Resistance Assassins

The Dutch resistance deployed many tactics against occupying forces during WWII. These were mostly non-violent in nature and included counterintelligence, domestic sabotage, communicating with the Allies and hiding Jews. A small minority used violence to directly kill Nazis and collaborators but of those only a tiny number were women. However, they were arguably the most audacious fighters.

This included three women from the north Holland city of Haarlem – Hannie Schaft and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen. They are the subject of Sophie Polderman’s book Killing And Seducing Nazis. Poldermans, a Dutch women’s rights advocate, lecturer and writer, knew the Oversteegen sisters in old age and worked with them for the National Hannie Schaft Foundation. She reveals what motivated the women, their