Trained to See – Three Women and the War

In the midst of World War II, the role of women in the workforce underwent a significant transformation, with the advent of women war correspondents. They were pioneers, venturing into the male-dominated field of reporting on war and conflict. Filmmaker Luzia Schmid brings to life the captivating stories of three fearless women, utilizing reports, letters, and diary excerpts as primary sources. Her documentary serves as a tribute to their courage, perseverance, and dedication to bringing the realities of war to the public eye. The first woman, Claire Morgan, hails from Great Britain and worked as a war correspondent for the BBC. Born in 1914, Claire was known for her unwavering resolve and her ability to navigate even the most perilous of situations. As a correspondent, she often traveled alongside military personnel, witnessing firsthand the brutality and devastation of war. Morgan's experiences during the war would later shape her perspective on conflict and the importance of reporting on the human cost. Her dispatches from the front lines provided a glimpse into the complexities of war and served as a testament to her unwavering commitment to truth. Another correspondent featured in Schmid's film is Ruth Gruber, an American journalist who gained recognition for her reporting from Nazi-occupied Europe. Born in 1917, Gruber was driven by a sense of purpose and a determination to tell the stories that needed to be told. She spent years traveling throughout Europe, documenting the plight of refugees and the devastating effects of war on civilian populations. Ruth's experiences were nothing short of remarkable, as she infiltrated concentration camps, interviewed key officials, and smuggled refugees out of occupied territories. Her reporting on the Holocaust and the plight of Jewish refugees serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II. The third woman profiled in the documentary is Virginia Cowles, an American journalist and correspondent who was renowned for her in-depth reporting from Germany during the height of the war. Virginia's reporting style was characterized by her ability to delve into the human aspect of conflict, often highlighting the stories of ordinary people caught up in the chaos of war. As a correspondent, Cowles spent years reporting on the Nazi regime and their tactics, exposing the atrocities committed by the German military and the devastating effects of the war on civilians. Her reporting from Germany would later inform her subsequent work as an author, where she wrote several books detailing her experiences during the war. Through the lens of these three women, Schmid's film sheds light on the challenges and triumphs faced by women war correspondents during World War II. Their stories offer a testament to the power of courage, determination, and resilience in the face of adversity. By chronicling their experiences, the film serves as a tribute to these female pioneers, who paved the way for future generations of women in journalism. Their legacy extends beyond the confines of war reporting, reminding us of the importance of storytelling and the human cost of conflict. The documentary also serves as a historical record, providing a glimpse into the pivotal role women played in shaping our understanding of World War II.