Born: 23 October 1907, Russia
Died: 26 February 1994
Country most active: International
Also known as: Sophia Dolgorukova
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Sofka Skipwith (Sophia Dolgorukova) was a Russian princess, but her life took her far from royalty. In World War II, she worked with Laurence Olivier and was later interned by the Nazis in France. However, she worked during this time to save Jews from the Holocaust. Her efforts were recognized by the British government and Israel, where she was named one of the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.
Sofka Skipwith was the only child of Prince Peter Dolgorouky and Countess Sophy Bobrinskaya.
Raised across various European cities, she received her education at Queen’s College in London and crossed paths with notable figures like the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton. Later, in Nice and Rome, she continued her studies, delved into her first love, and immersed herself in literature.
Her life took a turn in 1931 when she married Leo Zinovieff, another Russian aristocrat. Their marriage eventually ended amicably, leading her to marry Grey Skipwith. During World War II, she was trapped in Paris during the German occupation and interned in various camps.
Despite the dire circumstances, Skipwith aided people in escaping, smuggled essential items to the French Resistance, and even compiled a list of names of Jews at risk of deportation to Auschwitz. Her list ultimately saved many lives.
Skipwith’s concern for economic inequality and her evolving political beliefs led her to join the British Communist Party. She was involved in left-wing publications and remained supportive of the Soviets.
In her later years, she focused on Holocaust awareness and advocated for birth control. Her personal life was marked by numerous romantic entanglements, making her a captivating and complex figure in history.