TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Inayat-Khan, Noor-un-Nisa

Date of birth:
January 1st, 1914 (Moscow, Russia)
Date of death:
September 13th, 1944 (Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany)
Mentioned on:
Air Forces Memorial Runnymede
Service number:
9901
Nationality:
British

Biography

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Assistant Section Officer
Unit:
F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1946

LG 37744/4905.
Awarded posthumously.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Assistant Section Officer
Unit:
F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1949
Citation:
"Assistant Section Officer Nora INAYAT-KHAN was the first woman operator to be infiltrated into enemy occupied France, and was landed by Lysander aircraft on 16th June, 1943. During the weeks immediately following her arrival, the Gestapo made mass arrests in the Paris Resistance groups to which she had been detailed. She refused however to abandon what had become the principal and most dangerous post in France, although given the opportunity to return to England, because she did not wish to leave her French comrades without communications and she hoped also to rebuild her group. She remained at her post therefore and did the excellent work which earned her a posthumous Mention in Despatches.
The Gestapo had a full description of her, but knew only her code name "Madeleine". .They deployed considerable forces in their effort to catch her and so break the last remaining link with London. After 3 months she was betrayed to the Gestapo and taken to their H.Q. in the Avenue Foch. The Gestapo had found her codes and messages and were now in a position to work back to London. They asked her to co-operate, but she refused and gave them no information of any kind. She was imprisoned in one of the cells on the 5th floor of the Gestapo H.Q. and remained there for several weeks during which time she made two unsuccessful attempts at escape. She was asked to sign a declaration
that she would make no further attempts but she refused and the Chief of the Gestapo obtained permission from Berlin to send her to Germany for "safe custody". She was the first agent to be sent to Germany. Assistant Section Officer INAYAT-KHAN was sent to Karlsruhe in November; 1943, and then to Pforsheim where her cell was apart from the main prison. She was considered to be a particularly dangerous and unco-operative prisoner. The Director of the prison has also been interrogated and has confirmed that Assistant Section Officer INAYAT-KHAN, when interrogated by the Karlsruhe Gestapo, refused to give any information whatsoever, either as to her work or her colleagues. The 12th September, 1944. On arrival, she was taken to the crematorium and shot.
Assistant Section Officer INAYAT-KHAN displayed the most conspicuous courage, both moral and physical over a period of more than 12 months."

LG 38578/1703.
Awarded posthumously.
George Cross

Sources

  • - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 7th June 1946, Issue 37605, dated 11th June 1946
    - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37744 published on the 27 September 1946
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 29th August 1947, Issue 38061, dated 2nd September 1947
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 1st April 1949, Issue 38578, dated 5th April 1949