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.

Autorentext

DR ROBERT LOEFFEL was born in Sydney, Australia. He studied and taught at the University of New South Wales, where he holds a Visiting Research Fellowship. His research is focussed on German and Australian contemporary history. He has published in various journals including Contemporary European History and German History.

Inhalt
Introduction: Sippenhaft, Terror and Fear: The Historiography of the Nazi Terror State The Consent and Coercion Debate Method of Transmission Importance of Rumour in Nazi Germany Outline of this Book A Word on Sources Conclusion PART I: SIPPENHAFT AND GERMAN SOCIETY, 1933-1945 Sippenhaft and the Rise to Power Sippenhaft and Resistance during Second World War The German Home Front after Stalingrad Conclusion PART II: 'IMPRISONMENT OF RELATIVES, LIFE OR LIBERTY' SIPPENHAFT AND THE WEHRMACHT The Foundation of Sippenhaft in the Wehrmacht Sippenhaft and the Wehrmacht, 1939-1944 Sippenhaft against Volksdeutche Germans Sippenhaft after the 20 July 1944 Codification of Terror Conclusion PART III: SIPPENHAFT AND THE NKFD AND THE BDO Background The German Reaction Cherkassy Effect of 20 July 1944 181 The Limits of Sippenhaft Sippenhaft and the Political Significance of the NKFD and BDO Conclusion PART IV: 'IF A MAN IN THIS REICH IS UNTRUE, THEN HE AND HIS FAMILY WILL BE PUNISHED' Sippenhaft and the 20 July 1944 Establishing Sippenhaft and 20 July 1944 Sippenhaft put into Effect Continuing Rhetoric, Fear, Expansion and Limitations of Sippenhaft The Fate of the von Stauffenberg Family The Transformation of Sippenhaft and the 20 July 1944 Challenging Terror: Interventions, Representations and Release Confusion and Fear Those that Remained in Sippenhaft Detention Conclusion PART V: SIPPENHAFT KINDERHEIM: THE CHILDREN IN BAD SACHSA The Sippenhaft Prisoners of Bad Sachsa Life in the Camp: Determining Intention A Change of Plan Conclusion Bibliography