She was five feet tall. Maybe less. In the middle of the most horrific war in human history, Marthe Cohn didn't look like a threat to anyone, let alone the Third Reich. But that was exactly the point. When we talk about the last secret agent from the Greatest Generation, we aren't talking about a James Bond type with gadgets and a tuxedo. We’re talking about a French Jewish woman who spent her days walking through the German countryside, chatting with soldiers, and gathering the intel that eventually cracked the Siegfried Line.
History is funny like that. It ignores people for decades. Marthe didn't even tell her own children about her service for nearly fifty years. She just lived her life as a nurse. It wasn't until she was prompted by a researcher in the late 1990s that the floodgates opened. Her story, documented in her memoir Behind Enemy Lines, isn't just a war story; it’s a masterclass in how a regular person becomes a high-stakes intelligence asset when the world falls apart.
The Blonde Hair and the "Chutzpah" That Saved Lives
Marthe’s cover was simple. She was "Martha Ulrich," a German nurse searching for her missing fiancé. Because she was fair-skinned and spoke fluent German with a slight accent that she could pass off as regional, she blended into the landscape of a collapsing Germany in 1945. This wasn't some high-tech operation. It was psychological warfare.
People forget how chaotic the end of World War II was. It was a mess. German soldiers were retreating, refugees were everywhere, and the Allied forces were pushing hard but didn't know what was behind the next hill. Marthe was the eyes and ears. She crossed the front lines over a dozen times. Think about that. Every single crossing was a coin flip with her life. If the Gestapo caught her and found her real papers, she was dead. Period.
Why did she do it? Most people would have just tried to survive. Her sister, Stephanie, had already been arrested and sent to the camps. Marthe knew the stakes weren't just political; they were deeply personal. That’s the nuance of the last secret agent narrative—it’s rarely about "glory." It’s about a stubborn refusal to let the bad guys win.
What Most People Get Wrong About 1940s Espionage
There is a huge misconception that being a secret agent back then was all about stealing codes or blowing up bridges. While that happened, the most valuable thing Marthe provided was tactical awareness.
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During one of her missions, she discovered that the Germans had evacuated the Black Forest. This was huge. Why? Because the Allied generals thought the area was heavily defended. They were planning a massive, slow, and costly bombardment. Marthe walked through it, saw it was empty, and reported back. She saved thousands of lives—on both sides, honestly—by preventing a needless battle.
The Mechanics of "Low-Level" Intel
- The Power of Small Talk: She would sit in cafes or by the road and just listen. Soldiers are tired. They want to vent. They told the "pretty nurse" things they shouldn't have.
- Visual Recon: She memorized troop movements without taking notes. Taking notes was a death sentence. She had to keep a mental map of every tank and every platoon she saw.
- The Discarded Detail: Sometimes the most important intel wasn't a map; it was the condition of the soldiers' boots or the fact that they were running out of horses. It signaled the end.
She didn't use a radio in the field. She had to physically get back to the French lines to deliver the news. Imagine the stress of walking miles with a head full of secrets, knowing that a single slip-up in your "Martha Ulrich" persona would end everything.
Why We Are Only Learning This Now
It’s kinda wild that Marthe Cohn remained a secret for so long. But if you look at the history of female agents in WWII—women like Nancy Wake or Virginia Hall—there’s a pattern of silence. After the war, these women didn't go on book tours. They went home. They got jobs. They started families. The psychological toll of living a double life is immense, and for many, "forgetting" was the only way to move forward.
The French government eventually caught up. They awarded her the Médaille Militaire in 1999. Later, she received the Croix de Guerre and the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. But for Marthe, the "last secret agent" title wasn't about the medals. It was about the fact that she was one of the few left who could tell the story without the filter of Hollywood dramatization.
The Reality of the Field
It wasn't all triumphs. It was terrifying. Marthe has spoken about the sheer, paralyzing fear of being questioned by a suspicious officer. She used her "innocence" as a shield. Who would suspect this tiny woman of being a French spy? It’s the ultimate "Grey Man" (or Grey Woman) strategy.
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In intelligence circles, we call this "Natural Cover." You aren't pretending to be a spy; you are pretending to be someone who has every right to be exactly where they are. Marthe was a nurse in real life. That’s why she was so convincing. She knew the terminology, she knew the behavior, and she knew how to carry herself with the quiet authority of a medical professional.
Actionable Insights from a Lifetime of Secrets
If there is anything to learn from Marthe Cohn’s life, it’s not about how to sneak across borders. It’s about the human element of information and resilience. Whether you are in business, security, or just navigating a complex social environment, her "methods" still hold weight.
1. Observation over Assumption
Marthe succeeded because she looked at what was actually happening, not what the generals thought was happening. In any high-stakes situation, trust your eyes over the "official" report.
2. The Value of Underestimation
Being the underdog is a massive advantage. When people don't take you seriously, they stop hiding things from you. Use that.
3. Master the "Soft" Skills
The most effective tools she had weren't weapons. They were empathy, conversation, and a calm demeanor. You can get a lot further with a friendly chat than a confrontation.
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4. Document Everything (Eventually)
If Marthe hadn't eventually told her story, that piece of history would be gone. If you're involved in something significant, find a way to record the truth, even if it stays in a drawer for fifty years.
Marthe Cohn is still alive as of the recent records, well into her 100s, living in California. She remains a living link to a world that tried to erase her. She didn't just survive; she fought back with her mind. That is the true legacy of the last secret agent. It's not the mission that matters as much as the person who had the guts to carry it out when no one was looking.
Next Steps for History Buffs
If you want to understand the granular detail of her missions, read her book Behind Enemy Lines. It avoids the typical "war hero" tropes and focuses on the crushing boredom, the constant hunger, and the split-second decisions that define life in the field. You can also look into the documentary Chichinette: The Accidental Spy, which captures her wit and sharp mind even in her 90s.
Don't just read the history; look at the mechanics of how she stayed alive. That’s where the real lessons are hidden.