Josephine Baker rose from St. Louis to become a star, and spy

3 months ago 4

ST. LOUIS - One of the key pieces to divulging the secrets behind Nazi Germany during World War II was a woman who came from St. Louis.

Josephine Baker was born in the Gateway City in 1906. Her childhood molded her into a fiercely independent person, as her father was absent and her mother struggled to make financial ends meet.

She began working when she was just 8 years old and married for the first time five years later, according to HISTORY and the CIA. As her marriage lasted a year, she found herself afterwards taking a leap to performing in vaudeville shows, such as Dixie Stepper and Jones Family Band, becoming a star dancer.

It wasn't long before Baker fell into the world of show business. She packed her bags and left the States behind for France to perform in a more risqué environment with new dances, new costumes, and a new life. The CIA says Baker was looked upon as the epitome of the "roaring 20s" with her mindset and personality.

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