A wonderful history about the impacts that four women had as members of the OSS and their black propaganda campaigns that helped win the war on both the European and Pacific fronts. I'm always interested in the histories of women and they are so often left out of mainstream history narratives.

This book does a great job navigating between the narratives of multiple stories, as it focused on multiple figures amongst the "propoganda girls" mentioned in its title. However, it might have served the book better to have split the story into each individual narratives instead of going back and forth, as it was harder to keep up with the stories within the audiobook format. Overall, I thought the book was well researched and well written.

Propaganda Girls shares the story of 4 women who worked in the Morale Office (should have been called demoralization office) of the OSS (the precursor of the CIA) during WWII.

I recognized the names of 3 of the four women. Betty MacDonald and Jane Smith-Hutton appeared in the biographical fiction novel The Secret War of Julia Child. They were minor characters, though Betty had a larger part than Jane. I loved getting to know more of their real story. And yes, there is mention of Betty knowing Julia.

A name that many will probably recognize is Marlene Dietrich. She was an actress from Germany. I knew the highlights of her life during WWII - primarily that she did radio'' propaganda that was aired in Germany. She was their sweetheart and even though some in Germany thought she was a traitor they still loved her. We get a lot more of her life in this book.

Zuzka Lauwers was the only one I wasn't familiar with. But I'm glad she was included in the book

We are introduced to the women before the war and we get to see life for them after war. I liked that we got more than just what they did during the war. It really lets you get to know them as people.

The audiobook was really easy to listen to. The chapters do rotate through the 4 women but we stay with each one through a significant period of time so it doesn't feel disjointed. I liked Samara Naeymi as the narrator. There are a few places where the women are quoted and she gives them each their own unique voice.

While this is a nonfiction book it was very interesting and read almost like a novel. I found myself listening to large chunks of it at a time. I was really invested in the lives of these women. For Marlene and Zuzka, I was right there with them at the end of the war, wondering if their families had survived.

This is definitely a great book to read during Women's History Month or any time of the year if you enjoy reading stories of extraordinary women.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/03/propaganda-girls-secret-war-of-women-in.html

Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS (image: book cover), by Lisa Rogak, depicts the amazing story of four women Marlene Dietrich, Betty MacDonald, Zuzka Lauwers, and Jane Smith-Hutton. Recruited by Bill Donovan to join the Office of Strategic Services’ Morale Operations Branch which was responsible for executing propaganda campaigns against the Axis Powers, contributing to the win of the Allied Powers in WWII.

This biography is a wonderful addition to the current trend of fiction and non-fiction celebrating the contribution made by women during WWII. I strongly recommend it to those who liked fiction books like Good Night Irene, The Women, and No Better Time, or non-fiction works like Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, and Sisters in Science: : A Riveting Historical Account of Women in Science with a Powerful Message of Sisterhood.
The Narration by Samara Naeymi was engaging and I was able to listen to the book in one sitting.

Thank Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 Stars
Audio Release and Print Pub Date: Mar 4 2025

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Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Copy of this book!

I really love books that teach me about how women helped during wartime, especially when women were not seen as people who should be at war. When I was browsing NetGalley, I immediately requested this book. We follow 4 very different women on their journey through the OSS. The book starts by introducing each woman, one at a time, and sharing their background and why they wanted to join the wartime efforts. I had never thought about the people we had in Japan when Pearl Harbor happened. Jane Smith-Hutton is fascinating and I want Kristin Hannah to write a historical fiction about her now! Zuzka was everything we want in a strong woman who doesn’t get the respect she deserves. Betty Johnson was a reporter living in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor happened, and Marlene was a famous actress and singer. All 4 women used their uniqueness and skills to create propaganda that ultimately helped end the war. Lisa Ragok does an amazing job telling the story of these 4 women, a story that the world needed to hear! Samara Naeymi does a great job narrating!

Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak provides a well-written, well-researched, and indepth look at four women, whose work in the new Morale Operations division of the Office of Strategic Services, provided strategic aid to the Allies during WWII. The four women, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ McDonald, Jane Smith Hudson, Barbara ‘Zuzka’ Lauwers, and well-known German-American actress, Marlene Dietrich developed black propaganda, that is, ‘any leaflet, poster, radio broadcast, or other public or private media that appeared to come from within the enemy country, either from a resistance movement or from disgruntled soldiers and civilians’. It's purposes were manyfold - to convince soldiers to surrender, to make the general population believe the war was unwinnable, and to encourage occupied countries and POWs to resist. Women were specifically recruited because it was thought they would be more imaginative in developing gossipy but believable stories to undermine the enemy.

The story delves deeply into the lives of the women before, during, and after the war, including the discrimination they faced while serving, despite the important and effective work they were doing. And the propaganda they developed proved to be very effective at undermining the enemy in both Europe and Japan. A fascinating look at the rarely mentioned but important role women played in creating black propaganda and, in so doing, helping to end the war.

I read an eARC of the book from St Martin’s Press while listening to the audiobook from Macmillan Audio narrated bySamara Naeymi who does a marvelous job. I received both book and audiobook from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

4+ absorbing stars

Propaganda Girls is the absorbing story of four American women living around the world – in Tokyo, Hawaii, originally from a tiny Czechoslovakian village, and the only one I was familiar with, Marlene Dietrich a German-American singer and actress. From the publisher: “Betty MacDonald was a 28-year-old reporter from Hawaii. Zuzka Lauwers grew up in a tiny Czechoslovakian village and knew five languages by the time she was 21. Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of a naval attaché living in Tokyo. Marlene Dietrich, the German-American actress and singer, was of course one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. These four women, each fascinating in her own right, together contributed to one of the most covert and successful military campaigns in WWII.”

Propaganda Girls was thoroughly researched and well-written. Experienced author Lisa Rogak wove the stories of these four disparate women of the world together in an organized way. All were fiercely independent and thought creatively about how to create and disseminate propaganda to enemy troops while working for the OSS. (Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA.) Rogak pointed out the blatant sex discrimination these women faced in both pay, rank, and male attitudes. War and separation were very hard on marriages and relationships for these women too. Yet they persevered and made a difference. I like how Rogak gave a short synopsis of each woman’s life after the war.

Samara Naeymi had the perfect voice for the audiobook. Clear, strong and matter of fact, her lively narration made the book come alive for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Propaganda Girls is an interesting non-fiction narrative that contributes to our understanding of some of the roles where women contributed to helping win WWII. It is an outstanding change of pace from the glut of formulaic historical-fiction currently in vogue.

Lisa Rogak's Propaganda Girls is a thoroughly researched and captivating exploration of four remarkable women of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) whose stories have largely remained in the shadows of history. As someone who has delved deeply into this era, I was genuinely impressed to learn about these women for the first time—a testament to Rogak’s dedication to uncovering untold histories.

The book’s pacing strikes a fine balance between delivering rich historical context and maintaining an engaging narrative. Rogak expertly navigates the overlapping timelines of the women, ensuring each story remains distinct and allowing the reader to seamlessly transition between their experiences. This clarity in storytelling is crucial, as it offers a multidimensional view of the OSS's complex operations through the eyes of each protagonist.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its use of primary sources. The inclusion of quotes from the women themselves adds an authentic and personal touch, drawing readers closer to their lived experiences. Rogak’s ability to blend these voices with well-chosen historical background enriches the narrative and emphasizes the bravery and ingenuity of these women.

Propaganda Girls is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the history of strong women, the covert world of the OSS, or the broader historical context of World War II. Rogak’s work not only fills a gap in historical literature but also celebrates the resilience and contributions of women who helped shape history from behind the scenes. This book will leave readers both enlightened and inspired by these extraordinary stories.

"Why does it take the nearness of death to make people become alive" - Marlene Dietrich

One of my favorite books last year was The Women by Kristin Hannah. Women have played key rolls in winning wars, yet their stories are notoriously under represented. This book follows four women of the OSS, who helped spread propaganda in Japan, in order to swiftly end the war.

I actually wish this book had covered more of the propaganda aspect of this story. the first 50% is just the stories of the women and how they got into the OSS. The next 35% is their time in the OSS and the last 15% is their life post WWII. I also wish the author would have dived deeper into the pros and cons of spreading this kind of propaganda. While it did help to change some Japanese soldiers to the side of the US, at what cost? Did this propaganda fuel the fires of prejudice? I feel as if I have more questions than answers after reading this book. I still found it to be a very fascinating chapter of our history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to author Lisa Rogak, the publisher, and Netgalley for a free audio arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is not in my regular genre (not usually a non-fiction girlie), however, I enjoyed reading this beautifully written piece of history.

Zuzka Lauwers, Marlene Dietrich, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Betty MacDonald, all names I didn’t know previously to this story, but names I wish were taught, or at least mentioned, in history class in school. These ladies worked tirelessly to break the morale of Axis soldiers through any means necessary, through the military’s Office of Strategic Operation in their relatively secret, seemingly less regulated Morale branch.

Each woman’s story showed their bravery, perseverance and absolute resolve to make a difference in WW2. No matter where they were stationed in the world or where life brought them in their personal life. It was so inspiring to read. Their lives were so different, yet all found their way to this noble, meaningful clause, where they had the ability to let their creativity shine in different ways to breakdown Axis soldiers all over the world.

It was upsetting to see just how devalued they were due to the fact that they were women, especially after the war, but being true to themselves, they didn’t let that dissuade them. They still worked where they could to bring a change to the world after the war.

I can’t be the only Manacled girl who read this (tho its possible I might be lol) but this reminded me so much of “She was an inactive member of the Order of the Phoenix and did not fight.” These women’s stories are remembered NOW, but after the war - I believe history (and the world) did not give them the credit they deserved.

Reminiscent of the fictional "The Secret War of Julia Child" (Chambers), this book details true stories of other women who worked for the OSS (precursor to the CIA) during WWII. Betty MacDonald, Zuzka Lauwers, Jane Smith-Hutton, and Marlene Dietrich all joined the war effort. The women all spoke more than one language and were recruited to the Morale Operations branch to either hurt the morale of enemy soldiers or boost the morale of Allied soldiers.

Betty and Jane wrote propaganda directed at Japanese and Chinese soldiers to encourage them to surrender. Sometimes called black propaganda, the women concocted stories and leaflets promoting ideas designed to discourage the soldiers in the field from continuing the fight. And, apparently, quite a few surrendered because of their efforts. Zuzka helped dig out information through her interrogations of POWs. Marlene Dietrich not only sang for the troops, she also made radio broadcasts directed at lowering the morale of German citizens and soldiers. She was so successful that German officials put a price on her head. The job, for all of them, could be dangerous but the women found fulfillment in making meaningful contributions to the war effort.

The book also touched on the inequality the women endured with lesser pay, rank, and respect. When the war ended, each of the women missed the excitement and the sense of purpose they all felt.

Recommended for those interested in women's history and WWII.

This is not the World War II you learned about in high school.

Propaganda Girls tells the story of the war from the eyes of four women, who helped write, perform, and distribute the propaganda that helped to end it. Their stories are fascinating, and give an insight I'd never before had into what it was like to work as a woman for the US Army during WWII.

Despite having a great premise and fascinating women to write about, this book fell a bit flat for me. I was left wanting so much more, more personal stories, more...life. It was hard to remember who was who at times because I didn't see much difference in personalities between some of the women. I wanted to really understand who they were, and they felt kind of flat.

The narration was good, but the voice used for quotes from the women was a little strange, and the fact that the same "accent" was used for all of them may have been part of why the characters felt flat.

3/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Very interesting history of 4 women who created propaganda as members of the OSS. The author gives a detailed background of each woman prior to the war efforts. Each woman's role is detailed with a focus on how her existing skills became useful in her OSS career. A peak behind the scenes of one aspect of the WW2 "homefront" war efforts that is not as often written about.
I listened to this Audio advanced listening copy via NetGalley. I enjoyed the reader and the chapter breaks made it seem like listening to a podcast. Worth the listen.

Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak follows the stories of four women who were part of the Morale Operations Branch of the Office of Strategic Services during WWII. Their stories begin right before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and conclude with the end of their lives.
Each chapter is about a different woman and this makes the story easy to follow.
It’s truly unfortunate that these women’s stories aren’t taught in history classes- at least in any I’ve had- and I learned a lot about their amazing contributions to ending the war.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Releases March 4, 2025

Countless remarkable women have been lost to the annals of history. I am deeply grateful to authors like Rogak who bring their stories back to life in powerful works of nonfiction. It's both eye-opening and unsettling to witness the immense power of propaganda in shaping the course of war and politics. It underscores the importance of having accurate and trustworthy sources. In this context, black propaganda played a crucial role in ending WWII for the greater good. But how often has it been used to serve the interests of the corrupt and power-hungry? The thought is deeply unsettling.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audio ARC!

Propaganda Girls tells one of those interesting stories that normally flies under the radar, and most people don't even know it happened. The stories of these women's lives and their contributions to the Allied efforts in World War II were informative, interesting, and well-written.

I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this one. I've been pretty fascinated with women during times of war, and how the subverted the typical norms of the day-women working in codebreaking, or working as a spy, or writing propaganda- all working to change the course of the war. My favorite parts were the propaganda piece that was called the lonely hearts club, and also the flyers that helped Czech soliders to surrender in droves to the Allies. The book is told from 4 different women's perspective and follows them from before the bombing of Pearl harbor thru until the ends of their lives. They came from different backgrounds and walk of life. One was an actress from Germany who was appalled by what the Nazi's had done to her home country and spent her time entertaining the troops and bolstering them. Even after the war when she found out her sister in Germany had supported the Nazi's she disowned her sister and never spoke of her again. One woman was a reporter in Hawaii when the bombing started, another one was the wife of an attache in Japan held at the embassy for several months at the break out of the war.
One of the things I appreciated about the story telling was that it was matter of fact, we didn't get mired down in the scarier details (there were no explicit executions, rape scenes, torturing of spys) I'm sure that those things happened and they were more awful than could be imagined because everything about war is scary beyond belief. What I wanted to hear was about how the woman used their background and influenced their sphere in the moment. The stories of finding authentic paper to make hitler's face on toilet paper, of making sure there weren't water marks on the paper to give it away as a forgerary, of making sure the language was for the everyday person and not so formal that only the elite would talk that way. I got that and so much more, it was hard to put down and I'm really glad I got a chance to read it.

An interesting read. It was well researched. The way the author told the story of these 4 ladies made it very interesting and fun to read. It was not a boring non-fiction book, but I hope inspires authors like Kate Quinn to turn one of these ladies into one of her historical fiction books.

Overall, I really enjoyed listening to Propaganda Girls and learning all the ways that these brave women helped turn the tide of World War II, even with the myriad of challenges they each faced. One thing I truly appreciated was the author's explanation of what each woman went through after the war. Many historical books tend to focus on what an individual did during a major event but fail to leave off what happens to them later in life as a result.

My one critique has to do with the narrator. While I enjoyed listening to her, her tone was a bit too cheerful for the subject matter. Also, it was somewhat difficult to discern which person she was talking about since her voice didn't change at all for each person. Now, this could just be my personal preference since I tend to listen to more historical fiction than non-fiction. Regardless, this will not hinder me in the slightest from recommending this book/audiobook to anyone! Thank you for letting me preview it!

Excellent telling about the work of the MO department of the OSS surging WW2. Very informative and educational and exciting to learn about the roles these women played in helping to secure the allied victory.