Colorado WWII Veterans Honor Legacy of French Resistance Hero Marthe Cohn at Local Memorial Services
Colorado's veteran community and military families are gathering to commemorate the remarkable life of Marthe Cohn, a Jewish French resistance spy who passed away at 105, whose courage and cunning during World War II resonates deeply with the Pikes Peak region's strong military heritage.
Memorial services are being organized at the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel and Fort Carson, where local veterans and active service members will pay tribute to Cohn's extraordinary wartime contributions that helped accelerate the Allied victory in Europe.
A Legacy That Inspires Colorado's Military Community
Colonel Sarah Matthews, commander at Peterson Space Force Base, emphasizes Cohn's enduring influence:
"Marthe Cohn's story particularly resonates with our Colorado Springs military community. Her courage, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty exemplify the values we instill in our service members today."
"Marthe Cohn's story particularly resonates with our Colorado Springs military community. Her courage, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty exemplify the values we instill in our service members today."
At just 4 feet 11 inches tall, Cohn used her blonde hair, blue eyes, and fluent German to infiltrate Nazi territory in 1945. Her intelligence gathering proved crucial in the final months before Victory in Europe Day.
Local Impact and Recognition
The story has special significance for Colorado's military installations, which include:
- U.S. Air Force Academy
- Fort Carson
- Peterson Space Force Base
- Schriever Space Force Base
- NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain
Denver's Jewish community leaders are also organizing memorial events to honor Cohn's legacy. Rabbi David Goldstein of Temple Emanuel Denver notes:
"Her story reminds our Colorado Jewish community of both the darkness of that era and the extraordinary courage of those who fought against it."
"Her story reminds our Colorado Jewish community of both the darkness of that era and the extraordinary courage of those who fought against it."
A Life of Extraordinary Service
Cohn's remarkable service included successfully infiltrating Germany after 14 failed attempts, gathering crucial military intelligence while posing as a German nurse searching for a fictional fiancé. Her actions, which included caring for a wounded Nazi soldier who ironically boasted about his ability to "smell a Jew a mile away," led to her receiving medals from both France and postwar Germany.
Cohn passed away on May 20 at her home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Her legacy continues to inspire Colorado's next generation of military leaders and intelligence professionals training at our local bases and academies.
Local military historian and Air Force Academy professor Dr. James Henderson explains:
"For our cadets and active duty personnel in Colorado Springs, Marthe Cohn's story demonstrates how individual courage and ingenuity can change the course of history."
"For our cadets and active duty personnel in Colorado Springs, Marthe Cohn's story demonstrates how individual courage and ingenuity can change the course of history."
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