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The Black Book
The story of the heroic men and women that the Nazis singled out for death in their plan to invade Britain, including Noel Coward, Virginia Woolf and EM Forster. Mavericks and moral visionaries, their stories of courage are uncovered here for the first time. Oldfield sheds light and gives vivid insights into Nazi ideology and the culture of anti-fascist activism in 1930s Britain.
- GenresNonfiction
432 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2020
Author Sybil Oldfield was inspired to write this book when coming across Virginia and Leonard Woolf listed, during an art exhibition. Intrigued, she discovered that The Black Book had been compiled in readiness for the German invasion of Britain and wanted to rediscover, and highlight, the other - less well known - names on the pages.
Of course, this list was not only compiled for Britain, but for Germany, Austria, the Sudentenland, Czechoslovakia and Poland, among other countries. Listed were all those who stood against the Nazi's and, in Britain, that was a wide range of people, and institutions, from the Quakers, pacifists, social reformers to artists, writers, journalists, those in business, the Church, economists, historians, philosophers, scientists and, obviously, political targets.
Oldfield does a wonderful job of high-lighting those who stood in danger, in the Germans had invaded. Not only those born in Britain, but also refugees who had fled Germany, or other European countries. Most were well aware of what they faced if, as seemed likely early in the war, that the Germans would invade. So, if this is such a valuable book - and it is - why, you may be wondering, have I dropped a star from my rating? Only because, as important as this is, it is quite literally a list of names and potted, uncritical, histories. It is, perhaps, more a book to dip into than to read, cover to cover, but important it is and wonderful to have so many people who are less remembered now, to be highlighted.
Of course, this list was not only compiled for Britain, but for Germany, Austria, the Sudentenland, Czechoslovakia and Poland, among other countries. Listed were all those who stood against the Nazi's and, in Britain, that was a wide range of people, and institutions, from the Quakers, pacifists, social reformers to artists, writers, journalists, those in business, the Church, economists, historians, philosophers, scientists and, obviously, political targets.
Oldfield does a wonderful job of high-lighting those who stood in danger, in the Germans had invaded. Not only those born in Britain, but also refugees who had fled Germany, or other European countries. Most were well aware of what they faced if, as seemed likely early in the war, that the Germans would invade. So, if this is such a valuable book - and it is - why, you may be wondering, have I dropped a star from my rating? Only because, as important as this is, it is quite literally a list of names and potted, uncritical, histories. It is, perhaps, more a book to dip into than to read, cover to cover, but important it is and wonderful to have so many people who are less remembered now, to be highlighted.
October 2, 2020
...and because their names were on a list proves they were wonderful persons and their ideas excellent.
June 7, 2025
With so many former liberals, progressives and leftists now professing to be smitten with neo-Nazism, it's probably the right time to read a few anti-Nazi texts.
The Black Book (The Britons on the Nazi Hit List) is, perhaps not unsurprisingly, a book of lists.
One though where the list items have been researched and studied.
The Black Book is, though comprehensive, still just a snapshot, albeit a rather wide snapshot, of the effort the Gestapo put in to identify the perceived enemies of National Socialism, should Operation Sealion (the invasion of Great Britain) have succeeded.
It would have taken enormous resource to arrest, imprison and likely kill all of those named in this book, but it seems likely that the Gestapo would have tried to account for as many of those who hadn't fled, perhaps to the US and Commonwealth countries, if National Socialist forces had broken-out from their Southern England beachhead.
Scientists, historians, novelists, journalists, politicians, professional soldiers, union officials, editors, and of course refugees from the Europe already conquered, were amongst those under threat. Socialists, Marxists, communists, general anti-fascists and anti-Nazis (recent times have seen many left-leaning activists working hard to prove that National Socialism is a creature of the Left, rather than fascism) feature heavily. The majority though of those the Gestapo would target, were Jews.
As National Socialism engulfed Germany and Austria, many Jews fled to Britain in 1933-34. Those that escaped on the outbreak of hostilities fled too, and to the eternal shame of Britain, many were unjustly interned, in camps at Huyton (Liverpool) and the Isle of Man. Many though contributed hugely to the War effort. A disproportionate number of refugees, even those denied citizenship, drove ambulances during the Blitz. Some exiles were a huge benefit to the Allied war effort; the first printed circuit boards were used by the British, having been introduced by Paul Eisler, who escaped Austria, being a Jew. His invention was employed in artillery shell fuses, providing a distinct advantage over Axis shells.
Likewise, having driven-away many Jewish scientists and inventors, British radar, aeronautical and firearms technology was improved with the assistance of those the Nazis might have otherwise benefitted from. Ernst Chain was the German-born co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on penicillin as a member of Alexander Fleming's research team. Consequently, British troops who were wounded in the Normandy landings of June 1944 enjoyed the protection of penicillin to combat subsequent infections.
What is extraordinary is the breadth of those dedicated to science, the arts, public health, literature and history in Great Britain, even without the considerable influence of the exiles who added hugely to the UK's economy and society. This was a time of the first electron microscope, the first working computer, discoveries in treating cancer and all manner of illnesses. DNA was yet to be pinned-down but such a mechanism was being suspected already. The UK led the world (briefly) in the development of television, cutting-edge surgical procedures, and even went its 'own way' and developed its own atomic bomb, after the US McMahon Act in 1946 stopped the US from sharing technology. As-it-is, thanks hugely to the Jewish scientists who had flex to Britain, the UK had a head start, whilst Nazi Germany was enable to gain traction to develop a weapon.
Each entry has at least a few sentences, and many have several pages dedicated to them. There's a brief photo section, an Index (always good to see) which is useful because some individuals crossed many subject lines. Some appendices provide lists of organisations.
Despite the somewhat dry format, The Black Book was a hugely enlightening read, giving me an insight into a British society which (despite the best efforts of the BBC and The Home Office) embraced those fleeing the Nazis, and enabling many of them to enrich British society and enhance its War effort.
The Black Book (The Britons on the Nazi Hit List) is, perhaps not unsurprisingly, a book of lists.
One though where the list items have been researched and studied.
The Black Book is, though comprehensive, still just a snapshot, albeit a rather wide snapshot, of the effort the Gestapo put in to identify the perceived enemies of National Socialism, should Operation Sealion (the invasion of Great Britain) have succeeded.
It would have taken enormous resource to arrest, imprison and likely kill all of those named in this book, but it seems likely that the Gestapo would have tried to account for as many of those who hadn't fled, perhaps to the US and Commonwealth countries, if National Socialist forces had broken-out from their Southern England beachhead.
Scientists, historians, novelists, journalists, politicians, professional soldiers, union officials, editors, and of course refugees from the Europe already conquered, were amongst those under threat. Socialists, Marxists, communists, general anti-fascists and anti-Nazis (recent times have seen many left-leaning activists working hard to prove that National Socialism is a creature of the Left, rather than fascism) feature heavily. The majority though of those the Gestapo would target, were Jews.
As National Socialism engulfed Germany and Austria, many Jews fled to Britain in 1933-34. Those that escaped on the outbreak of hostilities fled too, and to the eternal shame of Britain, many were unjustly interned, in camps at Huyton (Liverpool) and the Isle of Man. Many though contributed hugely to the War effort. A disproportionate number of refugees, even those denied citizenship, drove ambulances during the Blitz. Some exiles were a huge benefit to the Allied war effort; the first printed circuit boards were used by the British, having been introduced by Paul Eisler, who escaped Austria, being a Jew. His invention was employed in artillery shell fuses, providing a distinct advantage over Axis shells.
Likewise, having driven-away many Jewish scientists and inventors, British radar, aeronautical and firearms technology was improved with the assistance of those the Nazis might have otherwise benefitted from. Ernst Chain was the German-born co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on penicillin as a member of Alexander Fleming's research team. Consequently, British troops who were wounded in the Normandy landings of June 1944 enjoyed the protection of penicillin to combat subsequent infections.
What is extraordinary is the breadth of those dedicated to science, the arts, public health, literature and history in Great Britain, even without the considerable influence of the exiles who added hugely to the UK's economy and society. This was a time of the first electron microscope, the first working computer, discoveries in treating cancer and all manner of illnesses. DNA was yet to be pinned-down but such a mechanism was being suspected already. The UK led the world (briefly) in the development of television, cutting-edge surgical procedures, and even went its 'own way' and developed its own atomic bomb, after the US McMahon Act in 1946 stopped the US from sharing technology. As-it-is, thanks hugely to the Jewish scientists who had flex to Britain, the UK had a head start, whilst Nazi Germany was enable to gain traction to develop a weapon.
Each entry has at least a few sentences, and many have several pages dedicated to them. There's a brief photo section, an Index (always good to see) which is useful because some individuals crossed many subject lines. Some appendices provide lists of organisations.
Despite the somewhat dry format, The Black Book was a hugely enlightening read, giving me an insight into a British society which (despite the best efforts of the BBC and The Home Office) embraced those fleeing the Nazis, and enabling many of them to enrich British society and enhance its War effort.
July 9, 2025
Borrowed from a friend for a holiday read and absolutely devoured it
August 28, 2023
The subject covered in this book caught my attention recently when I was reading a book about Nancy Astor and the Cliveden set, of all things. Nancy was an American born socialite who married one of Britain’s wealthiest men in 20th century England. Her husband, also American born, was a member of parliament and Nancy followed him by taking his seat and thus becoming the first seated female member of parliament. She ended up in the Black Book, a list of people the gestapo were planning to detain (no doubt eventually kill) when Germany invaded and occupied Britain. This so called black book was compiled by the gestapo beginning in 1937. Nearly 3,000 native born or naturalized citizens plus other refugees or people the Nazis had no idea of where they lived were on this list.
Oldfield lets you know that the vast majority of people on this list were Jewish and many completely unknown today. The list is alphabetical but Oldfield covers the people by occupation or political beliefs that brought them to the attention of the gestapo, such as writers, politicians, founders of international groups such as the Boy Scouts, religious leaders, scientists, business people and many more. Also part of the forbidden list are institutions, particular businesses, and organizations to be stamped out.
It is almost inconceivable how much thinking went into the gestapo list. Everything from the Amalgamated Society of Bakers and Confectioners to the YMCA caught their attention and were to be stamped out as soon as Britain was conquered. Oldfield finds it important to point out that our first reaction might be laughter but it was deadly serious.
The book might not interest you if you read it word for word. It goes into great detail on nearly every notable (many unknown today) person on the list. So many were pacifists, socialists, useful business leaders, journalists or newspapers, and on and on.
Oldfield was drawn to the idea for about the same reason it caught my attention. Why a particular person? In her case she had been working on an exhibit on Virginia Woolf..why Woolf? Basically it was probably her pacifism, feminism and friendships with others on the list. She and her husband Leonard were small time but influential publishers themselves and he was of Jewish descent although an atheist.
OK, back to Nancy Astor. Still not so clear. She was racist in thought, anti-Jewish, German friendly at first, pro-appeasement and was the center of the Cliveden set that hung onto pro German views too long. She did happen to make fun of Hitler’s mustache at a Cliveden party in front of Ribbentrop, but was that enough to get her into the book? I doubt it. She may have shot her mouth off one too many times and was not to be trusted anymore. Who knows exactly what was in the gestapo mind? Why the British Abyssinia Association? Their fears and aims in the list tend to basically project their paranoid thinking. Oldfield’s book is interesting but could be trimmed a bit. Her voice can also be a little shrill at times. More analysis and less listing would have made this a better book.
Oldfield lets you know that the vast majority of people on this list were Jewish and many completely unknown today. The list is alphabetical but Oldfield covers the people by occupation or political beliefs that brought them to the attention of the gestapo, such as writers, politicians, founders of international groups such as the Boy Scouts, religious leaders, scientists, business people and many more. Also part of the forbidden list are institutions, particular businesses, and organizations to be stamped out.
It is almost inconceivable how much thinking went into the gestapo list. Everything from the Amalgamated Society of Bakers and Confectioners to the YMCA caught their attention and were to be stamped out as soon as Britain was conquered. Oldfield finds it important to point out that our first reaction might be laughter but it was deadly serious.
The book might not interest you if you read it word for word. It goes into great detail on nearly every notable (many unknown today) person on the list. So many were pacifists, socialists, useful business leaders, journalists or newspapers, and on and on.
Oldfield was drawn to the idea for about the same reason it caught my attention. Why a particular person? In her case she had been working on an exhibit on Virginia Woolf..why Woolf? Basically it was probably her pacifism, feminism and friendships with others on the list. She and her husband Leonard were small time but influential publishers themselves and he was of Jewish descent although an atheist.
OK, back to Nancy Astor. Still not so clear. She was racist in thought, anti-Jewish, German friendly at first, pro-appeasement and was the center of the Cliveden set that hung onto pro German views too long. She did happen to make fun of Hitler’s mustache at a Cliveden party in front of Ribbentrop, but was that enough to get her into the book? I doubt it. She may have shot her mouth off one too many times and was not to be trusted anymore. Who knows exactly what was in the gestapo mind? Why the British Abyssinia Association? Their fears and aims in the list tend to basically project their paranoid thinking. Oldfield’s book is interesting but could be trimmed a bit. Her voice can also be a little shrill at times. More analysis and less listing would have made this a better book.
December 11, 2022
This is a terrible and misleading book. The title and blurb, as well as the introduction, makes you think it's going to be an actual look at why the Nazis wanted to kill the people on the black list, but it's actually just a biography of Virginia Woolf. It's not even a good biography of Virginia Woolf, the book makes no attempt to make her interesting or human and just endlessly praises her as a god in the most boring, stuffy language possible for hundreds of pages. Unless you're a big fan of the playwright, and I'm imagining most people looking into this book are not, give this one a miss.
August 4, 2021
An incredible reference resource on this aspect of World War Two History
February 18, 2024
A compendium of vignettes of those the Nazis would have arrested first if they had invaded. The author seems surprised by the fact that some would have been targeted only because they were Jewish.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews