Living Big: Book Review – Behind Enemy Lines

Behind Enemy Lines: The True Story of a French Jewish Spy in Nazi Germany

By Marthe Cohn with Wendy Holden

At first glance, Marthe Cohn seems like an unlikely war hero. A petite, soft-spoken young woman from Alsace–Lorraine, she might have been expected to survive the war quietly, keeping her head down. Instead, she became one of the most daring spies of World War II—crossing into Nazi territory under the guise of a German nurse, gathering vital intelligence, and risking capture at every step.

Her story is not a Hollywood invention—it is meticulously true. The book draws you in with its clear-eyed, almost understated storytelling. Cohn never glamorizes her work, yet each chapter hums with tension. You feel the cold nights, the gnawing fear, and the heavy weight of loss she carried after her family was torn apart by the war.

What I found most striking is her courage wrapped in humility. She never presents herself as extraordinary, but page after page reveals she was exactly that. Her command of German, her quick thinking under pressure, and her ability to blend into hostile territory are as impressive as any fictional spy’s feats—but with the added weight that lives truly depended on her.

This memoir is more than a war story. It’s about identity, resilience, and the quiet, determined strength of a woman who refused to stand by when there was something she could do. By the time you close the last page, you’ll feel you’ve not just read history, but been entrusted with it.