On her wedding day Liliana discovered that she was not only saying yes to marriage, but also to the perilous work of a wireless operator in one of the first resistance cells in France.

Speaking 5 languages by the age of 19 she was instrumental in encoding messages sent to Bletchley Park from a Polish Military cell in Lyon, run by her husband.

The cultural beliefs about women, and the relationship power gradient between women and men, supported her fiancé’s action to decide her fate.

In this episode, the patriarchal monopoly on power is easily exposed in the Allied propaganda of the era. In juxtaposition to this power, Liliana’s story reflects her authentic contributions, and her matchless abilities and ingenuity that saved them from certain capture when the cell was infiltrated by the Nazis.

Episodes include war-related content that some listeners may find disturbing and/or traumatizing.

Episode Details

Propaganda
Podcast Episode #03
Created by: Diane Greig
Produced by: Robert Ouimet
Runs: 55:53

Credits

Host and Writer: Diane Greig
Liliana: Colleen Winton
Casting Director: Eileen Barrett
Producer: Robert Ouimet
Sound engineer: Matt James
Archival audio: Danger Women at Work, Arm Behind the Army. From the Prelinger Archive, used under Creative Commons and/or public domain.

Show Notes

The honourable and respectful origins of propaganda
The WW2 propaganda campaign reinforces the societal stereotypes and expectations of women and men
Bringing women into the work force in order to keep the economy going
Propaganda used to shift the perspective of women being capable not only in the home, but also working in factories
Contradictory stereotypes – how women were portrayed in propaganda
Post war propaganda
Modern computational propaganda
Liliana’s story
War breaks out
Working with the Red Cross in Vichy
A young lieutenant proposes marriage
Wedding day surprise – the young lieutenant has a different name
A new husband and a new role in the resistance
In Lyon, learning about wireless machines and codes
Trouble in Lyon, and the move to Marseille
Escape from Marseille to Switzeralnd
Slipping by the authorities thanks to food coupons
Divorced after the war, a new husband and a move to Canada

Links and Resources

World War 2 Propaganda & Surveillance
Polish resistance in France during World War II
Women at Work
History of Women in the Red Cross
The Story of Propaganda
The hypodermic effect: How propaganda manipulates our emotions
Advertising, Public Relations and Propaganda
Surveillance and Espionage in a Free Society

Feminism
Feminism
What Is Feminism, And Why Do So Many Women And Men Hate It?
French Red Cross poster

All Episodes in this Series