The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II

by Mari Eder

Overview

For fans of Radium Girls and history and WWII buffs, The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line takes you inside the lives and experiences of 15 unknown women heroes from the Greatest Generation, the women who served, fought, struggled, and made things happen during WWII—in and out of uniform—for theirs is a legacy destined to embolden generations of women to come.

From daring spies to audacious pilots, from innovative scientists to indomitable resistance fighters, these extraordinary women stepped out of line and into history, forever altering the world's landscape. This page-turning narrative, crafted with meticulous historical accuracy by retired U.S. Army Major General Mari K. Eder, provides a fresh perspective on the integral roles that women played during WWII.

• Liane B. Russell fled Austria with nothing and later became a renowned U.S. scientist whose research on the effects of radiation on embryos made a difference to thousands of lives.
• Gena Turgel was a prisoner who worked in the hospital at Bergen-Belsen and cared for the young Anne Frank, who was dying of typhus. Gena survived and went on to write a memoir and spent her life educating children about the Holocaust.
• Ida and Louise Cook were British sisters who repeatedly smuggled out jewelry and furs and served as sponsors for refugees, and they also established temporary housing for immigrant families in London.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a lover of powerful women's stories, or an avid reader of WWII nonfiction, The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line is a must-read and a poignant testament to the forgotten women who stepped up when the world needed them most.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728230931
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	46,866
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Mari K. Eder is a retired U.S. Army Major General, a renowned speaker and author, and a thought leader on strategic communication and leadership. General Eder is the former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Joint and Special Troops Support Command, former Deputy Chief of the Army Reserve and former Deputy Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Army. General Eder is the author of “Leading the Narrative: The Case for Strategic Communication,” published by the Naval Institute Press.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Wonder Woman 10

Chapter 2 What the Next Day Brings 28

Chapter 3 The Life of a Warrior 47

Chapter 4 A Good Influence 65

Chapter 5 The Limping Lady 82

Chapter 6 Falling Angels 102

Chapter 7 Inside of Time 122

Chapter 8 The Torchbearer of Freedom 142

Chapter 9 Love Conquers All 156

Chapter 10 We Followed Our Stars 172

Chapter 11 Power Maps 190

Chapter 12 Code Secrets 203

Chapter 13 Wind and Sand 219

Chapter 14 The Golden Hour 239

Chapter 15 High Morale 256

Chapter 16 Return to Normal 273

Chapter 17 No More Firsts 284

Chapter 18 It Starts Today 300

Acknowledgments 309

Notes 311

Bibliography and References 357

About the Author 379

Editorial Reviews

04/12/2021

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Eder (American Cyberspace) profiles women who broke gender barriers to help the Allied war effort during WWII in this breezy history. Her subjects include tennis player Alice Marble, who won 18 Grand Slam championships in the 1930s and, after her husband was killed in action over Germany, helped U.S. Army intelligence to obtain Nazi financial records from her former lover, a Swiss banker. Journalist Ruth Gruber guided nearly 1,000 Jewish war refugees to safety in the U.S. in 1944, while opera-loving British sisters Ida and Louise Cook helped 29 people escape Nazi Germany before war was declared. Polish American spy Stephanie Czech Rader, who gathered intelligence of Polish and Soviet security services in postwar Poland, was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit in 2016. Cartographer Marion Armstrong Frieswyk created three-dimensional topographical maps to aid U.S. military commanders in planning troop movements. Eder notes that though many of her subjects “shied away from medals and recognition,” they influenced the desegregation of the U.S. armed forces and served as role models for younger women in the military and intelligence services. This brisk and informative survey is a worthy tribute to the trailblazing women of WWII. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"This brisk and informative survey is a worthy tribute to the trailblazing women of WWII." — Publishers Weekly

"My appreciation for the veterans in my own family who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, coupled with the tragedy of 9/11 and the sacrifices made since, led me to absolutely consider myself a ‘grateful American’—for the blessings of freedom provided by those who wear the cloth of our nation. Major General (Ret.) Mari K. Eder has without a doubt elevated my sense of gratitude even higher. The stories of extraordinary courage, service, and sacrifice by the women she highlights in this book, and all others who served similarly yet have not had their stories told, should inspire all who read this to be grateful Americans as well!" — Gary Sinise, Actor and humanitarian

"We don’t think of the women of WWII as young girls determined to make a difference. But these women, and thousands like them, did. They networked, connected, and supported one another. When the war ended, that network collapsed, a victim of culture and society’s focus on a ‘return to normal.’ We can’t forget what they sacrificed and what they’ve given to us, and this book helps us do just that." — Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of The Connector’s Advantage and The 11 Laws of Likability

"This book fills a historic void about Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams and others who stepped out of line to succeed, because the "lines" did not support race, gender, or mission. Their moral courage and leadership knocked down many barriers within the military and beyond." — Colonel (Ret.) Edna W. Cummings, U.S. Army Six Triple Eight Advocate/Producer

"A tennis star who became a spy, a Polish immigrant who went to work for the OSS, a Jewish refugee who fought the Nazis as a partisan: these are some of the remarkable women whose incredible stories come to life in this engaging and important book. Mari Eder helps us to complete our history of the Second World War through voices that had been forgotten until now. A must-read for all who want to know more about women's history, the Second World War, and America in the twentieth century." — Michael S. Neiberg, author of Potsdam: The End of World War II and the Remaking of Europe

"A fascinating page-turner about a mostly forgotten contingent of people—women who willingly stepped ‘out of line’ to contribute to the Allied victory in WWII. It is a fresh set of gripping stories, from world tennis champ Alice Marble to far less well known heroines. Each story is moving and deeply inspirational." — Admiral James Stavridis, USN Supreme Allied Commander at NATO (Ret.)

"The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line is a must-read. Each chapter highlights a different woman who stepped out of line and did what was right—not what was easy or expected. These warriors defied the odds in their fight against bigotry, hatred, and prejudice of all kinds. Many of them helped save the lives of others or helped pave the path for a brighter and equal future for other women. Thankfully, we have someone such as Mari K. Eder, a woman and veteran who also led a selfless life, to bring these stories to life and to preserve the legacies of these heroic women. And while Eder may not be looking for accolades or recognition for this beautifully written tribute, we all owe her a debt of gratitude. I know I will be purchasing a copy of this book for each female warrior and hero in my life." — Adena Bernstein Astrowsky, author of Living Among the Dead

"Military women, intelligences agents, and partisan fighters who served in World War II remained much too modest about their accomplishments, and we are indebted to Major General Mari K. Eder (U.S. Army retired) for bringing to light their remarkable stories of dedication and heroism. An engaging and fast-paced work, this book will interest anyone who wants to fully understand why the Allies won the war. The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line offers accounts of remarkable role models that will inspire future generations of women and men who embark on a career in military service. Highly recommended." — G. Kurt Piehler, PhD, Director of the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience

"Inspiring stories of women warriors who deserve greater attention." — Kirkus Reviews

"Straightforward, eye-opening, and invaluable collection... this group biography offers a breezy tone, historic photographs, and plenty of lively anecdotes to bring its subjects to vivid life. " — Booklist

Eder’s engaging writing makes these compelling histories read like a suspense novel. A highly recommended account that will draw in readers of U.S. history and women’s history.

From the Publisher

★ 06/18/2021

Eder, a retired U.S. Army major general, has written a captivating social history introducing readers to women who served in the Allied war effort during World War II or were impacted by the war's events. Each of the 15 chapters is devoted to one woman (including Alice Marble, Liane B. Russell, and Gena Turgel) and describes how they contributed to the war effort in their own unique way. The women were from varied backgrounds; they were reporters, chemists, and athletes, among other roles. Their exploits included writing propaganda, gathering intelligence on troop movements in Europe, and serving as sponsors for refugees; one was a Jewish refugee fighting against the Nazis. In each case, Eder demonstrates the risks involved but also how these women overcame the dangers of their situation to make important contributions to the Allied war effort. As Eder capably recounts, each of these women has a captivating story to tell. The book relies on extensive primary sources and includes several photographs of people and places to complement the inviting narrative. VERDICT Eder's engaging writing makes these compelling histories read like a suspense novel. A highly recommended account that will draw in readers of U.S. history and women's history.—Jacqueline Parascandola, Univ. of Pennsylvania

Library Journal

2021-06-02
A chronicle of a group of courageous women whose contributions to World War II “put comic book heroines to shame.”

“The story of the war will never be fully or fairly written if the achievement of women in it are untold,” writes Eder, a retired Army major general, in the introduction to this enthusiastic collection of their exploits. Most did not seek fame and were not “trailblazers by choice,” but readers will share the author’s outrage upon learning that many were deliberately written out of history and treated badly even as they served. When the Air Force began accepting women for flight training in 1976, it announced proudly that this was the first time it had permitted women to fly; angry Women Airforce Service Pilot veterans pointed out the error. These included Ola Mildred Rexroat, who joined in 1944, trained, and flew for the Air Force within the U.S. Like all WASPs, she was denied military status, paid less than male pilots, and ineligible for veteran’s benefits until 1977. Perhaps Eder’s most famous character, Virginia Hall, risked her life in Nazi-occupied Europe, first for Britain’s Secret Operations Executive, and then the U.S. Office of Strategic Services, despite being easily identifiable because of her limp. Alice Marble, the world’s amateur tennis champion, was shot while carrying out a successful espionage operation in Switzerland. Throughout the war, nurses played an essential role, and Katherine Nolan’s experiences in a field hospital make gripping reading. Other important women assembled the first computers that cracked complex Axis codes (see Liza Mundy’s Code Girls), drew essential maps, or risked and often lost their lives in the resistance. Several of Eder’s women simply survived imprisonment or concentration camps, no mean feat. The author fills her accounts with invented dialogue and novelistic thoughts, but her subjects worked hard, often behaving heroically and suffering for it, so that’s a minor quibble.

Inspiring stories of women warriors who deserve greater attention.

Kirkus Reviews