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| Marlene Dietrich: The Hollywood star who traded glamour for grit, standing up to fascism in uniform and on the frontlines. |
Marlene
Dietrich wasn’t just a glamorous movie star—she was a one-woman resistance
movement against one of the most evil regimes in history. When Adolf Hitler
tried to woo her back to Nazi Germany with promises of fame, fortune, and
power, she didn’t just say no—she slammed the door in his face. By 1939, she
became a U.S. citizen, choosing to stand with the Allies during World War II
and putting herself directly in harm’s way as a loud and proud critic of the
Nazi regime.
But Dietrich wasn’t one for empty talk.
She backed up her words with real action. The Office of Strategic Services, or
OSS—the precursor to the CIA—knew her German roots and star power were assets
they couldn’t ignore. They brought her in to record anti-Nazi propaganda songs
and messages, aimed at tearing down the morale of German soldiers on the front
lines.
One of her most famous performances was "Lili Marleen," a German song that had captured hearts back home. Dietrich flipped the script, turning it into an anthem for the Allies. She used her voice to strike at the core of the regime, subtly weakening the very people who once worshipped her. Dietrich didn’t just resist Hitler—she outsmarted him, using her fame and talent as weapons in a war for the soul of the world.
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Dietrich wasn’t just recording propaganda
from a safe distance—she took the fight straight to the frontlines. With the
USO, she performed for Allied troops in some of the most dangerous war zones,
dodging enemy fire. But she wasn’t just there to entertain; she was making a
statement. She was showing the world that fascism, hate, and authoritarianism
had no place in her world. And by putting herself on the line, she made it
clear that they shouldn’t have a place in anyone’s.
Fast forward to today, and it’s sickening
to see the very ideologies Dietrich risked her life to fight crawling back into
the spotlight. Neo-Nazi groups, far-right extremism—they’re not just fringe
movements anymore. They’re growing, especially here in the U.S. Dietrich would
be furious, heartbroken even, to see white supremacy rising again in a country
she fought so hard to defend. She stood for democracy, for freedom, for
equality—the very things these hate groups want to tear down.
When you look at today’s stars, it’s hard
not to see the connection to Dietrich. Take Lady Gaga. After Charlottesville in
2017, she didn’t stay quiet. She condemned the neo-Nazis and far-right
extremists who were spreading their toxic beliefs. Just like Dietrich, Gaga
uses her platform to push for equality and justice, urging her fans to vote for
leaders who stand for those values.
And then there’s Taylor Swift. She’s
another who could’ve easily stayed in her lane, but she didn’t. She’s been
vocal about the rise of white supremacy and authoritarianism in the U.S., and
she’s not afraid to call it out when she sees it. Swift, too, is urging her
fans to stand up, to use their voices at the ballot box, and to fight for the
kind of democracy and equality that Dietrich once put her life on the line for.
In a way, Dietrich’s spirit lives on in
people like Gaga and Swift—stars who don’t just entertain, but stand up for
what’s right, even when it’s not the easy thing to do.
Dietrich, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift all
have one thing in common beyond their fame—they use their platforms to take a
stand for what’s right. Sure, they’ve all taken heat for it, but just like
Dietrich during World War II, they didn’t back down. They know their voices
matter, that they can inspire millions to stand up against hate.
Marlene Dietrich wasn’t just a Hollywood icon—she was a straight-up hero. She stared fascism in the face and fought it when it mattered most. If she were alive today, you can bet she’d be just as fierce, speaking out against the dangerous rise of hate and extremism we’re seeing right here in the U.S. The best way to honor her legacy—and what modern icons like Gaga and Swift are doing—is simple: stay alert, speak up, and remember, staying silent is the same as standing by. Silence, in the face of hate, is complicity.
Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance.
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