Resisting Hitler

This gripping narrative recounts the life of an American woman who sacrificed everything in the fight against the Nazi regime. Mildred and her husband, Arvid Harnack, were integral members of a resistance group that helped German Jews and political dissidents escape while providing crucial intelligence to both Washington and Moscow. In 1942, a Soviet error led to the arrest and torture of many in their group, known as the Red Orchestra. Mildred was executed by guillotine in Berlin on February 16, 1943, on Hitler's orders, making her the only American woman killed as an underground conspirator. Despite her bravery, her story remained largely unrecognized in the West after World War II, and was misrepresented in the Communist East. With newly accessible archives, this account draws on interviews with her family and friends, personal letters, and classified files from German and Soviet sources, as well as CIA and FBI documents. It reveals the life of a Wisconsin girl who captivated Arvid Harnack and explores the connections among prominent resistance figures, including the Delbrucks and Bonhoeffers. Mildred's poignant final words, "I have loved Germany so much," encapsulate her complex legacy. This remarkable story sheds light on the moral dilemmas faced by those resisting totalitarianism.