Andrée’s War Part 2: "How my mother outwitted the Nazis"

After exploring Andrée Griotteray White’s early life and role in the French Resistance in Part 1, in this article we find out some of Andrée’s most dangerous moments including how she outsmarted the Nazis, as told by her daughter Francelle White.

"I think the most dangerous thing was when my mother linked up with the CIA (at the time called the OSS) and had to bring gold coins back from Bordeaux to Paris," Francelle said.

"She sewed them into a girdle so that if she was stopped, they wouldn't be in her handbag. The coins were used by the Resistance to pay for their expenses and to pay or bribe informers, and she brought them back to Paris."

Francelle added: "One time the coins were used was when my mother and others from the Resistance took a German General out to lunch. One of their friends had been arrested and they wanted him freed, so they tried to bribe the German General. He freed their friend but didn’t accept the bribe – no one understood it and it remains a mystery to this day, but there is a possible explanation in my book. He then went on to be a politician after the war."

On one occasion, Andrée was questioned by police officers of the occupying forces. A translation of the Citation said:

'While undertaking an important assignment as an agent in occupied France, Andrée Griotteray  was arrested in Bordeaux on 17 July 1944 by police officers of the occupying forces and questioned for several hours. Displaying an enormous degree of sangfroid and exceptional skill, she managed to talk her way out of the charges being levelled against her and to extract from her accusers information which allowed her to work out the exact reasons behind her arrest and why her Resistance group had been targeted. Her mission accomplished, she immediately alerted the head of her group who put the appropriate security measures in place. Andrée Griotteray continued to carry out her underground activities uninterrupted until the liberation. This citation confirms the granting of a Croix de Guerre with a Silver Star.'

After the Second World War, Andrée met her husband, Frank, at the British Officers club in Paris in La Place Vendome in October 1945. Francelle said: "As a newlywed bride she moved to London, became a British citizen whilst still retaining her French nationality, and became a housewife, bringing up my brother and I.

"At the end of the Second World War, following three years in the Middle East serving in the RAF, my father was demobbed. He then re-entered the RAF and I think became responsible for ground logistics in France until June 1946 when he was demobbed for a second time."

Francelle continued: "My father died when I was 16, and my mother took over his business, Gander and White Shipping Ltd, an art logistic company which today has a Royal Warrant in the name of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She had to, she had no money – the business was my father’s life. She did a wonderful job in what was very much a man’s world, and I think her time in the Resistance helped her manage men – she didn’t put up with any nonsense from the Germans, and she wasn’t going to from her truckers! Her employees all loved her and admired her hugely. She ran the business until succumbing to Alzheimer's Disease in 1997."

Stay tuned for Part 3 of Andrée’s story, including why Francelle was inspired to write a book detailing her mother’s exploits after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.  

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.