Thread: Today is Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s birthday. There is no denying the impact she had on the fashion industry and the way women dress, but as your timelines sing her praises today, don’t forget that she was a Nazi agent and sympathizer. 1/6

2/6 She was open about her vehement antisemitism, speaking out about her belief that Jews were a threat to society and praising Hitler. She tried to seize sole ownership of Parfums Chanel from the Jewish businessmen who directed the company solely because that they were Jewish...

3/6 (the Wertheimers fortunately foresaw the Nazi seizures of Jewish property and transferred ownership to a trusted Christian businessman, who returned the business to the Wertheimers after the war)

Chanel was also in a relationship with German intelligence officer...

4/6 ...and while there was strong evidence of her work for the Nazi regime during the war, documents uncovered in 2014 confirmed that Chanel undertook intelligence missions herself, though it is unclear how much of an impact they had.

5/6 Immediately following the war, Chanel tried to hide her Nazi involvement, though she still financially supported a Nazi officer who was tried at Nuremberg. She narrowly avoided charges herself, and stayed relatively quiet until she revived her business in the 1950s.

6/6 This is just a high-level overview of Chanel’s Nazi history, but the next time you read her “inspiring” quote, “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” remember the hatred she held behind that sentiment.