The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy
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Laussucq returned to London on September 11, 1944, and from there, made his way to the United States. He died in Schenectady, New York, in 1975 at the age of ninety-three.
Lieutenant Bob was surprisingly young when he and Virginia met in Le Chambon in 1944. Bob was only twenty-four, yet his air of maturity enabled him to lead Maquis groups skillfully. He spoke glibly about the auto accident in May 1943 in Lyon, and of his hospitalization, near arrest, and escape. Bob’s story lacked the fact that it was the second time he had suffered a head injury, the first coming as the result of parachute training prior to dropping into France. The final details are sketchy, but reports show that he checked into a Paris hospital on February 4, 1946, and died two weeks later at the age of twenty-five.
The “Limping Lady” quietly became Virginia Hall Goillot in a judge’s chambers in 1950. She was forty-four years old. Mrs. Hall had managed to overcome her image of Goillot as not worthy of her daughter, and when she was told about the marriage, offered the opinion that it was about time. It mattered little to the bride and groom, who were content in their lives. Virginia’s mother died in 1956.
Shortly after their marriage, while Virginia was still employed by the CIA, Goillot tried his hand as a restaurateur. But when the business didn’t go as planned, he happily settled in as a househusband.
When Virginia retired from the CIA in 1966, at the mandatory age of sixty, she and Goillot moved to a farm in Barnestown, Maryland, sharing their home with five French poodles. To keep herself busy, she gardened, worked on a hand loom, read avidly, was addicted to crossword puzzles, and even reprised her knack for making French cheese. They grew old together, in love until her death on July 12, 1982. Goillot died five years later.
Virginia was never bitter about the fact that her career hadn’t begun or ended as she would have liked. Rather, she chose to remember the magnificent days in the middle, the days when her clever mind and brave heart helped defeat Fascists bent on world domination. It was the excitement of those days that she loved to recall, never alluding to the impressive list of accolades she had accumulated for her daring. Virginia had never developed a taste for them, making that very plain in her final report to the OSS. She was asked if she had been decorated in the field. Her answer, pragmatic as always, was, “No, nor was there any reason for me to be.”
Afterword
A month after The Wolves at the Door was first published, I was contacted by a gentleman named Erik Kirzinger of Madison, N.C. An advocate for greater recognition of the heroics of covert operatives, Kirzinger explained to me that he had previously organized the commission of a painting of CIA pilots, circa 1954, flying provisions into a French post in Vietnam. Virginia was to be the subject of the second piece, following the same plan he had with the first: he would secure a donor to finance the painting and then have it donated to the CIA’s fine arts collection.
“If these folks were in the active military, there would be marching bands and mayors making speeches,” he told me. “But because they’re in the clandestine service, their stories don’t generally get told.” Obviously, these thoughts mirrored my own, for those were the very reasons I had written Virginia Hall’s biography in the first place.
Jeffrey W. Bass, a Florida based artist, and the talent behind Kirzinger’s first project, was on board for Virginia’s painting, and Richard J. Guggenhime of San Francisco graciously agreed to underwrite it. The scene was taken from The Wolves at the Door, page 210: Virginia in radio contact with the Allies in an old barn/safe house I had actually toured. With her is one of her captains, Edmond Lebrat, who is using a modified bicycle to generate electricity for the radio. The painting’s title, “Les Marguerites Fleuriront Ce Soir” (“The Daisies Will Bloom Tonight”), refers to a code phrase for parachute drops.
Work on the painting was a true group effort. Besides Erik, Jeff and myself, my friend and contact in Le Chambon, Jean Lebrat (the cousin of Edmond Lebrat) gave input on what he remembered of the scene he had witnessed as a child. Irene Doots, an ex-pat living in France, toured other old barns, contributing thoughts about lighting and implements that might be lying around. And it’s Irene’s cat who is seen napping on the window sill. Dozens of E-mails flew between the continents regarding Virginia and Edmond’s clothing until all of us were finally satisfied.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006, saw Virginia Hall finally receive the kind of public recognition she so richly deserved. French ambassador Jean-David Levitte and British ambassador Sir David Manning co-hosted a ceremony at the French residence in Washington D.C. The painting of Virginia in action was finally unveiled before a waiting public.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Manning presented a certificate signed by King George VI to Virginia’s niece, Lorna Catling. Virginia should have received the document in 1943, when she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. She was given the medal, but never the warrant, which had survived in a London vault all these years. Ambassador Levite presented Ms. Catling with a letter from then French president Jacques Chirac, commending Hall’s bravery during the war. And Baltimore mayor, and Maryland’s governor-elect, Richard O’Malley, heralded the city’s native daughter by public proclamation.
The story describing the event circled the globe, thanks to the Associated Press, and brought its own surprise benefit. Hollywood took notice, and The Wolves at the Door was optioned for a movie. Only preliminary work has begun on the film, but I have every confidence that Virginia’s dedication to freedom will soon appear on the silver screen.
While it was never Virginia’s wish to receive public recognition for her work itself, I believe that her courage in overcoming gender and disability discrimination is a wonderful and timeless lesson. As I travel around the country, sharing her story and the story of others who have exemplified courage, it is truly humbling to watch the audience reaction. And I am reminded how fortunate we are today to have had Virginia Hall on our side.
—Judith L. Pearson
Author’s Note: A photograph of “Les Marguerites Fleuriront Ce Soir” can be seen at the end of the Gallery.
Gallery
The Hall’s 110-acre farm, Box Horn, in rural Maryland. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
Virginia and her brother John, circa 1910. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
LEFT: Virginia loved the outdoors, here with an unidentified friend, circa 1922. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling) RIGHT: Hiking, circa 1922. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
She became an accomplished horsewoman, circa 1920. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
LEFT: Virginia, circa 1918. She had an interest in all wildlife from a young age. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling) RIGHT: Virginia, her brother, John, and an unidentified friend in the barn at Box Horn, circa 1919. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
One of Virginia’s identity cards, listing her address as the Place Ollier in Lyon and dated April 20, 1942. (Photo courtesy of the International Spy Museum)
LEFT: Robert Alesh, who called himself Abbé Ackuin. He was responsible for betraying Virginia and her entire circuit in Lyon. (Photo courtesy of National Archives) RIGHT: The French tri-color flies over the Centre de l’Histoire et de la Résistance in Lyon. Formerly it was the Ecole de Santé Militaire, Klaus Barbie’s headquarters and the site of his torture chambers. Today it’s a museum and library. (Author photo)
Today, the horrors are commemorated by this plaque on the outside wall of the Ecole de Sante Militaire. “Here, in 1943 and 1944, the Nazi Gestapo, aided by traitors, tortured thousands of resistants and hostages before their death or deportation. Their sacrifice allowed for the liberation of France.” (Author photo)
LEFT: Motor Gun Boat 502, the ship that carried Virginia and Aramis from Portsmouth, England, to the coast of Brittany in occupied France. (Photo courtesy of Norman Hine and Mike Kemble) RIGHT: A self-portrait sketched by Aramis (Henry Laussucq) in the field in 1944. (Photo courtesy of National Archives)
LEFT: Virg
inia’s Type 3, Mark II suitcase radio. She used this radio to maintain contact with London during her second trip to occupied France. (Photo courtesy of the International Spy Museum) RIGHT: Virginia’s safe house in the town of Cosne at 18 rue Donzy. (Author photo)
LEFT: Parachute container that arrived near Le Chambon sur Lignon. The name “Williams” was added after the war. (Author photo) CENTER: Désiré Zurbach, or Dédé as he was known to his compatriots, was Virginia’s second in command in the Yssingeaux Plateau. Photo circa 1946. (Photo courtesy of Pierre Fayol) RIGHT: Lt. Raoul Le Boulicaut, known to Virginia and the others as ‘Lt. Bob.’ Here, in 1939 at the age of eighteen, he’s about to ship out with the French Navy. (Photo courtesy of Pierre Fayol)
Virginia with members of her parachute reception committee. Second from the right is Gabriel Eyraud, the young guard of the group’s weapons depot. To his right is Dédé. (Photo courtesy of Gabriel Eyraud)
This demolition is typical of the sort Virginias group inflicted on the Nazis. This train was in the midst of crossing the Pont de Chamalieres on August 2, 1944, when detonation occurred. (Photos courtesy of Pierre Fayol)
LEFT: The building owned by the Salvation Army, located near Le Chambon. Virginia lived here, as well as sent her radio messages and organized sabotages from here. It was also here that the members of JED team Jeremy stayed. (Author photo) RIGHT: Virginia with the two Americans who parachuted onto the Yssingeaux Plateau. Lieutenant Henry Riley is on the left and Lieutenant Paul Goillot is on the right. Between them is French Lieutenant Aimart. Goillot later became her husband. (Photo courtesy of Gabriel Eyraud)
Virginia receives the Distinguished Service Cross from General William Donovan in his office in Washington on September 23, 1945. Her mother was the only other person in attendance. (Photos courtesy of Lorna Catling)
LEFT: Virginia’s Member of the British Empire ribbon. (Photo courtesy of the International Spy Museum) RIGHT: Virginia’s Distinguished Service Cross. (Courtesy of the CIA Museum)
Virginia, back home at Box Horn after the war, circa 1946. (Courtesy of the Lorna Catling)
One of Virginia’s many passports, circa 1946. (Photo courtesy of the CIA Museum)
Virginia and friends, both human and canine. These were two of the five French poodles she and Paul had. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
LEFT: Virginia, left, and Paul with an unknown friend, touring their yard at their Maryland home, circa 1982. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling) RIGHT: Virginia shortly after the war and her return to the U.S. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
“Les Marguerites Fleuriront Ce Soir” (“The Daisies Will Bloom Tonight”). This painting by Jeffrey Bass, a part of the CIA fine arts collection, is a depiction of the scene described in The Wolves at the Door. It was unveiled at the French Ambassadors residence in Washington D.C. in December 2006.
Bibliography
BOOKS
Binney, Marcus. The Women Who Lived for Danger: the Women Agents of SOE in the Second World War. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 2002.
Bolle, Pierre. Le Plateau Vivarais-Lignon; Accueil et Résistance, 1939–1944. Le Chambon-sur-Lignon: Société d’Histoire de la Montagne, 1992.
Churchill, Peter. Duel of Wits. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1953.
Churchill, Peter. Of Their Own Choice. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1952.
Dear, Ian. Sabotage and Subversion: the SOE and OSS at War. London: Cassell Military Paperbacks, 1999.
Défourneaux, Réné. The Winking Fox: Twenty-two Years in Military Intelligence. Indianapolis: Indiana Creative Arts, 1997.
De Vomécourt, Philippe. Les Artisans de la Liberté. Paris: Imprimerie Mordacq, 1975.
Fayol, Pierre. Le Chambon-sur-Lignon sous l’occupation: les Résistance Locales, l’aide Lnterallié, l’action de Virginia Hall (OSS). Paris: Edition l’Harmattan, 1990.
Fischer, Klaus P. Nazi Germany. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1995.
Foot, M.R.D. SOE in France. London: Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1966.
Gildea, Robert. Marianne in Chains: Daily Life in the Heart of France During the German Occupation. Henry Holt & Company, 2003.
Haines, Gerald. “Virginia Hall Goillot: Career Intelligence Officer,” Prologue, Winter 1994, pp. 249–260.
Jackson, Julian. France: the Dark Years, 1940–1944. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Keegan, John, editor. Atlas of the Second World War. London: Harper Collins, 1998.
Landau, Elaine. Nazi War Criminals. New York: Franklin Watts, 1990.
Marino, Andy. A Quiet American: The Secret War of Varian Fry. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999.
McCullough, David G., editor. American Heritage Picture History of World War II. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc., 1966.
McIntosh, Elizabeth P. Sisterhood of Spies: the Women of the OSS. New York: Dell Publishing, 1998.
Miller, Francis Trevelyan, editor. The Complete History of World War II. Chicago: Readers’ Service Bureau, 1947.
Moon, Tom. This Grim and Savage Game. Philadelphia: DaCapo Press Edition, 1991.
Rossiter, Margaret. Women in the Resistance. New York: Praeger, 1991.
Ruby, Marcel. F Section, SOE: the Buckmaster Networks. London: Leo Cooper Ltd., 1988.
Ryan, Cornelius. The Longest Day: the Classic Epic of D-Day. New York: Touchstone, 1959.
Seaman, Mark. Secret Agent’s Handbook: the WWII Spy Manual of Devices, Disguises, Gadgets, and Concealed Weapons. Guilford: The Lyons Press, 2001.
Smith, R. Harris. OSS: the Secret History of Americas First Central Intelligence Agency. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1972.
FILMS
13 rue Madelaine. Twentieth Century Fox, 1947.
Charlotte Gray. Warner Brothers, 2001.
Conspiracy. HBO Films, 2004.
Eye of Vichy (L’Oeil de Vichy). Institut National de l’audiovisuel, TFI Films Production, 1993.
Is Paris Burning? (Paris, brulé-t-il?). Paramount Studios, 1966.
One Against the Wind. Republic Pictures, 1991.
Secrets of War. Image Entertainment Inc., 1998.
Sisters in the Resistance. Women Make Movies, 2000.
Spies: OSS Covert Action. Columbia House Company, 1992.
The Sorrow and the Pity. Milestone, 1969.
Weapons of the Spirit: the Astonishing Story of a Unique Conspiracy of Goodness. Chambon Foundation, 1989.
Wish Me Luck. BBC Television, 1988.
DOCUMENTS
All official reports, debriefings, radio transmissions and training information taken from declassified documents held by the following institutions:
National Archives and Records Administration
College Park, MD
Imperial War Museum
London, England
The Public Records Office,
Kew, England
Centre de la Résistance et de la Déportation
Lyon, France
Archives de France
Paris, France
Acknowledgments
Virgina Hall was once asked why she never told her story. Her reply was that she was never asked. Unfortunately she died before I had the chance to ask her. But there were a great many individuals who were available to ask questions of, and whose knowledge and memories made this book all the richer. This is but a brief token of my appreciation.
In the United States, my thanks to Virginia Hall’s niece, Lorna Catling; at the National Archives in College Park, MD, Larry McDonald and John Taylor; at the CIA Museum, Toni Highly; at the International Spy Museum, Amanda Abrell; at the Chambon Foundation, Pierre Sauvage; former OSS members Réné Défourneaux, Fisher Howe, Geoffry Jones, Robert Kehoe, Tom McGuire, Elizabeth McIntosh, and General Jack Singlaub, as well as the members of the OSS Society; also Professor Arthur Layton Funk and Maia Wechsler.
In Great Britain, a tip of the hat to Clive and Mary Bassett, Leslie Fernandez, Joh
n Harding, Delphine Isaman, Steven Kippax, and M.R.D. Foot.
In France, my appreciation to Serge and Michelle Blandin, Gérard Bollon, Gabriel Eyraud, Serge Fayol, Annik Flaud, Jean Lebrat, Jacqueline Pery d’Alincourt, and Germaine Tillion.
No book would be possible without a dedicated agent and a hardworking editor and I’m fortunate to have both. Thanks to Peter Rubie, who is not only my agent, but my friend. And many thanks to my highly knowledgeable editor, Jay McCullough.
This book’s shape was aided by my dear and patient writing pals: Cindy Goyette, Wanda McLaughlin, Val Neiman, Gary Ponzo, and Rich Schooler. Your attention to detail is always a marvel to me.
And finally, a great big thank you is due my husband, who patiently endured dozens of history programs and movies, my middle-of-the-night brainstorms, and frequent dinner conversations that centered solely on World War II. He still manages to be my biggest fan and I love him for it.
—JUDITH L. PEARSON
TEMPE, ARIZONA
JULY 2005
Also by Judith L Pearson
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