Facts and Stories from WWII That We Won’t Find in History Books

Josephine Baker, a trailblazing dancer and activist, found refuge from racial prejudice in France during WWII. Using her stage presence, she covertly gathered intelligence on the Germans, smuggling vital information to the Allies encoded in invisible ink on sheet music. Her courageous efforts aided the resistance and bolstered the Allied cause.

Beyond her wartime exploits, Baker continued her advocacy for civil rights. Following Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Coretta Scott King personally implored her to lead the movement. In a poignant tribute to her contributions, Baker was posthumously honored with reburial in the Pantheon in Paris, commemorating her enduring legacy in the fight against tyranny and injustice.