Robert Loeffel Libri

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the narrative explores the pervasive fear and suspicion that gripped Australia after Germany's early victories in Europe. The belief in a potential Nazi Fifth Column, composed of subversives aiming to sabotage the war effort, fueled anxiety among the Australian public. This atmosphere of distrust significantly impacted life on the home front throughout the war, highlighting the psychological effects of global conflict on a nation far from the battlefield.

In the Third Reich, political dissidents were not the only ones liable to be punished for their crimes. Their parents, siblings and relatives also risked reprisals. This concept - known as Sippenhaft – was based in ideas of blood and purity. This definitive study surveys the threats, fears and infliction of this part of the Nazi system of terror.