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    You are at:Home»Society»Crime»March 8, 1949: “Axis Sally” Goes to Prison, but “Hanoi Jane” Doesn’t?
    Crime

    March 8, 1949: “Axis Sally” Goes to Prison, but “Hanoi Jane” Doesn’t?

    Major DanBy Major DanMarch 8, 2016Updated:March 8, 202136 Comments4 Mins Read
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    A Brief History

    On March 8, 1949, the long and convoluted journey of Mildred Gillars temporarily came to an end when she was convicted of treason against her native United States of America.

    Digging Deeper

    Digging deeper, we find Gillars, born Mildred Sisk in Maine changing her name at age 11 when her mother remarried.

    Moving to Conneaut, Ohio in 1916, she then attended Ohio Wesleyan University to study acting in 1918, but dropped out prior to graduation.  Her cracked journey continued as she moved to New York to further her acting career, but the big break did not come.  Moving to Paris in 1929 she worked as a model and ended up in Dresden, Germany in 1934 after stops in Algeria and back to the US.

    Working at the Berlitz language school teaching English, she found herself on the radio in 1940, not yet a traitor.  When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 she became openly irate and critical of Japan, a bad mistake in Nazi Germany, Japan’s ally.  Compelled to stay in Germany since her fiancé threatened to break off the engagement if she returned to the US when American government announcements advised American citizens to return home.  Gillars signed a loyalty oath (Nazi’s were big on that!) to Germany.

    Put to work making English language broadcasts directed at US troops Mildred became known as “Axis Sally” as she tried to undermine the confidence and morale of Americans.

    Playing on the insecurity of American troops far from home, Gillars planted the seeds of doubt and mistrust about their sweethearts back home, left alone with those men unwilling or unfit to serve.  Other themes were anti-Jewish rhetoric and derogatory comments about US government officials, including the president.  Less than a month prior to the D-Day Normandy invasion Gillars broadcast a radio play called Vision of Invasion about an Ohio mom who’s son is killed during the invasion.

    Captured after the war in 1946 after a vigorous effort to find her, Gillars was tried for 8 of the 10 counts of treason she was indicted for.  In 1949 she was found guilty of one count of treason, the broadcast of the Vision of Invasion play.

    Gillars was sentenced to 10-30 years in prison and served 12 years, released in 1961.

    The cracked life continued on her release, going to live in a convent in Columbus, Ohio, and then completing her degree at Ohio Wesleyan in 1973! She taught languages at a Catholic girls’ school and died of cancer in 1988.  Her grave is unmarked to foil vandals.

    And what of “Hanoi Jane” Fonda?  A vocal critic of all things establishment, especially the Viet Nam War, Fonda was quoted as saying “Revolution is an act of love” in support of the Black Panthers.  In 1972, she went a bit too far for most Americans, visiting the enemy in his capital, Hanoi.

    Spouting North Vietnamese propaganda she went so far as to have herself photographed wearing a helmet sitting at the controls of an anti-aircraft gun!  Politics is one thing, but a real shooting war was going on and many Americans clamored for Fonda to be tried for treason, or at least denied reentry to the US.

    Calling American politicians and soldiers war criminals, she further incensed the public by calling returning American POW’s “hypocrites and liars” when they reported being tortured!  Never charged with treason or any other crimes, Fonda has given tepid sort of apologies since 1988.  To American servicemen, apology not accepted!  In fact, even to this day, items denouncing her are sold by such mainstream companies as Amazon.com.  See for example the following item: AV8America Hanoi Jane Urinal Target, Package of 10.

    Question for students (and subscribers): Should Jane Fonda have been charged with treason?  Was it right to try and convict Axis Sally?  You tell us in the comments section below this article.

    If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!

    Your readership is much appreciated!

    Historical Evidence

    For more information, please see…

    Fuller, M. Williams.  Axis Sally.  Paradise West Publishing, 2004.

    Lembcke, Jerry.  Hanoi Jane: War, Sex, and Fantasies of Betrayal.  University of Massachusetts Press, 2010.

    Lucas, Richard.  Axis Sally: The American Voice of Nazi Germany.  Casemate Publishers, 2013.

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    Major Dan

    Major Dan is a retired veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served during the Cold War and has traveled to many countries around the world. Prior to his military service, he graduated from Cleveland State University, having majored in sociology. Following his military service, he worked as a police officer eventually earning the rank of captain prior to his retirement.

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    <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1315 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=1315">36 Comments

    1. RJ on December 10, 2014 12:07 am

      It is interesting to me that “Axis Sally” became a nun in Columbus after her release from prison. I wonder what made her wish to assume the lifestyle of a nun.

      Reply
    2. Heather H on April 11, 2015 11:45 am

      I do believe Fonda should have been charged if Sally was.

      Reply
    3. Natalie Sholtis on April 13, 2015 1:37 am

      Kinda glad Fonda became a urinal target. lol.

      Reply
    4. DAVID WARDLE on April 13, 2015 8:49 am

      Both of them should have received life in prison without the possibility of parole… at least! — DAVID WARDLE

      Reply
    5. Samantha Easterling on April 17, 2015 12:51 pm

      Both should have been charged and got prison time

      Reply
    6. Mike Rinicella on April 20, 2015 2:26 pm

      I think they both should’ve got charged

      Reply
    7. Jake Woolf on April 22, 2015 8:22 pm

      Jane Fonda was lucky enough to have done what she did during an unpopular war.

      Reply
    8. Alex Guthrie on April 24, 2015 11:02 am

      Although it’s not cool what she did, it is cool she has so many Ohio roots.

      Reply
    9. w.y. on May 3, 2015 3:34 pm

      I cannot stand Jane fonda and never have.

      Reply
    10. David on March 10, 2016 8:04 pm

      Axis Sally is a very interesting story. She betrayed her country and I totally agree that she should have been tried for treason. I just think she should have served more years in jail.

      Reply
    11. ryan C on March 14, 2016 11:09 am

      Her Ohio journey is spectacular.

      Reply
    12. Sw on April 10, 2016 10:52 pm

      I think Axis Sally’s crimes were a lot worse than those of Hanoi Jane but she should of had some sort of charges brought against her also.

      Reply
    13. kk on April 21, 2016 11:15 am

      That is pretty interesting that she came to Ohio and also attended college in Ohio. I never knew that she was even in Ohio so that is a pretty cool fact.

      Reply
    14. Kamarin R on May 6, 2016 1:32 pm

      I never knew she was from Ohio.

      Reply
    15. Andy frick on May 8, 2016 4:44 pm

      I agree that Axis Sally’s actions were more severe and deserving of the charges against her. Jane’s behavior is contemptible, but I don’t know if it would be treason.

      Reply
    16. Dakota A rinier on May 10, 2016 6:42 am

      I think that its fair what happend

      Reply
    17. Matt Smail on May 11, 2016 8:39 am

      interesting she was from Ohio, Axis Sally did deserve the consequences for what she did

      Reply
    18. Isaac Talley on May 11, 2016 1:50 pm

      I understand why Axis Sally was sent to prison for treason but was Jane just seen an annoyance to the cause or just not as important. Jane did less and had less of a following but she did preform treason in her own way.

      Reply
    19. BV on May 12, 2016 12:05 am

      She deserved what she got but cool to see that she’s from Ohio. O-H

      Reply
    20. Nikos Nacopoulos on August 17, 2016 11:35 pm

      Wow I did not know that about Jane Fonda! Probably her celebrity status is what helped keep her from facing any consequences.

      Reply
    21. Montel Lollis on November 29, 2016 11:16 am

      Its starting to be occasional when people are famous from ohio now, but i guess the verdict was fair in some ones bu there is no in between when you ask if they did it or if they didnt and she did and had something to do with it so she should have been in trouble also.

      Reply
    22. Maxwell McCullough on November 30, 2016 12:19 pm

      What she did was wrong, but it almost seemed like she was forced into it… I mean for heavens sake break off the engagement with your Nazi soon to be husband.

      Reply
    23. Nicholas Hillyer on November 30, 2016 6:05 pm

      Anyone who would do that to men who were overseas fighting and just trying to just stay alive and then on top of all that they had to then be doubtful if there significant other would leave them just terrible.

      Reply
    24. Courtney G on December 5, 2016 10:50 am

      I had never heard of this before! Sounds like she didn’t really have a choice in what happened.

      Reply
    25. Suzie M. Shaffer on December 7, 2016 10:19 pm

      I feel like they both should have been charged the same. “axis salley” became a nun, curious as to how that happened.

      Reply
    26. Drew N on December 8, 2016 4:47 pm

      I agree that she should have been tried for treason!

      Reply
    27. Jessica May on December 11, 2016 10:16 pm

      This really changes my whole opinion. what a great article

      Reply
    28. Mackenzie H on February 17, 2017 10:09 pm

      The cracked life continued on her release going to live in a convent in Columbus, Ohio, and then completing her degree at Ohio Wesleyan. (near us which is weird)

      Reply
      • NEW WORLD DIGITAL MAN on June 27, 2023 11:15 pm

        And why was she allowed to do so? Criticizing our government and a wasteful war is one thing but supporting fascist ideals of hatred, violence, dictatorship, antisemitism and such is contrary to a university’s standards. She should never been allowed to work in America again. She did her darndest to destroy democracy and freedom, she didn’t believe in them. She was like John Demjanjuk, a collaborator through and through. Axis Sally was not an American and had no place in this country or in a democratic nation.

        Reply
    29. LW on March 9, 2017 4:47 pm

      Why was Axis Sally tried but not Jane? That is so unfair.

      Reply
      • NEW WORLD DIGITAL MAN on June 27, 2023 11:08 pm

        Why was Axis Sally allowed to teach at a convent school in America? She supported Naziism. Fascism is the most violent and oppressive ideology in history. And also beings she supported Naziism, that means that she was an antisemite. Antisemitism is not compatable with Catholicism or any form of Christianity.

        Reply
    30. Michael Tovissi on April 12, 2017 11:50 am

      Jane should’ve been tried just like Axis Sally. That is beyond treason against America and an insult to the U.S. troops.

      Reply
    31. Payton Brown on April 23, 2017 6:47 pm

      I support people having strong opinions but to attack your own country with propaganda seems to not be the best way to voice that opinion.

      Reply
      • NEW WORLD DIGITAL MAN on June 27, 2023 11:03 pm

        Steven Seagal has been doing just that lately. He now has Serbian and Russian passports and is a member of the Russian Duma. And he speaks out in favor of Putin all the time. That is treason, he’s a turncoat. And so is Donald Trump.

        Reply
    32. Amanda Miller on April 27, 2017 5:05 pm

      I never heard about the lady Mildred Gillars and what she did, I have heard about Jane Fonda and what she has said and how she apologized but wasn’t tried for treason. If I so much as mention Jane Fonda in my house there is a major debate it’s like WWIII.

      Reply
    33. MIA on April 28, 2017 11:22 am

      It’s cool she’s from Ohio! But, she deserved what happened to her.

      Reply

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