Christabel and Peter Bielenberg wrote about their 1934-45 wartime experiences in Germany coinciding with the rise of Nazism and the disappearance of Jews, intellectuals and opponents of the regime. German citizens did not believe their democratic system would allow Hitler's rise to power would continue and be ratified by the German people.
Hitler succeeded Kanzler Hindenburg and consolidated his power base with the SA brownshirt troopers. Violence and intimidation was in evidence everywhere with prominent opponents denounced by district Nazi informers.
The Bielenbergs sought refuge in Ireland of the 1930s because Christabel's mother was Irish. This was not an option due to the repressed economic climate in Ireland. Post war Ireland was their eventual refuge and it here that she wrote her book The Past is Myself in 19698 at Munny House, Tullow, Co Carlow. The Bielenberg's were fortunate to escape te aerial bombing of Germany by taking refuge in the Black Forest.
Christabel actively sought danger and volunteered to be interrogated when her husband was imprisoned. This interview was fortuitous and Peter was eventually released to go into hiding in the Black Forest. A Brigade of armoured German troops sought refuge in their forest sanctuary and moved off to be annihilated by an Allied ambush, April 1945.