Vera May Atkins, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Croix de Guerre, Legion of Honor (June 15 1908 – June 24, 2000), was a Romanian-born Jewish British intelligence officer. In Romania, she worked as a British spy getting very close to the Nazi ambassador and extracting vital information about Nazi plans in Europe.

In the U.K., as a refugee, she overcame British discrimination, being both a Female and Jew. Her prodigious skills as a linguist, memory, management, hard work, personal courage, and toughness were broadly respected. Quickly, she became a vital link in the British clandestine operations, S.O.E., Special Operations Executive. She eventually ran over 400 spies in Occupied Nazi France between 1941-1945.

She was the first woman, if not one of the very first women, ever to have achieved her level of operational influence and control in the S.O.E.’s history.

The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, U.K. Branch Chairman, Martin Sugarman, announced the placement of a historical marker honoring Vera Atkins — a British Special Operations Executive Spymaster during World War II. The marker is located on the side of the Nell Gywyy House at 5 Whitehead’s Grove, London, England SW3 3HA, adjacent to a Blue Plaque for American Abolitionist leader, Frederick Douglas.

The text of the marker reads;

Vera Atkins

nee’ Rosenberg

“Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Croix de Guerre, Legion of Honour

(Star of David)

A Jewish pre-War British spy, Vera joined Special Operations Executive (SOE) as an Intelligence Squadron Officer, F Section, overseeing the missions of secret agents to France.

She lived at 725 Nell Gwynn House in WW2,

הֲלוֹא צִוִּיתִיךָ חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ

“Be Strong and of good courage.”  (Joshua 1:9)

(The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, U.K branch, and AJEX UK)