Family of Spies
A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor
by Christine Kuehn
"An amazing and gripping tale, full of suspenseful twists and cinematic details." —New York Times Book Review A never-before-told story about one family's shocking role as Nazi and Japanese spies during WWII—and their pivotal part in the Pearl Harbor bombing.
About This Book
It started with a letter from a screenwriter asking about a story involving Christine Kuehn's family, World War II, and Nazi spies. Confused, Christine asked her seventy-year-old father, Eberhard, what this meant. He stalled, deflected, and then wept. He knew this day would come. The Kuehns were a prominent Berlin family who saw the Nazis as their way out of hard times. When Eberhard's sister Ruth met Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels at a party, they began an affair. But Ruth had a dangerous secret: she was half Jewish. When Goebbels discovered this, he didn't have her killed. Instead, he sent the entire Kuehn family to Hawaii to work as spies. From their home just miles from Pearl Harbor, Ruth and her parents ran an elaborate spy operation—keeping Eberhard in the dark. They passed secrets to the Japanese that led to the devastating Pearl Harbor attack. After Eberhard's father was arrested and tried for his role, Eberhard learned the truth and faced a decision that would change his family forever. Family of Spies moves between Christine discovering her family's secret and the untold past of these spies in Germany, Japan, and Hawaii. It's fast-paced history that will rewrite what you know about December 7, 1941.
About the Author
Christine Kuehn
Christine Kuehn lived a quiet suburban life until 1994. That year, a letter from a historian changed everything. It revealed a horrendous family secret hidden for half a century. The discovery launched her on a thirty-year quest for the truth. Christine spent her career in journalism, public relations, and nonprofits. She now lives in Maryland with her husband, close to their three grown children.