographer in tow, she found a 5-year-old boy lying in some rubble, sound asleep. So, she pinched him, made him cry and the photo was published a week later in Life magazine! For Betty, job #1 was getting a reaction from the readers.

All four of these women are remarkable in so many ways, it is fascinating to read their stories. I appreciated that the author gave pre-OSS bios of each woman and gave us the stories of their after-WW II lives.

I knew that Hitler had declared Marlene public enemy #1 in Germany for her betrayal in becoming a US citizen and in siding against Germany in the pre-war era but I did not know that her mother and sister were still in Berlin and that Marlene had no contact from them for years. I was most surprised at her story because she was completely devoted to the American GI and called them “my boys.” She admired them for leaving their own homeland and to go and fight so hard for the people in other countries.

For anyone who has an interest in WW II or in general history this will be an interesting read and you will learn about daily life in various countries around the globe. These women served, often behind enemy lines, in India, China, Germany, America, Italy.

Good book however I wish as the reader we got to see what the girls actually worked on more and understand the impact rather than their life story.

This is an extremely well-written non-fiction book about 4 women working toward American victory in WW II. They became part of the MO unit designed to spread propaganda while demoralizing the enemy.

The author starts by describing the lives of these 4 different women. They are 2 very different Americans, a Czech and the German movie star, Marlena Dietrich (who was an avid anti-Nazi and an American patriot). The reader is given the background of each woman, even Dietrich. The central portion of the book is devoted to their efforts during the war. These ranged from creating propaganda to interviewing detainees to performing and entertaining the soldiers.
Finally, we learn about the post-war years and their roles and relationships as they returned to civilian life.

I might be the only reader of this book who saw Dietrich in one of her post-war performances. She traveled around the world giving concerts with her handsome, young accompanist Burt Bacharach. She was at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, unforgettably stopping the show and having an audience member removed when she saw a flash go off! So, reading about her exploits gave me a special thrill.

I learned so much from reading this, something makes a lifelong learner very happy! It combined the social history, the struggle for women’s rights with the actual strategy to defeat the enemies.

I highly recommend this book. It’s such a compelling read that it almost feels like fiction. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read, review and learn!