Hutted Histories: Mission Europe - the ordinary women who did extraordinary things with Dr Kate Vigurs

Who were the women behind enemy lines? Historian and broadcaster Dr. Kate Vigurs brings to light the extraordinary true stories of the female agents of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in her gripping new book, Mission Europe. These women were wireless operators, couriers, saboteurs – and resistance heroes whose lives were cloaked in secrecy, danger and extraordinary bravery.

For a thrilling hour, she’ll share the hidden histories of these wartime heroines who operated in Nazi-occupied Europe, revealing not only their daring missions but the complex lives they returned to, often unrecognised and sometimes forgotten.

Drawing on newly declassified material and vivid firsthand accounts, this is a chance to hear the voices of women whose courage shaped the course of World War II. A perfect event for fans of espionage, history and fearless female trailblazers.

About Kate

Dr Kate Vigurs FRHistS is an historian, author and researcher.  She is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a visiting academic in the department of Political & International Studies at the University of Warwick.  With a PhD in history from the University of Leeds, her first book Mission France – The True Story of the Women of SOE was published in 2021 to critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Polly Corrigan Book Prize and the Society for Army Historical Research first book prize.  

Her second book, Mission Europe, focusses on the women secret agents used across Europe and was helped greatly with funding from the Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charitable Trust.  She is also planning several exciting research projects for the future within the field of Second World War studies.

Kate is an experienced and highly respected public speaker. She appears on numerous podcasts and TV documentaries and is delighted to return to Great War huts this spring.