Alarming levels of fear and suspicion developed in Australia following the German victories in Europe of 1940. It was believed the Nazis had prepared an army of subversives - a Fifth Column - to undermine the war effort. These suspicions plagued the Australian home front for much of the war.
"The author explains how the public in Australia developed their concepts of Fifth Columns to explain why the Australians had to retreat from their thrust into Greece or the failure of a northwards push into Malaya or their defeat in Singapore. ... This thorough study of public response to war scares makes for interesting history and it is a valuable contribution to the burgeoning studies of the impact of war on Australian society." (Frank Cain, Australian Journal of Politics and History, Vol. 62 (3), September, 2016)
"Loeffel has broken new ground. It is important for those who follow to examine more closely some of the interesting areas that he could only open. The book is a good read, gripping at times, and one that should appeal beyond academic readership as a timely theme in the 21st century." (Pam Oliver, The Journal of Pacific History, Vol. 51, March, 2016)
"Loeffel has broken new ground. It is important for those who follow to examine more closely some of the interesting areas that he could only open. The book is a good read, gripping at times, and one that should appeal beyond academic readership as a timely theme in the 21st century." (Pam Oliver, The Journal of Pacific History, Vol. 51, March, 2016)