Front to the Films: An Inside Look at the Upcoming Film Dad’s Secret War: France 1944, with Georges Strachan-Heyes

The Front to the Films podcast is thrilled to announce our latest episode featuring a conversation with Georges Strachan-Heyes, retired British Army officer and Director of Operations for the UK and NATO at Onebrief. In this episode, hosted by Colonel Tom Rendall (USA, Ret.), Georges brings his exceptional insights in discussing The World War II Foundation's newest documentary, Dad’s Secret War: France 1944.

This gripping documentary, based on Scholars of Mayhem by Daniel C. Guiet and Timothy K. Smith, chronicles the daring World War II missions of Jean Claude Guiet, who served with Britain’s Special Operations Executive (SOE) and America’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS). His covert operations helped arm and organize the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied France following D-Day, ultimately shaping the Allied breakthrough in Europe. Jean Claude’s “Salesman II” circuit team played a vital role in holding back German reinforcements from Normandy, a critical part of the Allied advance. As Georges recounts, Guiet’s story adds a powerful chapter to the narrative of WWII, bringing to light the real risks and sacrifices made by the unsung agents operating behind enemy lines.

On September 10, 2024, the Foundation held a special advance screening of Dad’s Secret War at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). It was a memorable evening attended by 150 senior active and retired members of the Special Operations and Airborne communities, along with their families. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees deeply moved by this untold story of heroism and resilience. Georges Strachan-Heyes, who served as the keynote speaker, delivered exceptional remarks that resonated with the entire audience. His speech, which was so captivating and insightful that it left the room spellbound, delved into the film’s themes and explored how covert actions by the OSS and SOE transformed the course of WWII. His remarks were so impactful that we immediately invited him to share more on Front to the Films.

In this podcast episode, airing as a lead-up to the formal premiere of Dad’s Secret War at the French Embassy in Washington, DC, on November 14, Georges joins Colonel Rendall to discuss the importance of bringing this story to the screen. He touches on themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the meticulous training and bravery required of SOE agents. Georges also reflects on the documentary’s production, which involved collaboration with the Newhouse School, offering students a hands-on opportunity to explore WWII history and contribute to historical storytelling as part of The World War II Foundation's Doccumentary, Film, Photography and History Program. Their involvement reinforces the film’s dual purpose: honoring the sacrifices of WWII veterans while educating future generations on the critical lessons of the past.

Following its Embassy premiere, Dad’s Secret War: France 1944 will be aired nationwide on nearly 300 American Public Television channels. The film, narrated by Kevin Bacon, invites viewers into the life of Jean Claude Guiet and his comrades, revealing the profound human and historical impact of their missions in occupied France. Georges and Colonel Rendall’s conversation serves as an enlightening primer for the documentary, giving listeners a rare perspective on the bravery and complexities of war, and how these untold stories resonate in today’s world.

Join us for this extraordinary episode of Front to the Films, where we honor those who lived and served in the shadows, and look forward to the story’s reach on a national scale. This conversation is both an introduction to the documentary as well as a fitting tribute to the courage that defined the Greatest Generation.