Violette Morris, French shot putter and discus thrower (d. 1944)

Violette Morris, born on April 18, 1893, and deceased on April 26, 1944, remains one of the most controversial figures in French history, a woman whose life story starkly juxtaposes celebrated athletic prowess with notorious collaboration during World War II. Her journey from a pioneering sportswoman to a reviled operative for the Nazi regime and Vichy France casts a long shadow over her legacy, embodying the complex moral dilemmas of a turbulent era.

A Star Athlete in a Pioneering Era

In the early 20th century, a time when women's participation in competitive sports was still nascent and often met with societal skepticism, Violette Morris emerged as a formidable and versatile athlete. Her physical strength and competitive spirit were unmatched across a remarkable range of disciplines. She excelled in track and field, notably winning two gold and one silver medal at the Women's World Games held in 1921 and 1922. These Games were significant international events for female athletes, precursors to their fuller integration into the Olympic movement. Beyond these achievements, Morris was also an accomplished footballer, a talented swimmer, a skilled boxer, and even ventured into car racing, demonstrating an extraordinary athletic range that defied conventional gender roles of the period.

The Controversial Ban and Shifting Fortunes

Morris's unconventional lifestyle and open defiance of societal norms eventually led to a dramatic downfall in her athletic career. In 1928, the French Women's Sports Federation banned her from competing, citing violations of "moral standards." The exact reasons, while officially vague, are widely understood to relate to her refusal to conform to prevailing expectations of femininity. Her preference for masculine attire, such as trousers, her smoking habits, and her reportedly bisexual lifestyle were all deemed transgressive in an era that strictly policed female public conduct and appearance. This ban effectively ended her competitive sporting life, leaving her embittered and ostracized from the world where she had once shone so brightly.

Following her athletic ban, Morris's life began to take a darker turn. She ran a tobacco shop and later a car accessories store in Paris, maintaining contacts within the city's underworld. It was during this period that she started forging connections that would lead to her eventual alignment with increasingly unsavory elements.

From Honored Guest to "Hyena of the Gestapo"

A curious and significant interlude in Morris's life occurred in 1936 when she was extended a personal invitation by Adolf Hitler to attend the Summer Olympics in Berlin. As an honored guest, this invitation served as a poignant contrast to her recent ban from French sports, potentially offering a sense of vindication or belonging. It also hinted at an early, if perhaps superficial, connection with the Nazi regime, which was adept at leveraging figures like Morris for propaganda purposes.

However, her involvement deepened dramatically with the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent occupation of France. Violette Morris became an active and ruthless collaborator with both the occupying Nazi forces, specifically the infamous Gestapo, and the collaborationist Vichy France regime. Her activities were chillingly effective and included espionage, acting as an informant, infiltrating French Resistance networks, and reportedly participating in brutal interrogations and torture. Her ferocity and cruelty earned her the infamous and chilling moniker, "the Hyena of the Gestapo," a testament to her predatory and merciless actions against her own compatriots, particularly those involved in the Resistance or deemed enemies of the Nazi state.

Her Violent End

Violette Morris's reign of terror came to an abrupt and violent end on April 26, 1944. She was ambushed and killed by a commando unit of the French Resistance, known as the Maquis. The assassination took place in a rural area of Normandy, near Lieurey in the Eure department, a region known for its strong Resistance presence. Her execution by the Resistance underscored the brutal realities of wartime retribution and the ultimate fate awaiting those who actively collaborated with the occupying forces.

FAQs About Violette Morris

What were Violette Morris's main athletic achievements?

Violette Morris was a highly versatile athlete who won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Women's World Games in 1921–1922. She also excelled in sports such as football, swimming, boxing, and car racing.

Why was Violette Morris banned from competing?

In 1928, she was banned by the French Women's Sports Federation for violating "moral standards." This was largely due to her unconventional lifestyle, including her refusal to wear corsets, her preference for masculine clothing, smoking, and her reportedly bisexual identity, which challenged the strict societal norms for women athletes of her time.

How did Violette Morris become involved with the Nazis?

Her involvement began to solidify after she was invited as an honored guest to the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Adolf Hitler, following her ban from French sports. During World War II, she actively collaborated with the German Gestapo and the Vichy French regime, engaging in espionage, intelligence gathering, and infiltration of Resistance networks.

What did the nickname "the Hyena of the Gestapo" signify?

This chilling nickname was given to Violette Morris due to her ruthless and predatory activities during her collaboration with the Nazis. It reflected her perceived cruelty, efficiency, and willingness to betray and brutalize her own countrymen, particularly members of the French Resistance.

Who was responsible for Violette Morris's death?

Violette Morris was ambushed and killed by a commando unit of the French Resistance (the Maquis) on April 26, 1944, in Normandy. Her execution was a direct consequence of her extensive and brutal collaboration with the occupying Nazi forces and the Vichy regime.