Stripper, Survivor, Inspiration: The Story of a Lydia Lova
“Lydia Lova’s story is truly remarkable. How did the daughter of Irenka de Korczak Lipski and Poland’s Prince Wladimir de Korczak Lipski, a direct descendant of the royal de Korczak family, end up performing as a stripper in Paris and London?”
Lydia Lova was a Polish dancer who arrived in London on July 3, 1963, to perform at Soho’s Casino de Paris Striptease Theatre. She was known as “The Naked Heroine” for her remarkable story of survival and resistance against the Nazis during World War II. In this article, we will delve deeper into the life of this remarkable woman and explore her journey from a resistance fighter to a celebrated showgirl.
Resistance Fighter
Lova fought as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Fighting French Forces Unit Resistance Deportee, a unit of foreign-born resistance fighters. She was among the brave men and women who fought against the Nazis during the war, and her contributions to the resistance movement were significant.
Captured and Tortured
Unfortunately, Lova was captured by the Nazis and sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, where she was subjected to torture at the hands of the SS. It was a brutal and inhumane experience, but Lova managed to survive. Her ability to endure such unimaginable hardships is a testament to her strength and resilience.
Life After the War
After the war, Lova turned to showbusiness, becoming a showgirl at the renowned Paris nightspot, the Folies-Bergère. She was able to take her traumatic experiences and channel them into something positive, using her performances as a means of expressing herself and healing from the traumas she had experienced.
Awards and Recognition
In 1960, Lova was honored for her bravery and contributions during the war with the Croix de Guerre and the Légion d’Honneur, the highest French military and civil decorations. These awards were a fitting recognition of her sacrifices and the hardships she had endured.
Arrival in London
Lova’s arrival in London in 1963 was a celebration of her remarkable journey. She was booked into the Mayfair Hotel and her performances at the Casino de Paris Striptease Theatre were a tribute to the brave woman who had survived so much and had achieved so much. Her show at the Casino de Paris Striptease Theatre was a celebration of her life and a reminder of the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome even the most unimaginable hardships.
“My dear Lydia Lova – You will not remember me, but I remember you so well. We were at Ravens Bruck together. I just want to say how very happy I am for you that the French Government have recognized all the good you have done for France and for all of us. I read yesterday that you were given the Légion d’Honneur by General Masson. We who remember are very proud of you. Good luck to you, our little heroine, always and all my love”
— Rosa Stern (No. 39486): Kiel.
In the book “The Naked Heroine,”
John Izbicki recounts how a small notice in the French press about a young woman being awarded a medal for courage caught his attention. He wondered who this woman was and what she had done to aid the resistance movement during Nazi occupation of France. He delved deeper into his research and found that Mlle de Korczac Lipski had been decorated with multiple medals, including the Croix de Guerre with Palm, making her the most decorated woman in France.
Izbicki was curious to know more about this woman and her involvement in the resistance movement, and also what she was doing currently. As luck would have it, he soon received a phone call from his Journal Official contact who informed him that Mlle Lipski was better known as Lydia Lova, and she was currently the headlining nude dancer at the Folies-Bergère. This intriguing story had now turned into a sensational scoop for Izbicki. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to learn more about this remarkable woman and share her story with others.
Why War
Her father, Wladimir, fought with the British Army as a volunteer during World War I and had great admiration for the country. He then worked for the British Secret Service in Warsaw, becoming a full British citizen. However, in 1939, as the mood in Poland darkened and many began to despise the aristocrats, the Lipski family moved to France for safety. Lydia was just thirteen when her family moved and she never saw her mother or brother again.
As the war continued, Lydia became a freedom fighter, joining the Interallié, an intelligence organization created by a determined Polish staff officer in occupied France. However, in November 1941, she and over fifty of her agents were arrested by the Abwehr. Lydia was held as a hostage and was eventually sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp where she was subjected to brutal treatment and torture. Despite this, she managed to survive and after the war, she turned to show business, becoming a showgirl at the Folies-Bergère in Paris.
Conclusion
Lydia Lova’s life story is one of triumph over adversity. She was a resistance fighter who fought against the Nazis during World War II, and her experiences in the concentration camp were brutal and inhumane. But she was able to take her traumatic experiences and channel them into something positive, using her performances as a means of expressing herself and healing from the traumas she had experienced.
Her arrival in London in 1963 was a celebration of her remarkable journey and her performances at the Casino de Paris Striptease Theatre were a tribute to the brave woman who had survived so much and had achieved so much. Her story serves as an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome even the most unimaginable hardships.
