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The Nazis sent them to Hawaii to spy for the Japanese

JL;DR SUMMARY Christine Kuehn's book, "Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor," is an intriguing blend of history and memoir recounting her family's unexpected Nazi espionage activities during World War II. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

World War IiMemoirIntergenerational TraumaFamily HistoryPearl HarborHawaiiJoseph GoebbelsNazi EspionageChristine KuehnJapanese Spying

Places mentioned

Berlin, Germany
"Its precipitating events take place in Berlin, where Ruth, like the rest of the family, is immersed in Nazi culture."
Hawaii, United States
"she is half-Jewish, her immediate family (excepting one ardently Nazi brother) is banished to Hawaii, where mother, father and daughter are tasked with spying for the Japanese and facilitating the attack on Pearl Harbor."
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
"An FBI operative, Robert L. Shivers, is assigned to Honolulu in 1939 to stake out the family, as well as other suspected spies."
Tokyo, Japan
"At one point, Ruth becomes engaged to a German steel executive living in Tokyo, a man who happens to be the familys Japanese handler."
Argentina
"and his subsequent life first in Argentina; then in Germany, with Friedel was unhappy."

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Cairo Item ID 68561
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Retrieved 2025-11-27 05:30:44 UTC
Curated 2025-11-27 08:31:36 UTC