Though living in Britain at the outbreak of war in 1939, Audrey and her mother relocated back to Arnhem in the hope that the Netherlands would remain neutral throughout the conflict as they had done in the previous war. However, the country was invaded by the German military soon after, prompting her to adopt the pseudonym Edda van Heemstra in order to avoid attracting attention with her British-sounding name. During the occupation, Hepburn provided assistance to the Dutch Resistance, raising funds by secretly dancing for money. Thanks to her inconspicuousness, she would also act as a courier, delivering parcels and messages to other resistance members. Her actions were remarkable for a girl of such young age, given the consequences had she been found out by the Germans. Times were hard though, and Hepburn suffered from severe malnutrition and illness. As food become increasingly scarcer, she would resort to making flour from tulip bulbs to bake cakes and biscuits.