Andree’s War Part 1: "My mother’s role in the French Resistance"

To mark Women’s History Month this March, we spoke with Francelle White about the part her mother Andrée played in the French Resistance during the Second World War. In the first of a series of articles, we delve into Andrée’s life before the Second World War, and how she became involved in the French Resistance.

What was Andrée’s life like before the Second World War?

My mother Andrée Griotteray White was sent to England to learn English in 1938, where she stayed with my grandmother’s friends. My grandmother was Belgian and worked for British Intelligence as a courier during the First World War, travelling from Belgium through non-occupied Holland to the UK. My grandmother made British friends through her work, so my mother stayed with them. She worked in a pre-prep school and learnt about life in England, but then had to return to Paris because of the war.

How did Andrée feel when the Second World War was declared?

Andrée had just come back from spending two years in England where she learnt English and worked in a pre-prep school. She got back to France and, almost immediately, war was declared. The Germans walked in, took over Paris, and they were devastated. My mother was only 19 at the time and her youth, in a way, came to an end.

However, she used to say “We still had fun. We still did lots of things – I went cycling and camping.”  She would always say she'd do whatever she could for de Gaulle, who'd set up the Free French in London by that time.

What was Andrée’s role as part of the French Resistance?

My mother worked at the Police Headquarters in Paris, in the passport and ID department. My uncle set up his own resistance group and asked her to do some tasks at her place of work to help out. Andrée typed up and printed copies of the newsletter La France, to share updates on what was going on in the world and politically. The press was completely censored so it was needed. My uncle would draw up the newsletter, she would type it up and get it printed at Police Headquarters, and then they would pass it on to the people in France, mainly in the Latin Quarter and central Paris.

She travelled across France, picking up and dropping off intelligence ultimately destined for the British and Americans. Because she spoke English, she was able to translate what they wanted for British Intelligence in England. It got very dangerous for her though – if she was stopped and searched it would have been trouble, but she said they hardly ever searched women.

She also stole blank ID cards to be distributed, mainly to Jews attempting to escape France, which I know from reading her diaries. She once met at Police Headquarters a man who came to have his ID card renewed who was Jewish, and she got to know him and a female relative of his. My mother had appointments in her diary with the relative, so it was very likely she helped them both out with IDs to ensure their safety.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Andrée’s story, including how Andrée’ narrowly escaped capture from the Nazis, her life after the war and how it felt for Francelle to learn all about her mother’s exploits.

To purchase Francelle White’s book ‘Andrée’s War,’ email francellewhite@outlook.com and state you are a supporter of the RAF Benevolent Fund. 100% of profits will be donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund.