Katharina Buczek
Two critical pieces of information that Baker relayed back to the French bureau included how Japan had signed an anti-communist pact with Hitler, as well as how Germany planned to occupy the supposedly-neutral county of Portugal in order to use its seaports.
And, once the war struck France in 1940, Josephine’s efforts did not cease. Instead, she took up operations in her country home– the Chateau des Milandes– where local resistance members and refugees would meet. German soldiers did eventually visit Baker’s home to investigate. But, she yet again fooled them by claiming to be “just a dancer,” and no evidence of her resistance movement was ever found.
Baker was later recognized by the French government in 1961 and received a Legion D’Honneur, France’s highest decoration for military service. And once she returned to Germany in 1945 following the end of the war, Baker was also honored at the Allied Victory ceremony.
The star-turned-spy continued to perform and advocate for equality throughout the rest of her life and lived to be sixty-eight years old before passing away in 1975– just one day after her fiftieth anniversary of being in show business.
Still, while Baker loved entertainment, she also regarded her “war years” as the most rewarding highlight of her life.
And as of 2021, Baker was awarded admission into the French Pantheon, which honors France’s most influential historical figures, including the likes of Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, and Voltaire. Baker is now just one of five women who have ever obtained such an honor.
To learn more about Josephine Baker’s unbelievable life, you can now read the book “Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy,” which was just released last month.
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