Original subtitles

- (beeping)

NARRATOR: In the Second World War,

British spy agency, the SOE,

send more and more female agents

send more and more female agents

behind enemy lines.

- (dramatic music)

- (dramatic music)

NARRATOR: With D-Day on the horizon,

these women, hand picked by spymaster

these women, hand picked by spymaster

Vera Atkins, make daring attacks

against Hitler's troops from deep inside

Nazi-occupied France.

Nazi-occupied France.

But as the Allies push towards Paris...

- (explosion echoes)

..the Gestapo brutally cracks down.

..the Gestapo brutally cracks down.

- "Unfortunately, some of your agents...

had to be shot." - (woman cries)

- What the hell are they playing at?

- What the hell are they playing at?

NARRATOR: One by one, Vera's women disappear.

- We can't be captured.

- We can't be captured.

- Hide what you can. Then hide yourselves.

- We go now. Move!

- Halt!

- (dramatic music swells) - (gunfire)

- (door squeaks)

- (gunshot) - (woman screams)

- (gunshot) - (woman screams)

- You go. I'll fend them off for as long as I can.

Go. Go!

- (rapid gunfire)

- (rapid gunfire)

NARRATOR: But, with France liberated,

and the Nazis defeated,

many are still missing.

many are still missing.

Vera's mission was to send these women to war.

Now, she'll do whatever it takes

Now, she'll do whatever it takes

to find them and bring them home.

- (rapid gunfire) - (panting)

- (dramatic, poignant music)

- (dramatic, poignant music)

NARRATOR: The Allied invasion of Europe,

to recapture France from the Nazi's, has begun.

to recapture France from the Nazi's, has begun.

- (sweeping instrumental music) - (distant gunfire)

- (canons booming)

NARRATOR: Across France, the French Resistance,

supplied and coordinated by SOE,

supplied and coordinated by SOE,

launch into action.

- (clacking and beeping)

- (clacking and beeping)

NARRATOR: In London, F Section monitor

the sabotage activity.

RICHIE: There's palpable excitement.

RICHIE: There's palpable excitement.

Buckmaster and Vera are watching as these messages come in.

There's already been acts of sabotage,

There's already been acts of sabotage,

trying to disrupt the train lines,

trying to disrupt communication lines,

blow up bridges, blowing up telephone exchanges

to try and disrupt the Germans as much as possible.

to try and disrupt the Germans as much as possible.

It's chaotic, but it's exhilarating.

- (beeping)

- (beeping)

NARRATOR: In the flurry of messages coming in from their agents,

they receive one that is unusual.

they receive one that is unusual.

- Sir, a message from call sign "Leopold."

- "Leopold?"

- "Leopold" is inactive.

- "Leopold" is inactive.

He was arrested in '43.

- "Thank you for the large delivery of weapons and ammunition.

- "Thank you for the large delivery of weapons and ammunition.

Incredibly grateful for the information

on your plans and objectives."

It's signed "The Gestapo."

It's signed "The Gestapo."

- The Gestapo?

NARRATOR: It's not the only message F Section receive that day

NARRATOR: It's not the only message F Section receive that day

from the Nazi's feared secret police.

- Buck? - Another.

"Thank you for supply drop. Equipment gratefully received.

Unfortunately, some of your agents...

Unfortunately, some of your agents...

had to be shot.

Other's more open to do what we asked.

The Gestapo."

The Gestapo."

- What the hell are they playing at?

- Send a reply.

- Send a reply.

"Sorry to see your nerves are shot,

and your resilience isn't as strong as ours.

Buckmaster." - Yes, sir.

Buckmaster." - Yes, sir.

- (chuckles)

- (tense music)

- (gunshot)

NARRATOR: Still, SOE circuits

NARRATOR: Still, SOE circuits

and French Resistance fighters,

continue their clandestine attacks against the Nazis.

And the Allied soldiers fight their way ashore.

But their position is precarious.

But their position is precarious.

They need to firm up their hold of the beachhead...

and be ready for when German reinforcements hit back.

and be ready for when German reinforcements hit back.

- (explosion echoes)

- (clacking) - (phone rings distantly)

- (clacking) - (phone rings distantly)

NARRATOR: Work at F Section doesn't stop.

Wireless messages of German targets being hit

Wireless messages of German targets being hit

continue to stream in.

FRY: Sabotage by those SOE networks

FRY: Sabotage by those SOE networks

was absolutely crucial during D-Day.

And the Germans were so angry

at this success

at this success

that an order went out

to hunt down

Vera's agents.

NARRATOR: Just days after D-Day,

NARRATOR: Just days after D-Day,

F Section receive news on one of their agents,

recently parachuted into France.

- Buck.

Violette Szabo has been captured.

FRY: Violette is already a widow.

She's got a two year old daughter.

And the thought that Violette might not come back

And the thought that Violette might not come back

is just unthinkable.

- Where?

- The report is brief.

- The report is brief.

- Does it say where she's being held?

- It just says "captured."

Nothing else.

- (distant gunfire)

- (distant gunfire)

NARRATOR: In the Limousin Region of France,

resistance fighters pull off an audacious mission.

VIGURS: They have kidnapped the commander

of the 2nd SS Panzer Division, “Das Reich."

And of course, the Nazis are furious about this.

And of course, the Nazis are furious about this.

They want their commander back.

And so they start to ramp up their control of the area.

They put in roadblocks,

trying to capture Resistance members,

and they start to punish the Resistance for what they've done.

and they start to punish the Resistance for what they've done.

NARRATOR: The Nazi's are out for revenge,

and chose the village of Oradour-sur-Glane

to send a bloody message to the French people.

to send a bloody message to the French people.

In London, F Section monitor sabotage attacks across France.

In London, F Section monitor sabotage attacks across France.

- (scoffs lightly) They've hit another fuel depot.

- Good.

- Good.

Their tanks are thirsty beasts.

They'll be running on fumes by the time they reach Normandy.

- Hm! If they make it that far.

- Hm! If they make it that far.

NARRATOR: But soon, news of the massacre

reaches Buckmaster.

- Sir, a report from France.

- Sir, a report from France.

You need to read it now. - Thank you.

- Buck?

What is it?

- The SS...

The Resistance captured their commander.

They've massacred a village.

- What?

- Over 600 dead.

Women.

Children.

(inhales deeply, shakily) I thought the Germans had honour.

That they acted like gentlemen.

That they acted like gentlemen.

- Buck...

- I never thought they'd do something like this.

- I never thought they'd do something like this.

RICHIE: The news of the massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane

really is shocking for Buckmaster.

That the Germans have sunk so low

That the Germans have sunk so low

that they'll massacre innocent women and children.

- Where did this happen?

- Where did this happen?

- (Buck inhales deeply) - Buck, where did this happen?

- Um...

(sighs) Limousin.

Limousin?

Violette was operating out of Limousin,

before capture.

NARRATOR: But no further information on Violette has come through.

NARRATOR: But no further information on Violette has come through.

- (tense, dramatic music)

NARRATOR: In Northern France,

the Allies consolidate their foothold in Normandy...

and prepare to push out deeper into the country.

LAWRENCE: F Section is a hive of activity;

organising weapons drops,

ammunitions, explosives, for the French Resistance

ammunitions, explosives, for the French Resistance

to stop the Germans being able

to defend themselves against the allied attack.

- Buck, a message from callsign "Burser."

The "Scholar" circuit are requesting a supply drop to the Jura region.

The "Scholar" circuit are requesting a supply drop to the Jura region.

- “Burser” is Vera's agent, Yvonne Baseden,

and she's been operating in France

for about three months in the Jura region,

for about three months in the Jura region,

which is to the east of France.

- Authorise the drop.

VIGURS: On the 25th of June, 1944,

VIGURS: On the 25th of June, 1944,

32 flying fortresses were flown over by the RAF...

- (tense, dramatic music)

- (tense, dramatic music)

- ..and they released 440 parachutes.

And attached to those parachutes were canisters

full of weapons and explosives

full of weapons and explosives

and arms and equipment needed by the Resistance.

NARRATOR: It's the largest daylight parachute drop of the war.

NARRATOR: It's the largest daylight parachute drop of the war.

Hidden at the drop zone is Yvonne

with a team of Resistance fighters.

with a team of Resistance fighters.

VIGURS: It took 48 hours

for those canisters to be emptied and for the equipment to be stored,

for those canisters to be emptied and for the equipment to be stored,

meaning that every minute and every hour that went by,

there were more and more at risk of being caught.

But Yvonne was so excited when this happened,

But Yvonne was so excited when this happened,

and she said, as every one of those parachutes opened,

hope was attached to them.

NARRATOR: After a frantic two days on the ground...

Yvonne and her team are exhausted.

With the last container collected,

they leave the drop zone and head back to their headquarters.

they leave the drop zone and head back to their headquarters.

- (inhales, exhales heavily)

NARRATOR: At F Section, messages from the circuits flood in.

NARRATOR: At F Section, messages from the circuits flood in.

Targets are being hit,

the Resistance are taking the fight

to the Germans across the country.

to the Germans across the country.

FRY: But that's tinged with uncertainty.

What about the agents?

How many have survived?

How many have the Germans managed to capture?

NARRATOR: Then, F Section finally receive the report

they've been waiting for.

- Vera, what-what is it?

LAWRENCE: Violette is with two Resistance men

LAWRENCE: Violette is with two Resistance men

and they're driving to meet other SOE leaders.

But what they don't know is the Resistance have caught

one of the SS commanders of the 2nd Panzer Division

one of the SS commanders of the 2nd Panzer Division

and the Germans are frantic to get him back.

RICHIE: They start mounting roadblocks,

and they start searching people, asking everybody

and they start searching people, asking everybody

for their papers, where were they when this happened?

DUFOUR: No.

DUFOUR: No.

- What? I thought you said this road was clear.

- It was.

- What?! - It was.

- What?! - It was.

It's a new checkpoint. - They can't search us.

- I know. - They can't search us.

If they search the car, they'll find our weapons.

We have British weapons!

We have British weapons!

If they search the car, they'll know we're Resistance.

- (tense music rises)

- We can't be captured.

- Stop the car.

We make for the woods and try to lose them.

We make for the woods and try to lose them.

- (gun cocks)

- We go now. Move!

- Halt!

- (rapid gunfire, bullets whizzing)

- (grunts)

LAWRENCE: As Violette's escaping,

she twists her ankle.

she twists her ankle.

It was already damaged from the parachute drops

she'd done during her training as an SOE agent.

- (gunfire continues)

- (gunfire continues)

- (Violette groans)

- (Violette groans)

- Are you hit? - No. It's my ankle.

- Can you walk on it? - No.

You go. I'll fend them off for as long as I can. Go!

You go. I'll fend them off for as long as I can. Go!

Go!

LAWRENCE: She's basically immobile at this point.

So she provides cover fire

So she provides cover fire

for the Resistance men so that they can get away.

- (gunfire)

- (panting)

- (panting)

- (gunshots booming)

- (gun clicking)

- (panting)

- (tense, suspenseful music)

- (music swells, then fades)

- (tense music)

NARRATOR: The report ends.

NARRATOR: The report ends.

Violette was held by the SS

in the French city of Limoges...

but has since disappeared.

but has since disappeared.

She is one of many agents

now missing.

Since D-Day, Allied forces have made steady gains against the Germans.

Two months after the Normandy Landings,

the Nazi's are forced to abandon the French capital.

the Nazi's are forced to abandon the French capital.

- (sweeping, triumphant music)

VIGURS: The liberation of Paris was the moment

everybody had been waiting for.

everybody had been waiting for.

The relief of finally being able to be in the city

and not be under German occupation

just must have been phenomenal.

just must have been phenomenal.

NARRATOR: With the Allies pushing deeper into France...

what's left of SOE's circuits

what's left of SOE's circuits

begin to lose their importance.

FRY: Boddington is travelling.

FRY: Boddington is travelling.

He's lecturing to allied forces on the conditions in France.

Buckmaster himself has set up in the Hotel Cecil in Paris.

Buckmaster himself has set up in the Hotel Cecil in Paris.

And he will then very quickly

start a tour of the surviving circuits.

NARRATOR: At F Section, work begins to slow down

NARRATOR: At F Section, work begins to slow down

and staff start to leave.

But disturbing reports are coming in

But disturbing reports are coming in

about the fate of SOE's agents.

Vera is tasked with making sense of them all.

Vera is tasked with making sense of them all.

- Goodbye, Miss Atkins. Sorry, Flight Officer Atkins.

- Oh, yes. Goodbye.

- Oh, yes. Goodbye.

NARRATOR: But Vera, no longer a civilian

and now commissioned in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force,

and now commissioned in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force,

stays in London.

Paris is back in Allied hands,

but the victory came at a huge cost

to SOE's agents.

to SOE's agents.

RICHIE: It was understood that the casualty numbers

would be quite high, particularly surrounding

would be quite high, particularly surrounding

the D-Day landings.

Many more female agents had been sent out

in 1944 than before.

in 1944 than before.

And this was Vera's responsibility.

She's the one who's sent them to France in the first place.

NARRATOR: With Paris liberated, the human toll of this decision

comes into focus.

Of the more than 400 SOE agents dispatched to France,

118 are missing.

16 of them

16 of them

are Vera's women.

- (tense music)

VIGURS: After the liberation at the hotel

where F Section have set up a new office,

where F Section have set up a new office,

a man turns up and he's angry.

He's furious.

NARRATOR: Marcel Rousset,

NARRATOR: Marcel Rousset,

an F Section agent with the code name "Leopold",

demands to see anyone

in the British Secret Service.

in the British Secret Service.

- (clears throat firmly) I'm sorry to interrupt,

but do you think you could fetch someone from SOE for me? Now!

but do you think you could fetch someone from SOE for me? Now!

RICHIE: He had been captured by the Gestapo.

And in fact, it was even his radio that was used by the Gestapo

And in fact, it was even his radio that was used by the Gestapo

to send the taunting signals

to SOE headquarters on D-Day.

- Hello, I'm Nancy. How can I help?

- Hello, I'm Nancy. How can I help?

- (rants angrily) FRY: Rousset is angry.

He's absolutely furious

at mistakes that SOE has made,

at mistakes that SOE has made,

that so many agents have been captured.

NANCY: Please take a seat here, sir.

NARRATOR: An SOE officer sits down with Rousset

NARRATOR: An SOE officer sits down with Rousset

for a debriefing on his time in captivity.

FRY: He might know who has actually been arrested by the Gestapo.

FRY: He might know who has actually been arrested by the Gestapo.

He might know who has survived.

- So, Buckmaster...

NARRATOR: Rousset says how stupid

NARRATOR: Rousset says how stupid

everyone at F Section had been,

particularly Buckmaster and Vera,

and how they had risked agents' lives.

and how they had risked agents' lives.

- I'd love to meet him face-to-face.

- The SD, Sicherheitsdienst,

force him to relay radio messages back to London.

force him to relay radio messages back to London.

And he quite deliberately, totally follows SOE protocol,

which is that he doesn't include

special code words as a warning to SOE.

special code words as a warning to SOE.

But they just ignored this

and continued to accept the messages

and continued to accept the messages

that came from his radio as genuine.

NARRATOR: His interrogation report is explosive,

NARRATOR: His interrogation report is explosive,

and provides Vera with important leads

to the whereabouts of her missing agents.

At F Section, Vera receives Rousset's interrogation report.

At F Section, Vera receives Rousset's interrogation report.

After his arrest, he's taken to the SD Headquarters in Paris...

After his arrest, he's taken to the SD Headquarters in Paris...

at 84 Avenue Foch.

at 84 Avenue Foch.

The SD is the SS intelligence agency,

and worked hand-in-hand with the Gestapo.

and worked hand-in-hand with the Gestapo.

LAWRENCE: Here, Rousset is confronted

with Prosper's wireless operator,

Gilbert Norman, code name "Butcher."

Gilbert Norman, code name "Butcher."

NARRATOR: It was Norman who told the Germans

that Rousset was SOE

that Rousset was SOE

wireless operator "Leopold."

And he also tells Rousset that the Gestapo know everything

And he also tells Rousset that the Gestapo know everything

about SOE and their activities.

LAWRENCE: So Suttill, who's the organiser

of that circuit, and Norman,

had given up everything

had given up everything

about the prosper circuit in Paris,

in order to try and save

his life and maybe other agents' lives as well.

his life and maybe other agents' lives as well.

NARRATOR: Rousset is advised to do the same.

- Had he given up every piece of information? What had he told them?

- Had he given up every piece of information? What had he told them?

Can you imagine how awful it was for Vera

just finding out that they could have revealed so much

that every time Vera sent a woman over,

she's just basically feeding them

straight into the German prisons.

straight into the German prisons.

NARRATOR: In the Gestapo's cells,

Rousset is held in solitary confinement.

But, by tapping on the wall in morse code,

he manages to communicate with an SOE agent

in the cell next to his.

in the cell next to his.

Rousset learns that a wireless operator

with the code name "Madeline",

is also being held by the Nazis.

is also being held by the Nazis.

- Noor Inayat Khan goes under the code name "Madeline."

NARRATOR: Noor hadn't surfaced after the liberation of Paris.

NARRATOR: Noor hadn't surfaced after the liberation of Paris.

Vera assumed she'd been captured,

Vera assumed she'd been captured,

but no further intel had been discovered.

- (ominous music) - (woman screams distantly)

NARRATOR: Rousset's report suggests that Noor had been

NARRATOR: Rousset's report suggests that Noor had been

in the Gestapo's Prison in Paris.

His report continues.

His report continues.

From Paris, the women prisoners were then transferred to Germany.

FRY: This is news to Vera.

She wasn't aware that any female prisoners

have been transferred to Germany.

Where were they? Where have they gone?

LAWRENCE: Could those women have been her agents?

Could one of them have been Noor?

Could one of them have been Noor?

NARRATOR: Frustratingly, Rousset's intel now dries up.

He remains in the Gestapo's prison,

He remains in the Gestapo's prison,

working as a cleaner, until two days after D-Day.

Noticing a gate unlocked,

Noticing a gate unlocked,

he knocks out a guard...

and makes his escape.

- (dramatic music)

- (dramatic music)

- (contemplative music)

NARRATOR: Vera haunts the F Section operations room...

waiting for any news on her missing women spies.

Then, a report comes in

from a member of Yvonne Baseden's

SOE circuit.

- After Yvonne and her colleagues had hidden all the equipment

that had come in on this daylight parachute drop,

they headed back to their headquarters.

- (sighs)

NARRATOR: But soon after they arrive,

everything changes.

- The Germans, they're coming! - What?!

- We've spotted a patrol of German soldiers.

- We've spotted a patrol of German soldiers.

They're heading for us. - Do we have time to move?

- No.

- Hide what you can. Then hide yourselves.

- (urgent, suspenseful music)

RICHIE: The Germans who arrive, they've just heard a tip off

that this building might be of some interest

that this building might be of some interest

and they're just going to do a cursory search.

VIGURS: There is literally nobody in sight.

They can't find anybody.

So they leave, but they just leave behind one person.

RICHIE: He's effectively watching it

just in case something happens or somebody arrives.

just in case something happens or somebody arrives.

One can only imagine what would be going through

the minds of Yvonne and her team

as they are hiding, holding their breath, not moving,

as they are hiding, holding their breath, not moving,

because they have to be totally quiet.

- And then, the plumbing makes a noise.

- (pipes clank, squeak)

- Hello?!

Is anybody in there?

Is anybody in there?

- (tense, suspenseful music)

- I heard something! Keep searching!

- I heard something! Keep searching!

- (music intensifies)

- (gunshot) - (woman screams)

NARRATOR: In London, Vera scours Allied intelligence reports

NARRATOR: In London, Vera scours Allied intelligence reports

searching for any clues to her agent's whereabouts.

LAWRENCE: Who survived? Where were they being held?

And where were they now?

NARRATOR: She has cause for optimism.

NARRATOR: She has cause for optimism.

Some agents are surfacing after the liberation of Paris.

FRY: One of her agents, Mary Herbert,

astonishingly, has survived

hiding in a farmhouse in France.

It gives Vera hope

that some of the other women might still be alive.

NARRATOR: But for those still missing, few details are known.

F Section operations are all but wound down.

F Section operations are all but wound down.

But Vera remains.

BASU: She's worried about her agents,

BASU: She's worried about her agents,

about the women she sent into the field.

She has to find out where they are.

NARRATOR: The work is all-encompassing.

Searching for any trace

Searching for any trace

of where her agents were transported to in Germany...

and where they could be rescued from

once the Allies are victorious.

once the Allies are victorious.

In October, British officials investigate

84 Avenue Foch:

84 Avenue Foch:

the Nazi's former Intelligence Headquarters in Paris.

RICHIE: Some of her agents were held in captivity there.

By piecing together what happened there,

By piecing together what happened there,

maybe she'll get some information about her lost agents.

MAN: "I visited the torture chambre at Avenue Foch

where Kieffer had an office."

NARRATOR: Hans Kieffer was the head of the SD in Paris

during the German occupation.

during the German occupation.

He's the man who convinced Gilbert Norman

to reveal everything he knew about SOE operations.

to reveal everything he knew about SOE operations.

RICHIE: Hans Kieffer would've been personally in charge

of the SOE agents who were held at that prison.

of the SOE agents who were held at that prison.

Kieffer would have to have known,

first of all, who was held in his prison, and what happened to them.

first of all, who was held in his prison, and what happened to them.

NARRATOR: The report continues.

MAN: "I found a moving inscription

MAN: "I found a moving inscription

from men and women who knew they had lost

everything except their honour.

everything except their honour.

But I was informed during the last few days

before the departure of the Germans

that several people had been taken downstairs into the courtyard...

that several people had been taken downstairs into the courtyard...

and shot.

- (gunshot echoes)

NARRATOR: It's a tragic revelation.

Were her agents executed in this group?

FRY: She has to track down Kieffer.

He must know where Vera's agents are.

He must know where Vera's agents are.

He must know what's happened to them.

NARRATOR: In the meantime, she has the agonising task

NARRATOR: In the meantime, she has the agonising task

of updating the families of the missing agents

on what is known about them.

- (solemn music)

NARRATOR: Before Noor departed for France,

Vera had promised to send her mother

periodic "good news" letters,

periodic "good news" letters,

which she had.

But now, the tone of these letters has to change.

But now, the tone of these letters has to change.

LAWRENCE: From all the reports of Noor’s training,

everybody was saying that she wasn't ready.

But Paris needed a wireless operator.

But Paris needed a wireless operator.

And immediately, she'd put this young woman

into the jaws of the Gestapo.

ATKINS: "Dear Mrs Inayat Khan,

I am extremely sorry to have to inform you

I am extremely sorry to have to inform you

that we have recently lost touch with your daughter.

Due to the confused state of affairs in France,

we were not unduly worried,

we were not unduly worried,

but I am afraid now your daughter must be considered as missing.

Although there is every reason to believe

Although there is every reason to believe

that she will eventually be notified to us as a prisoner of war."

- Just the idea of writing letters to the family, that's heartbreaking.

- Just the idea of writing letters to the family, that's heartbreaking.

But Vera's got other issues that she has to worry about.

The British government was never very happy

about sending women combatants overseas

about sending women combatants overseas

because they were not protected by the Geneva Convention.

And that meant the Nazis could do whatever they liked with them.

BASU: She also has fear about her own future.

Because once it is revealed in the public that something has happened

to these women, she's also fearful about the consequences for her,

to these women, she's also fearful about the consequences for her,

as the person who sent them out.

- (tense music)

ATKINS: "I would impress upon you,

in the interests of your daughter's safety,

that you make no enquiries with regard to her...

that you make no enquiries with regard to her...

except through me." - (typewriter pings)

NARRATOR: By January 1945,

NARRATOR: By January 1945,

the Allies are making steady gains...

and Nazi Germany is on its knees.

and Nazi Germany is on its knees.

But many agents are still missing.

Despite combing through any and all intelligence documents,

Despite combing through any and all intelligence documents,

Vera's investigation finds no trace of them.

She now lobbies inside SOE.

LAWRENCE: What Vera wants to do as the Allies

LAWRENCE: What Vera wants to do as the Allies

are moving through Germany is to give the names of her agents

to the Allied troops, so that when they liberate

camps and prisoners of war, they can see

camps and prisoners of war, they can see

if any of her agents are prisoners. They can rescue them.

At the height of F Section operations,

Vera is Buckmaster’s right hand man.

Vera is Buckmaster’s right hand man.

She's right in the centre of all of the major decisions.

But once F Section is over and Buckmaster is gone,

But once F Section is over and Buckmaster is gone,

it becomes incredibly difficult to convince anybody

that her plight within SOE is worth pursuing.

NARRATOR: Particularly John Senter,

the Head of SOE's Security Division,

and a Commander in the Royal Navy.

and a Commander in the Royal Navy.

- Atkins? - Yes, sir?

- A memo of yours just came across my desk.

- Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.

- A memo suggesting...

that we give out the names of our agents...

that we give out the names of our agents...

publish their names

for the Red Cross,

for the Red Cross,

the American army,

the Soviet army?

- Yes, sir. So that once those forces begin

- Yes, sir. So that once those forces begin

liberating POW camps,

they have a register of all our missing agents.

- (scoffs)

Atkins, you do understand

what we do here? The work we did during the war?

what we do here? The work we did during the war?

- Yes, sir, but...

- Then you'll understand the meaning of "secret."

As in, the term "secret agent."

As in, the term "secret agent."

- Sir, if I may...

- Flight Officer Atkins,

let me remind you that you're addressing

let me remind you that you're addressing

a Commander in the Royal Navy.

- Sir.

- (sighs) The war is not yet over.

How long do you think it would be before the Germans

also got to see those names?

Why would we advertise who our agents are...

Why would we advertise who our agents are...

on a register...

for our enemies to see?

- Sir, the German's are spent.

This is our best chance of finding our agents,

This is our best chance of finding our agents,

women agents, alive.

- Consider your request denied

on security grounds.

- He's wanting to find out where were the security leaks in SOE.

- He's wanting to find out where were the security leaks in SOE.

He's not interested in the fate of the missing agents.

- Stick with the welfare work.

LAWRENCE: Vera is stymied from trying to find her agents.

All she can do is just pick up on intelligence reports

to find out what's happened to these agents.

to find out what's happened to these agents.

Because unless she finds out, who will?

NARRATOR: In March 1945,

Vera receives a report

by French investigators searching Fresnes Prison in Paris.

by French investigators searching Fresnes Prison in Paris.

- This is the Gestapo prison where people were held

when they were not being interrogated and tortured.

when they were not being interrogated and tortured.

And it indicates something really quite disturbing for Vera.

Next to the name of one of the prisoners is "N+N."

Next to the name of one of the prisoners is "N+N."

This means “Nacht und Nebel”, or “Night and Fog”.

The Nacht und Nebel order was

The Nacht und Nebel order was

decreed by Hitler that people who have been involved in espionage

or resistance, are...

or resistance, are...

to him, so despicable

that they have to be punished in an extraordinary way.

Not only will they be captured,

Not only will they be captured,

interrogated, tortured, and then killed,

but they're supposed to disappear without a trace.

They will disappear as into night and fog.

They will disappear as into night and fog.

NARRATOR: Time is running out to find her missing women alive.

By April 1945,

By April 1945,

Germany is in total collapse.

- The Foreign Office, now they want to release the SOE agents' names.

- The Foreign Office, now they want to release the SOE agents' names.

Vera is allowed to issue the names of her agents

so that people liberating these prisoner of war camps can find them.

so that people liberating these prisoner of war camps can find them.

NARRATOR: If they are found,

there is now a register for their return to Britain.

there is now a register for their return to Britain.

If they survived.

- (hopeful music builds)

- (hopeful music builds)

NARRATOR: On the 30th April, 1945,

NARRATOR: On the 30th April, 1945,

with Berlin all but captured

by the Red Army...

Hitler commits suicide.

Hitler commits suicide.

By the 8th of May,

By the 8th of May,

the Allies accept Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender.

The war in Europe is over.

The war in Europe is over.

- (music swells)

- (crowd cheering)

- (crowd cheering)

- (music fades)

NARRATOR: Amid the celebrations in London,

Vera gets news that gives her hope

her agents survived.

On 20th of May, 1945,

Yvonne Baseden, captured and missing,

turns up at Euston Station in London.

turns up at Euston Station in London.

- Miss Atkins. How did you get here? - Come on.

- Miss Atkins. How did you get here? - Come on.

- (unsettling music)

- Here.

- Where are we going?

- I am taking you home. Your father is waiting.

- My father?

- My father?

- (car engine starts)

- (car engine starts)

LAWRENCE: From Euston Station,

Vera takes Yvonne Baseden back to her family home

Vera takes Yvonne Baseden back to her family home

in Brockwell Park in London.

- (tearfully) Yvonne!

Please, come in.

- (unsettling music continues)

- (unsettling music continues)

- (music fades)

- (music fades)

- You look, um...

weak.

weak.

Let me make you something to eat. Hmm?

- What happened after you were captured?

Did you see anyone else?

Other agents?

- U-Uh...

- Yvonne, I need you to think.

- Yvonne, I need you to think.

- Um...

- Um...

After I was caught,

they sent me east...

to a... to a prison.

to a... to a prison.

To a place called Saarbrucken.

Um...

There I started seeing some...

There I started seeing some...

some familiar faces, agents...

I'd been in training with.

I'd been in training with.

I thought... (inhales shakily)

"The have got the whole of Baker Street here!"

I didn't talk to them.

I, uh...

I kept my distance.

I kept my distance.

You see...

I told the Germans, after they caught me, that I was just

an ordinary French girl...

caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. That was my cover.

caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. That was my cover.

So I... I had to keep my distance.

I couldn't let the Nazis

I couldn't let the Nazis

know that I was an agent.

It was my only hope of getting out alive.

It was my only hope of getting out alive.

Uh, then... then...

Then they moved us all to...

Then they moved us all to...

a camp, north of Berlin.

- Who went with you?

- (tense music) - (dog barking)

BASEDEN: I remember Violette.

BASEDEN: I remember Violette.

A couple of others from F Section.

- Violette Szabo?

- Yes. Um...

Violette and the others, we were all, uh...

Violette and the others, we were all, uh...

we were all sent to Ravensbruck...

concentration camp. It was a camp just for women.

- Ravensbruck?

A women's-only concentration camp?

A women's-only concentration camp?

- Yes.

LAWRENCE: At this time, very little is widely known

about concentration camps. Very few people have heard about them.

about concentration camps. Very few people have heard about them.

The idea of there being one just for women.

I mean, it's completely horrifying.

BASEDEN: One day...

BASEDEN: One day...

Violette...

and the other's just...

just disappeared.

just disappeared.

I never saw them again.

And then the Russians came and liberated us.

And then the Russians came and liberated us.

The Red Cross, uh,

took me to Malmo, in Sweden, in a bus.

The RAF flew me to Scotland.

I found a train to Euston.

LAWRENCE: While horrific that Vera finds out

LAWRENCE: While horrific that Vera finds out

her agents went to Ravensbruck, the female concentration camp,

she can place them somewhere and she knows where they were.

- Thank you.

I'll leave you both.

You have a lot to catch up on.

LAWRENCE: Vera was incredibly happy to find Yvonne.

It might be possible she's able to trace all of her missing agents.

It might be possible she's able to trace all of her missing agents.

NARRATOR: But had they survived? And where were they all now?

NARRATOR: But had they survived? And where were they all now?

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Subtitles by Sky Access Services