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Andrée de Jongh was a hero during World War II, a time when there was mostly terror and unjust incarceration. Due to such uncertain and dangerous times, it took bravery to help those in need, and Andrée had it in spades. Andrée was responsible for creating one of the most effective escape lines for allied airmen out of Nazi-occupied Europe. Her efforts helped to save the lives of over 800 people. Her miraculous exploits were described as inspirational in many books and movies.
“My name is Andrée. But I would like you to call me by my code name, which is Dédée, which means little mother. From here on I will be your little mother, and you will be my little children. It will be my job to get my children to Spain and freedom.” – ANDREE DE JONGH, at 24 years young on her first escape mission.
Andrée de Jongh was born in Brussels in 1916, a region in Belgium under German occupation during World War II. She was the youngest daughter of Alice Decarpentrie and Frederic de Jongh, a primary school headmaster.
She had a simple youth, but grew up with a strong education and a heart of gold. One of her heroes was Edith Cavell, a British nurse who was shot in the Tri-National in Schaerbeek for assisting troops to escape from occupied Belgium to the neutral Netherlands during the first World War.
Edith Cavell inspired Andrée to be trained as a nurse, and would later inspire her to create one of the most effective escape lines in WW II history. After her training, Andrée became a commercial artist in Malmedy, Belgium. She was just 24 years old when the Belgian government surrendered to the Nazis. By then, she left her position and moved to Brussels, becoming an official nurse.
Some of her patients were British servicemen, who she helped send letters home via the Red Cross. She was once described by a British serviceman as “a frail young girl, pleasant, kind, and simple. She seems to have the carelessness of a young student who would go on vacation after passing exams.” Little did they know, underneath the surface, a courageous young woman with incredible strength and spirit, was about to emerge.
Inspired by her hero, Edith Cavell, Andrée began to take the initiative in making discreet inquiries among friends and contacts. This proved to be much harder during the second World War, as the Netherlands had been overrun during the first World War.
Undeterred, Andrée went on to construct what was called “The Comet Line”. She arranged a series of safe houses in and around Brussels, where evading soldiers and aircrew could await being escorted out of the country. She found many who were willing to help, even though such events could lead to the death penalty.
The Comet Line was methodical, yet complicated. Her first escape group, compromised of 11 men, were sent to the Pyrenees to cross on foot into a neutral, but pro-Nazi Spain. Unfortunately, all 11 men were arrested by Spanish authorities, and only two managed to escape and make it to England.
Her next escape mission was the breakthrough they needed. Andrée herself escorted two Belgian soldiers and one Scotland soldier to Spain. They eventually reached the British consulate in Bilbao, and it was the Comet Line’s first proven success.
From this achievement, she was able to persuade British officials to provide financial and logistical backing. Her negotiation skills brought the Comet Line support from MI9, the intelligence branch set up to bring home stranded servicemen from occupied territory.
The Comet Line was a huge success and flourished along with another Belgium escape line, known as Pat, which allowed the escape of around 600 men to Britain before being compromised in 1942.
The Comet Line continued to help servicemen escape and managed to avoid major disasters. Due to many betrayals and arrests among network members in Belgium, Andrée moved her headquarters to Paris.
The organization was ultimately responsible for the safe return of around 800 servicemen, and more than 65% of the helpers were women.
On her 33rd escape to Spain in 1944, Andrée was leading three men when they were arrested in France. During her interrogation, she explained that The Comet Line was her idea, but the Nazi’s didn’t believe she was capable of it. Since they didn’t see her as a threat, they spared her life, but sent her to the notorious women’s concentration camp at Ravensbrück, where she remained until the end of the war.
Andrée could have taken a break, but even after spending over a year in one of the worst concentration camps, she went right back to serving others. She went to Congo to work as a nurse in a leper colony and later worked in a hospital in Ethiopia.
For her wartime fame and valor, she was awarded the George Medal by the British, the Medal of Freedom by the Americans, and was created a countess by the Belgian King. Andrée de Jongh died a hero on October 13, 2007.
Douglas Martin (2007) Andree de Jongh, 90, Legend of Belgian Resistance, Dies
Dan Vandervat (2007) Countess Andree de Jongh
Spartacus Educational: Andree de Jongh
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