You would have gone to the pictures (costume drama), told joke.s, used a special language -. 'Hitler butter' for margarine or'Hitler cut' for the unkindest cut of all (i.e. sterilization). lf you had four children or more you received the Honour Cross; and not only that - if you were pregnant by an S.S. man, you could have your baby free. Racially mixed coitus, however, was against the law.

These are just a few of the facts compiled by Richard Grunberger in this massively documented book. Working from original sources, contemporary newspapers, chronicles, letters, books and many unpublished accounts, he draws a spine-chilling portrait of a society that went bad.

'Mr Grunberger covers the economic, religious and cultural aspects of the period. He is scrupulously fair - indeed inclined to generosity. He is a compassionate Virgil guiding us through Hell. Hls dire chronicle is enthralling and indispensable'- Sunday Telegraph