Excerpt from the book "Family of Spies" by Christine Kuehn

Christine Kuehn revealed a shocking family secret previously concealed by her father: her grandfather, Otto, had acted as a Nazi spy, passing military intelligence to the Axis powers before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Her book, Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor (Celadon Books), explores her familys hidden connections to Nazi Germany.

Early Memories

As a child, Christine trusted the stories her father shared. Her father, tall and imposing with a deep voice and thick mustache, often recounted fragments of his past. Though he had grown up in Hawaii after moving from Germany, remnants of his accent and heritage lingered in small ways, like the German names of the family dogs. Yet he rarely revealed details about his childhood or family life.

His accounts were brief and matter-of-fact: living in Oahu until graduating from Punahou High School in 1944, joining the army, serving in World War II, and earning a Bronze Star in Okinawa. Family history was equally concise: serving as a naval officer, dying in a car crash, marriages, children, and relocations. These stories resembled telegramsshort, stopping abruptly, leaving much unsaid.

Hidden Family Connections

Christines father avoided discussing his first family. A single photo of his two sons remained the only acknowledgment. Life moved forward until one summer evening in 1976, when a visitor changed everything. A man, tall and wiry like her father, appeared at the door. This was her half-brother, visiting after more than a decade of separation. Her fathers first words to him: Dont say anything about my familythey dont know!

This encounter revealed that her father harbored long-kept secrets. Initially open about his past with his first wife, he had later learned to guard these details closely after personal conflicts and accusations during his first marriage, including being called a "Nazi" as a cruel attack on his heritage.

The Discovery of a Dark Legacy

Years later, in 1994, Christine received a letter from an unknown California-based screenwriter researching German spies role in the Pearl Harbor attack. The letter suggested that her grandfather Otto had been involved with the Nazis, contradicting the narrative her father had always shared. Christine was initially skeptical, dismissing it as a mistake or an overreach. But this correspondence marked the beginning of uncovering the hidden and troubling history of her family.

From "Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor" by Christine Kuehn. Copyright 2025 by the author and reprinted with permission of Celadon Books.

Author: Riley Thompson