Seducing and Killing Nazis: Hannie, Truus and Freddie

by Sophie Poldermans, Hannie Schaft (Contributor), Truus Oversteegen (Contributor)

This is the astonishing true story of three teenage Dutch girls, Hannie Schaft and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, that has inspired many throughout the world.

When Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in World War II, these girls took up arms against the enemy by seducing high-ranking Nazi officers, luring them into the woods and killing them. They provided Jewish children with safe houses and gathered vital intelligence for the resistance. They did what they did "because it had to be done." Above all, they tried to remain human in inhuman circumstances.

Hannie Schaft was executed by the Nazis three weeks before the end of the war and became the icon of female Dutch resistance. Truus and Freddie Oversteegen survived the war, but were forever haunted by the demons of their past.




RUNNING TIME ⇒ 2hrs. and 46mins.

©2019 Sophie Poldermans (P)2020 Sophie Poldermans

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Biography, World War II, Holocaust, War

Audible Audio

First published August 1, 2019

About the author

Sophie Poldermans is the author of the best seller “Seducing and Killing Nazis. Hannie, Truus and Freddie: Dutch Resistance Heroines of WWII, ” a non-fiction historical account and biography of the sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen and Hannie Schaft. She personally knew Truus and Freddie Oversteegen for 20 years and worked closely with them for over a decade as a board member of the National Hannie Schaft Foundation.


She is the founder of "Sophie's Women of War,” is a Dutch women's rights advocate who works as a self-employed author, public speaker, lecturer and consultant on women and war and human rights-related issues from a legal, historical and sociological perspective. Find out more about her and her work at: https://sophieswomenofwar.com/ and http://seducingandkillingnazis.com/

She has degrees in Dutch and International Human Rights and International Criminal Law (University of Amsterdam); Peace and Conflict Studies (UC Berkeley, USA); and Human Rights and Democratization (EIUC, Venice, Italy; Vienna, Austria). She has work experience as a lecturer in Conflict Resolution and International Human Rights and Criminal Law and as an International Coordinator in Amsterdam, and as a guest lecturer in Madrid, Oslo, and Fukuoka.

She is the author of Hannie Schaft. Haar rol in het Nederlandse verzet tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, published in the Netherlands in 2003; and Seducing and Killing Nazis. Hannie, Truus and Freddie: Dutch Resistance Heroines of WWII, published in the USA in 2019.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannie, Truus and Freddie were just teenagers when the Germans invaded the Netherlands during World War II. They joined the resistance and spent the war targeting German officers and those who turned resistance fighters into the German police. They also blew up bridges, passed information to the allies and did whatever they could to fight the German occupation of the Netherlands. One of them was executed by Germans after being captured. The other two survived but suffered from PTSD, depression and other war related ailments for the rest of their lives.

This book outlines what these girls did for the resistance, retaliations by German forces and some of the events that occurred in the Netherlands during the occupation. I found the facts and photographs compelling, but horrifying. I have a 15 year old son at home. I can't imagine children his age being recruited to kill people, being forced to hide from authorities, and being under threat of execution if captured. It makes me have a high level of respect and pride in these girls and what they did. They did not kill German officers and others with no care....what they had to do during the war had an effect on them until their deaths. When I was 14, my biggest worry was running out of hairspray or getting a flat tire on the way to work. These girls faced arrest, starvation, being sent out to shoot people, planting bombs on bridges or in buildings, and the daily atrocities committed by German troops occupying their homeland. I can't even imagine it... But, part of the reason why I (and millions of others) can't imagine living like that is because of the strength and bravery shown by thousands of people like these three teenage girls during World War II.

Great book! I did not know about these three girls before I read this book. I'm going to read more on the resistance fighters in the Netherlands. It's a portion of World War II history that I don't know very much about. I would definitely read more by this author. She obviously did a lot of research for this book, and her sources are well documented.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from SWW Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an important and fascinating book telling the story of three teenage Dutch women who joined the Resistance when The Netherlands was occupied by the Germans. They killed Nazis, published and distributed anti-Nazi material, saved Jewish children, blew up bridges. They were TEENAGERS.

The story of Hannie Schaft and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen needs to be better known. It is daring, inspirational and a profile in courage.

Truus and Freddie survived the War. Hannie was caught, tortured and executed three weeks before the end of the war. She was 25. Sophie Poldermans interviewed Truus and Freddie and other members of the Resistance and does a masterful job in researching and archiving this stunning story.

Unfortunately, her book is just that; an excellently researched archive. Even with this astonishing material, Poldermans turns this into a very DRY reading experience. The facts are all here, but her narrative isn't a well-constructed, riveting account.

But I appreciate that she has written this book. I loved meeting Hannie, Truus and Freddie. They are the role models we need in these dark ages. I just wish that she was as good a writer as she was a researcher.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on an unbelievable journey, the choices that these three young girls made, I could never see myself or my daughters making these decisions. They did the brave thing and the right thing no matter the cost - love or life. I thoroughly enjoyed the books presentation. It told enough of the story, but yet at times I would need to put the book aside to digest what I just read before I could continue reading. It’s hard to fathom what it would of been like during that time but they made a difference - thank you Sophie Poldermans for bringing us this story that needed to be told and I hope more people find this book to have real history and heroism unfold before their eyes.

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most excellent WWII book! A definite must read! You definitely won’t regret it!

[kerry ཐི༏ཋྀ󠀮 · Rating 2 out of 5]

these ✨courageous✨ women led SUCH inspiring lives fighting nazis. I admire them in many ways, especially considering that they were TEENAGERS 👏🏼. liiike we need to stop sleeping on teenage girls y’all. ahh i wish one of them had been my grandma, forreal. i could listen to their stories forever.

but considering their continuous reflections on the severity of murder and how killing a person does something evil to your soul, I find it...odd...that the author, who claims to have the utmost respect for these women, chose to title this book something so sensational? like sis did u even listen to their trauma?? i think hannie, freddie, and truss would’ve really despised this title, as they clearlyyyyy expressed their hatred for the things that war forced them to do.

also this is poorly written. 🤷🏻‍♀️


💪🏻💋🕶💄🧳👩🏻‍🦰

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked by the author to read a copy of this book in manuscript form before publication, and provide my feedback. I found it to be a very compelling story. Girls who were just teenagers at the time became killing machines, as it were, fighting back against their Nazi oppressors with the only tools at their disposal. Today it is difficult to comprehend their actions, especially considering their youth. This book is a valuable historical record. It's also an important contribution to our understanding of the Second World War, and how it profoundly changed both individuals and society.

[Cady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty poorly written, but definitely interesting to read about these resistance fighters and the work they did. I felt equally well served by an informative article however.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author asked me for a blurb earlier this year. This is what I had to say:

"Seducing and Killing Nazis is a fascinating non-fiction tale set during the darkest days of the Second World War. Richly illustrated with archival photos, Poldermans’ book is a detailed account of the Oversteegen sisters, Freddie and Truus, and their comrade-in-arms, Hannie Schaft, three young women who refused to take anything less than an active role in ridding the Netherlands from its Nazi occupiers and their Dutch collaborators."

[Meggan]

The author was a foreign exchange student in my tiny hometown, so as part of her book tour she visited again and gave a talk. She was very engaging and I bought her book after her talk and finished reading it this same evening.

If you’re into women in resistance movements you’ll appreciate this book! It tells the story of three women who joined the Dutch resistance in WWII and some of their assignments were to flirt with Nazi officers and lure them into the woods for a “romantic stroll,” where they would subsequently murder them. And they were YOUNG - 14, 16, and 19.

Worth a read!

[Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all of the horrors and depths of depravity reached during the Holocaust, there are so many unknown or little-known stories about ordinary people who reached new heights of self-sacrifice and courage. This is the story of three of those young women. Their stories are more fascinating than fiction and show there is hope for humanity even in the darkest of times.

This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this incredible book is the integrity of these three women and their motto to always remain human in the face of many horrors. They vowed to only carry out violence against Nazis. They wouldn’t mess with children or families of Nazis. They strategically acted to kill people who were high up in the Nazi occupation and who did serious harm. Amazing. Feminist. Badass. Also, it was heart-aching to see they were treated in sexist ways for the remainder of the 20th century. They will remain role models in my mind forever.

[John Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only girls, they learned at home never to discriminate against others. Because, as their parents counselled, ‘All humanity is equal’. Such simple life guidance was catastrophically upended when violent, white supremacist Nazi Germany overran the Netherlands. By then only teenagers, they were old enough to know something was dreadfully wrong. Sophie Poldermans, an insightful Dutch author who personally knew two of the heroic resistance fighters remembered here, tells their story with heart rending passion. She reveals the fear, Nazi brutality, and unique horrors of that age. She does, however, show how their brave resistance helped raise a jaded world back to simple humanity.
Subtitled Hannie, Truus and Freddie: Dutch Resistance Heroines of World War II, this book is simply terrifying. Though only teenagers, we learn how they were subtly drawn into secret resistance against the invaders. Poldermans reveals an horrific, clandestine measure to assure their reliability. Indeed their test will remain with you forever. We follow Jo ‘Hannie’ Schaft, whose tomboy elemental understanding of right and wrong allowed her to courageously, indeed often recklessly, fight back against the conquerors. Truus and ‘Freddie’ Oversteegen displayed leadership and wise caution, each bringing her own skills to great use in the underground defense of their country against the Gestapo and Dutch traitors.
Nazi Germans implemented laws based on racial hatred and political suppression. They enforced racial discrimination against Jews, and outlawed political parties. Opponents were sent to concentration and death camps. How three young girls, for none was over 19 at the time, fought back against such ‘discrimination and inequality’ is brought to life in this utterly spellbinding tale of assassinations, train sabotage, conspiracy and intrigue.
Indeed, seducing and killing Nazis by Dutch teens is what they did. One is fascinated by how their missions were planned, organized, and executed. The remarkable details of underground life, of forgeries, gathering stolen documents, explosives, food and other essentials would be story enough. But no, assassinations were also carried out by girls pretending to charm Nazis. The horror of taking a life, and the limits to any reprisal, even against Nazis, are memorably told. Indeed

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the generation that fought World War II dies off and fascism becomes more widely embraced in the West, it becomes paramount to remember the people who fought Nazis. This motivated Sophie Poldermans, a longtime admirer of the three heroic Dutch women memorialized in this book, to write Seducing and Killing Nazis.

The title couldn't be more blunt. Hannie Schaft, Truus Oversteegen, and Freddie Oversteegen (Truus' sister) did exactly that in the German-occupied Netherlands during the early 1940s. The three of them ranged from their mid to late teens. Tragically, Hannie Schaft would pay the ultimate price shortly before the Netherlands were liberated from the Germans. The Oversteegens, particularly Truus, ensured that Hannie's contributions to the Dutch Resistance and those of others would be remembered.

The writing is a bit stilted. However, the heroism of these three girls and Poldermans' deep respect for her subjects shine through. Chapters are organized roughly into before, during, and after the war. The girls are portrayed as teenagers with typical concerns and foibles, not saints or superheroes. While the Oversteegens were fortunate enough to die as old women with families, they had some difficulty reconciling the fact that they'd killed human beings with the justice of their cause. There are ample footnotes. The many photo illustrations of everything from buildings to a pair of false glasses that Hannie used to disguise herself are particularly intriguing.

Read this to remember the lessons of World War II and the European Resistance. Meditate on it a while. Then give it to a teenager in your life to teach them and to give them three models of true courage.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely fascinating, compelling, mind-blowing account of these three remarkable girls/women and the critical work they did as members of the Dutch Resistance under German occupation. Wonderfully researched, thoughtfully written, never sliding in the voyeuristic type of thing that so often is written about women's work during war. A staggering history. (And short, so you can read it quickly and then spend a while sitting with the important questions Sophie Poldermans raises throughout -- What does it take to stay human in a violently inhumane time? How do you hold on to your own ethics when your circumstances force you to transgress established moral norms?) Wonderful, so highly recommended.

[Erin Ludeau · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s nothing I love more than learning about women who tooo matters into their own hands, joining the resistance in opposition to the Nazis. I was intrigued to see that their story crossed paths with Corrie ten Boom, whose book The Hiding Place was a favorite of mine growing up.

That being said, this book read a little too much like an essay, but I guess that’s the risk you take when you’re reading a book about true events 🤷🏻‍♀️

2.7 stars

[Kip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a compelling subject! The author's connection to the Oversteegen sisters is clear in these well-researched pages filled with interesting facts about these three resistance fighters and their important work. I particularly liked how it goes beyond the facts of the war and into the aftereffects of PTSD on them and others, and I found the photos compelling as well. Great book for anyone looking for more resistance role models!

[Stephanie Sabo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick listen on audio. This story was so interesting and really states the importance of women’s resistance. The courage these three women is so important. I can’t wait to read more about their stories.

[Small Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read.

[Maddy F · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introspection into the Dutch resistance during WWII. Somber and tough to read at times, but a story that needs to be told and remembered.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their stories are important and need to be heard.

5 stars for the content and for what these women went through.

[Rick Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting topic, unfortunately this reads like the executive summary of a much better, much more interesting book. Passive voice permeates and drags this down into moderately tolerable territory.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fascinating read! I rated it 3 stars only because it was very difficult for me to read through the names of the people and places in which the events took place. Overall, though, it was a great testament to fighting against fascism, discrimination, and injustice.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read.

[Kelli Glazebrook]

I appreciate the hard work and dedication that went into preserving this moment in history, but it reads very much like a master’s thesis and not a story of any kind. I wish someone would take the work done by this author who has worked diligently to preserve the history of these three young women, and craft an actual narrative instead of a dry accounting of historical details.

[Krisanne Lane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this should be a higher rating based on the subject matter, but honestly there was no narrative here. It’s essentially a bunch of names & dates and not much detail about the participants themselves. The title is more intriguing than the contents.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the generation that fought World War II dies off and fascism becomes more widely embraced in the West, it becomes paramount to remember the people who fought Nazis. This motivated Sophie Poldermans, a longtime admirer of the three heroic Dutch women memorialized in this book, to write Seducing and Killing Nazis.

The title couldn't be more blunt. Hannie Schaft, Truus Oversteegen, and Freddie Oversteegen (Truus' sister) did exactly that in the German-occupied Netherlands during the early 1940s. The three of them ranged from their mid to late teens. Tragically, Hannie Schaft would pay the ultimate price shortly before the Netherlands were liberated from the Germans. The Oversteegens, particularly Truus, ensured that Hannie's contributions to the Dutch Resistance and those of others would be remembered.

The writing is a bit stilted. However, the heroism of these three girls and Poldermans' deep respect for her subjects shine through. Chapters are organized roughly into before, during, and after the war. The girls are portrayed as teenagers with typical concerns and foibles, not saints or superheroes. While the Oversteegens were fortunate enough to die as old women with families, they had some difficulty reconciling the fact that they'd killed human beings with the justice of their cause. There are ample footnotes. The many photo illustrations of everything from buildings to a pair of false glasses that Hannie used to disguise herself are particularly intriguing.

Read this to remember the lessons of World War II and the European Resistance. Meditate on it a while. Then give it to a teenager in your life to teach them and to give them three models of true courage.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I am a little disappointed in how this book has been written. I expected a detailed account of the three girls time in the Resistance, but it is really more of a general overview. It does provide some brief background information on each of the girls childhood and family lives leading up to their involvement, as well as mentions a few jobs that the girls performed for the resistance in passing, but it feels like a bit of an afterthought. Like a child who has written a book report versus a person who has spent years of her life interviewing and researching the subject and who was fortunate enough to personally know two of the three involved. I would have loved for there to have been more detail about how they actually became involved as well as details on missions, seductions and killings, instead of just saying Hannie rode her bike here and shot this person or lured this person to be shot by Fran. I guess it just feels incomplete to me.

I was provided this book by Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting story I hadn't heard before. That said the book is rather short and details were a little vague. I wanted to hear more than was in the book.

Also the title's a tad misleading. The book is about the wide-ranging resistance work these three women did in the Netherlands during world war II. While they certainly seduced and killed some Nazis, the title makes it sound like this was their modus operandi. In fact they killed Nazi's lots of different ways and only seduced a few of them. They also did a lot of other important resistance work including protecting and hiding Jews, burning records, stopping trains, and blowing up bridges.

It's a fun quick read, but will probably leave you wanting to know more about these women.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The women who are the subjects of this book were incredible, brave, strong heroines. I want to learn more and more about them. Unfortunately this book doesn't provide much. The book almost feels like a lengthy Wikipedia article than a book. Perhaps there isn't a lot of information available because of these young women's secretive missions, but the fact that the author became friends with two of the women, one would think she would have more information. There are other books about there about Hannie Schaft and the Oversteegen sisters and I wish I had picked one of them.

[Rachel McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and very dryly written. More an academic summary than story. Nonetheless a fascinating group of women that should be better known than they are.

I feel that the author's personal connection to Truus and Freddie has meant that she has captured the bones of the story, while honouring the wishes of the women to keep the details minimal, so I've added a star for that