Violette and the SOE
A devastated Violette had joined the SOE (Special Operations Executive) to become a field agent and a courier (someone who transports messages or information). Violette's skillful knowledge of French was very helpful due to the fact that most missions she would go on would be in France. Before she had gone on any missions, she had gone through paramilitary training in Scotland. Violette went to more training in Hampshire, where she had sustained an ankle injury, which never fully healed.
First Mission
Violette's first mission was as a courier to Phillipe Liewer. Phillipe was the head of the SALESMAN circuit in Normandy, France. Violette was given her assignment through a poem called, "The Life That I Have" written by the Cryptographer of the SOE. This mission was described as "extremely dangerous," but Violette didn't mind. After landing, Violette travelled alone to Rouen under an alias or false name. Using her new alias, Violette investigated the circumstances for the capture of Claude Malraux and an SOE wireless operator. Violette had reported that over a hundred French Resistance fighters had been caught by the Gestapo. Violette returned back to Liewer and told him that his network was crushed. Violette returned back to England and her first mission came to a successful end.
Second Mission
On June 8, 1944 Violette's second mission began with her being parachuted into Limoges, France. Violette and three other voulunteered colleagues had been sent to Limoges only a day after D-day. Their mission was to create a new SALESMAN circuit in Normandy, France. On June 10, Violette separated from the group to meet with a man named Jacques Poirier. Violette, though, was unaware of the fact that the Second SS Panzer Division was heading right toward her. Violette and Jacques got to a road that was blocked off, but as they tried to turn around Violette injured her ankle. Violette had persuaded her colleagues to move on without her. She held off the Germans as long as possible, but was captured and turned over to the Gestapo. She was interrogated at Limoges Prison, using the alias Vicky Tailor, and the eventually was sent to several other prisons and headquarters. After that everyone realized that the attempts to get Violette to talk were futile, so she was sent to first concentration camp.