Marlene Dietrich Was One of the First Celebrities to Join the War Effort
Back in 1930, Marlene Dietrich found Germany’s fascist regime to be quite appalling, so she moved to the U.S. In 1939, she officially became a citizen. She famously stated that America took her into her bosom when she no longer had a native country that was worthy of the name. Later on, she became one of the first celebrities who joined the war effort.
At first, she was helping the OSS, which was a wartime precursor to the CIA. She was trying to get people who she knew were in danger out of Germany. In addition, Marlene became a tireless fundraiser and a very successful one. Her grandson remembered that even Clark Gable, who was the King of Hollywood, was always complaining that she was raising more war bonds money than him.
Marlene Dietrich Showed a Brave Spirit During WW2
In the day between 1943 and 1946, Marlene Dietrich appeared before Allied troops more than five hundred times. It was her personal passion and desire, and she would stop at nothing to help the troops. Sometimes, she and her team would perform for just ten people. According to her grandson, she understood that anything she could do to help change the course of the war and defeat Hitler was worth doing.
For her exceptional determination and bravery, Marlene received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1947, as well as the French equivalent – the Legion of Honor. She was nominated for the Medal of Freedom by two American generals who did so independently of each other. According to the singer and actress, she valued this recognition above any praise she received for her acting or singing.