The Secret Story of Audrey Hepburn: How She Faced the Nazis in World War II

Audrey Hepburn, one of the most iconic actresses of the 20th century, has a lesser-known story that dates back to her youth during World War II. Many Dutch people of the time, and even geographers today, questioned her involvement with the Dutch Resistance. “She was just a girl, what could she have done?” they said. However, Audrey, under the guidance of the daring Dr. Hendrik Visser ‘t Hooft, a local resistance leader, proved to be more than just a talented young woman.

From an early age, Audrey showed a talent for dance, something the resistance used to organize clandestine events known as zwarte avonden, or “black nights.” These events, initially promoted by musicians ousted from the cultural scene by the Nazi occupation, became an important tool for raising funds that supported the sheltering of Jews and others persecuted in the Netherlands. The name “black nights” came from the fact that the windows were always covered so the lights wouldn’t reveal the activity to the occupiers.

Audrey’s involvement officially began in 1944 when her family, the van Heemstras, participated in one of these illegal nights. Despite the malnutrition that was already afflicting many Dutch youth, Audrey danced with fervor. In her own words, “I was able to perform and it was a way to make my contribution.” She organized underground recitals where her mother made the costumes and a friend played the piano. The performances, although amateurish, brought moments of relief and unity in dark times.

The risks were high. These events were held in private homes, like that of Dr. Jacobus T. Wouters, not far from the van Heemstras’ home. Guards were posted to warn of any approaching Germans, as a single discovery could be fatal. Audrey recalled an occasion when, after one of her performances, the audience remained in absolute silence, a quiet acknowledgment of the imminent danger.

The Nazi occupation brought horrors to the small town of Velp, where Audrey lived. The sounds of torture coming from a bank requisitioned by the Nazi police, which she heard one day while walking with her mother, were forever etched in her memory. “These are things you don’t forget,” she said.

While doctors like Dr. Visser ‘t Hooft used their knowledge and position to aid the resistance, the town’s religious leaders were captured and sent to concentration camps, further intensifying the fight against the occupiers. Among Audrey’s dangerous tasks was supporting downed Allied airmen. Fluent in English, she was the ideal messenger for these hidden pilots. On one of these missions, when confronted by the Nazi police, Audrey improvised, picking flowers in the field to distract the soldiers, who eventually let her pass.

To Audrey, these actions were just a small contribution compared to what many other Dutch youth were doing. But for her mother, Ella, the growing danger led to the decision to flee Velp for The Hague, where they might find safety and sustenance. So, in August 1944, mother and daughter departed, with the hope that amidst the war, there would be some refuge where Audrey could dance again and perhaps regain her health.

Audrey Hepburn, whom the world knows as a movie star, was also, in her youth, a star of the resistance. Her courage and determination in wartime show that even in the shadows of history, there are lights that shine brightly, and some memories, indeed, never fade.

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