​​33 year old Louise Boitard from Normandy defied societal expectations during the German occupation of France in World War II. In a time when women were discouraged from public involvement in the war, Boitard chose to take a bold stand. Rather than remain in her teaching role, she joined the Armée des volontaires, one of the earliest French Resistance organisations. Under the codename "Jeanine," Boitard worked tirelessly to undermine the occupiers, despite the life-threatening risks involved.

​Her work in the Resistance was both diverse and heroic. Boitard helped lead 68 Allied airmen to safety, often guiding them through dangerous terrain. She also forged crucial documents for Resistance members, sheltered fighters in her home, and even cared for orphaned Jewish children, providing them with sanctuary in the midst of turmoil. During the 1944 liberation of Caen, she fought alongside the Free French Forces, showing unwavering commitment to her country’s freedom.

​One of Boitard’s most significant post-war contributions was her involvement in establishing a free press in Normandy. After years of German propaganda, she became a founding member of Liberté de Normandie, the region’s first newspaper published after liberation. This publication was essential in restoring a voice for the French people in the aftermath of occupation.

​In recognition of her bravery and dedication, Boitard was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star. Her citation described her as a courageous Frenchwoman who remained under bombardment to save Resistance archives and undertook perilous missions to assist her comrades.

​Following the war, she dedicated her life to the welfare of children, inspired by Swedish childcare models, and founded four daycare centres in Caen, ensuring the future of France’s next generation. Boitard’s legacy is a testament to the vital and often overlooked role women played in wartime resistance.​