Marie Christine Chilver
I am always inspired by the bravery of women in World War II, not only the courageous women who worked in the resistance in France during the war, but also those who kept the home fires burning. They ran homes, looked after children, and eked out resources to provide for their families in times when food was scarce and coupons were issued for weekly rations.
The women who attract public interest are often the spies who worked behind enemy lines. One particular woman interests me: Marie Christine Chilver, also known as Agent Fifi. She was born in London to an English father and a Latvian mother, and was educated in a German school in Riga. She then moved to Paris in 1940. When Paris was occupied by the Germans, she was interned in a camp in Besançon, but escaped and helped wounded British airmen return to England.
In 1942, she was recruited by the Special Operations Executive, where she assessed and tested trainee spies. Her code name was Fifi, and she had a cover identity of Christine Collard. Her job was to entrap trainee spies and test their mettle in the field. She was described as "one of the most expert liars in the world." She was tall, blond, and stunning - fluent in multiple European languages and equipped with an acerbic wit and keen intuition.
After her files were made public in 2014, people became aware of the remarkable work she had done. It is now no longer a secret that she was working as a spy manager at a crucial time in European history. She died in 2007, aged 87, and took her secrets with her to the grave. She was never officially recognised for her contribution to the war effort; perhaps that will change in the future.
