Mitford, Unity (1914–1948)

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Mitford, Unity (1914–1948)

English socialite and Nazi sympathizer. Name variations: Bobo. Born Unity Valkyrie Mitford, Aug 8, 1914; died May 28, 1948; dau. of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, and Sydney Bowles; sister of Nancy Mitford (1904–1973), Jessica Mitford (1917–1996), Diana Mitford (b. 1910), and Deborah Mitford (b. 1920).

Became infatuated with the Nazi movement, befriended Hitler, then shot herself in the head when her beloved England and Germany went to war (1934–39); brain-damaged, regressed to the mental age of an 11-year-old; died 9 years later, having contracted a severe bout of meningitis from the old bullet wound.

See also Jonathan and Catherine Guinness, The House of Mitford (Hutchinson, 1984); and Women in World History.