Suzanne David Hall
Encyclopedia
Suzanne David Hall was a spy
for the French resistance
during World War II
. While training to become an opera singer, she relayed messages that helped bring about the Allied invasion
of Normandy
. The 2003 novel For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley was based on interviews with Hall.
According to Bradley's book, Hall's conviction to fight for France began on the day she and her best friend Yvette went down to the beach. There they met Yvette's mother's friend, Madame Montagne, and the beach was bombed. After the missiles ceased, Yvette and Suzanne looked up to find Madame Montagne lying dead. It was Wednesday, 29 May 1940. Hall was 13.
The German's forced Hall and her family to move out of their house and into a dingy apartment.
Two years later, she had to see her doctor, a Mr. Leclerc, about an abscess. As she was with her voice teacher at the time, Mr. Leclerc asked if she traveled much for her opera singing. When she replied that she did, the doctor asked if she would like to be a spy for the French Resistance.
Hall never told her name to any of the other spies. To them, she was spy number 22, the 22nd spy in Cherbourg, where she lived.
When she was 19, Suzanne Hall was captured by the Germans. She was interrogated for hours, but she never confessed. She was saved when the Allies landed nearby in 1944.
Soon afterward, she found out from another captured spy, number 14, that all of the others had confessed and been killed. Dr. Leclerc and his family had been shot in the street.
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
for the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While training to become an opera singer, she relayed messages that helped bring about the Allied invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. The 2003 novel For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley was based on interviews with Hall.
According to Bradley's book, Hall's conviction to fight for France began on the day she and her best friend Yvette went down to the beach. There they met Yvette's mother's friend, Madame Montagne, and the beach was bombed. After the missiles ceased, Yvette and Suzanne looked up to find Madame Montagne lying dead. It was Wednesday, 29 May 1940. Hall was 13.
The German's forced Hall and her family to move out of their house and into a dingy apartment.
Two years later, she had to see her doctor, a Mr. Leclerc, about an abscess. As she was with her voice teacher at the time, Mr. Leclerc asked if she traveled much for her opera singing. When she replied that she did, the doctor asked if she would like to be a spy for the French Resistance.
Hall never told her name to any of the other spies. To them, she was spy number 22, the 22nd spy in Cherbourg, where she lived.
When she was 19, Suzanne Hall was captured by the Germans. She was interrogated for hours, but she never confessed. She was saved when the Allies landed nearby in 1944.
Soon afterward, she found out from another captured spy, number 14, that all of the others had confessed and been killed. Dr. Leclerc and his family had been shot in the street.