Born in Germany, Marlene Dietrich rose to become one of the most iconic figures of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Known for her elegance, strong screen presence, and distinctive voice, she gained international fame after her breakthrough role in The Blue Angel. Over time, she became a symbol of classic Hollywood glamour, admired for her intelligence, bold style, and enigmatic public image that set her apart from many contemporaries.
Her influence extended far beyond entertainment. During World War II, Dietrich strongly supported the Allied cause, helping sell war bonds and performing demanding USO tours in dangerous areas to entertain troops. She also worked with the Office of Strategic Services and was reportedly willing to assist efforts aimed at opposing the Führer’s regime. Through these actions, Dietrich demonstrated a level of courage and conviction that matched the powerful mystique she cultivated on screen.
Refusing to star in German propaganda films
In the years leading up to the Second World War, German officials reportedly tried to convince Marlene Dietrich to return to Germany, hoping to use her international fame to benefit the regime’s propaganda efforts. Dietrich refused these approaches, a decision said to have angered the Führer, who reportedly viewed her as both a potentially valuable figure for the regime and someone in whom he had a personal interest.
Dietrich’s refusal put her firmly at odds with Germany’s government. She was accused of associating with Jewish people, her films were banned in Germany, and authorities reportedly sought to destroy copies of The Blue Angel, the movie that had propelled her to international fame. Despite those efforts, the Führer was reportedly said to have kept his own copy of the film and considered it a favorite.
In 1939, Dietrich renounced her German citizenship and became an American citizen. The German regime condemned her as a traitor, while Dietrich openly denounced the Führer and reportedly referred to him as “an idiot.” Her stance meant that she became recognized not only as a prominent Hollywood actress but also as a figure associated with personal conviction and resistance to authoritarianism.
Marlene Dietrich promoted the sale of war bonds
When the United States entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Marlene Dietrich immediately threw herself into doing whatever she could for the war effort. She was one of the first celebrities to go on a war bond tour, appearing before an estimated 250,000 American troops during the Pacific leg of her trek alone.
Dietrich toured the country from January 1942 to September ’43, with it estimated she alone raised over $1 million. She also sold the most war bonds out of any other Hollywood celebrity – an impressive feat.
J. Edgar Hoover’s suspicions…
Although Marlene Dietrich made her disdain for the German regime well known, her loyalty was still questioned by some in the United States. Suspicion peaked when she submitted an immigration request on behalf of her French partner, actor Jean Gabin. The application caught the attention of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director J. Edgar Hoover, who feared it might signal deeper ties to foreign operatives.
Between 1942 and 1944, the FBI launched a quiet investigation into Dietrich’s activities. Agents tailed her closely—tapping phone lines, reviewing her correspondence, and compiling extensive files in search of any disloyal conduct. But their efforts turned up no evidence of espionage. Instead, the investigation mostly revealed information about her personal affairs—provocative at times, but unrelated to national security.
Ironically, while Hoover remained wary, Dietrich was eventually recruited and became a spy for the U.S. government. As a special services contact, she discreetly gathered information about suspicious individuals and potential threats while on USO tours in Europe. Her undercover efforts only deepened her contributions to the Allied cause, reinforcing her dual legacy as both a beloved film star and a quiet warrior in the shadows of World War II.
Marlene Dietrich toured with the USO
Marlene Dietrich became one of the most popular USO entertainers of World War II. She traveled extensively through the European Theater, performing for troops in North Africa, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. She also entered her native Germany alongside forces commanded by Gen. George Patton and James M. Gavin!
Her shows combined singing, dancing, and comedy, and proved extremely popular with servicemen. Dietrich also played the musical saw and sometimes performed a “mind-reading” routine she had learned from actor and director Orson Welles. At the height of her popularity with the troops, she reportedly received as many as 1,000 letters a day.
Dietrich is estimated to have given around 500 shows during the war, continuing despite suffering from frostbite and the flu. When asked why she maintained such a grueling schedule, she replied simply, “Out of decency.” Of the many troops she entertained, Dietrich had a particular affection for the 82nd Airborne Division.
Recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)
In 1943, Marlene Dietrich was one of the celebrities approached by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to participate in the MUZAK Project. Spearheaded by the Morale Operations (MO) Branch, the program aimed to lower morale among the enemy through radio broadcasts that smeared the German regime.
Dietrich rerecorded American songs in German, with her most popular track being “Lili Marlene.” While high-ranking officials in Germany tried to get these so-called “black” radio broadcasts banned, they were met with pushback from troops on the front, who actually petitioned that Dietrich’s music be allowed to air.
Along with singing, the actor also hosted a number of broadcasts, in which she urged the Axis soldiers who were listening not to “sacrifice” themselves, as “the war is crap.” Her efforts and that of others, including Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, were a major success, with both military personnel and civilians alike beginning to question the propaganda they were fed – the US Strategic Bombing Survey even concluded that “the programs were just as devastating to German morale as an air raid.”
For her efforts with the OSS, Dietrich received a personal thanks from Maj. Gen. William “Wild Bill” Donovan, who said, “I am personally deeply grateful for your generosity in making these recordings for us.”
How else did Marlene Dietrich get involved in the war effort?
Now, you might be thinking that there’s no way Marlene Dietrich could have done much more to support the war effort, but you’d be wrong. She was a frequent volunteer at the Hollywood Canteen, a club started by Bette Davis and John Garfield to feed troops, and she also made sure to visit injured service members in the hospital when overseas.
Dietrich was also very passionate about supporting the Jewish population and German dissidents. Along with filmmaker Billy Wilder, she set up a fund to help Jews escape Germany, donating her $450,000 salary from 1937’s Knight Without Armour to keep it topped up. She also housed German and French exiles, providing them with financial support and advocating on their behalf for American citizenship.
However, all this wasn’t enough for Dietrich. She felt she could be doing more and thus approached fellow actor and US Navy Capt. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. about a possible assassination plot against the Führer. Dietrich said she would agree to film one movie for the regime, on the condition she was able to be alone with Germany’s leader, at which point she would kill him. She, however, wasn’t sure how to smuggle in the murder weapon, causing the plan to fizzle out before it could be enacted.
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For her dedication to the war effort, Dietrich was awarded a host of honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which she called her proudest achievement. She also received the French Legion d’Honneur and Belgium’s Knight Order of Leopold.