Oriana's Book Blog

Jacob Kushner’s White Terror is not just a book about crimes and conspiracies, it is a full-blown investigation into the undercurrent of far-right violence in modern-day Germany. If you think you will expect a quiet and distant recount of some fringe neo-Nazi groups, think again. Kushner takes you into the heart of a terrifying reality that feels too close for comfort: the rise of far-right extremism in a country that, despite its post-WWII reckoning, still finds itself haunted by the shadows of its past. And this isn’t just history repeating itself—it’s happening right now.

At the core of White Terror is the chilling story of the National Socialist Underground (NSU), a neo-Nazi terror group responsible for a string of murders and bombings in the early 2000s. For over a decade, the NSU operated almost invisibly, targeting immigrants in Germany while flying under the radar of law enforcement. That’s the terrifying part—how could a violent, organised group like this get away with murder for so long, seemingly undetected? Well, that’s exactly what Kushner dissects in this book, and trust me, it’s not just about the killers themselves, but about the systemic failures that allowed them to thrive.

Kushner doesn’t just rehash the gruesome details of the murders—which are indeed shocking—but goes deeper to explore the broader question of how Germany, a nation that prides itself on coming to terms with its Nazi past, could fail so spectacularly to prevent the rise of a new breed of violent extremists. It’s a question that haunts the book from beginning to end: How does this keep happening in a country so determined to never let it happen again?

The strength of White Terror lies in how it examines this modern-day horror story from multiple angles. Kushner interviews survivors, activists, and law enforcement, weaving their stories into a chilling mosaic that lays bare the societal cracks the NSU was able to exploit. He paints a vivid picture of how these far-right ideologies are not just the work of some fringe lunatics, but part of a much larger, insidious movement that has been gaining traction across Europe. And, let’s be honest, Germany isn’t the only country grappling with this. The themes Kushner uncovers—systemic racism, institutional failures, and growing far-right movements—feel just as relevant outside of Germany, making this book uncomfortably global in its implications.

Now, let’s talk about the pace of the book. You know how some investigative works can get bogged down with so much detail that you feel like you’re drowning in facts? Kushner avoids that. The writing is sharp and keeps you hooked, moving between gripping recounts of neo-Nazi attacks and the more systemic issues that allowed the NSU to exist and evade justice for so long. There’s almost a true crime feel to parts of the book, but this isn’t sensationalist—it’s a meticulously researched account of modern terrorism. Kushner doesn’t just want you to be horrified by the murders themselves, but by the entire system that seemed either unable or unwilling to stop them.

One of the most jaw-dropping aspects of White Terror is the staggering incompetence—or worse, complicity—of the authorities. The book sheds light on the fact that for years, German police were not even looking at far-right extremists as suspects. Instead, they were convinced that these attacks on immigrants were due to “foreign gang crime,” which, as Kushner details, reveals some unsettling biases within law enforcement itself. This wasn’t just a matter of missing clues; it was an entire narrative that allowed neo-Nazis to continue killing while the victims’ families were left in the dark, sometimes even blamed for their own tragedies.

Kushner’s writing balances two difficult tasks: showing the human cost of this violence while also interrogating the larger structures that let it happen. The victims, mostly immigrants, aren’t just names on a page—they’re fathers, daughters, shopkeepers, and students whose lives were shattered by the NSU’s brutal ideology. Kushner ensures their voices are heard, even as he dissects the staggering institutional rot that left these communities vulnerable in the first place.

Now, if I had to point out a flaw, it’s that the book can sometimes overwhelm you with its bleakness. White Terror doesn’t pull punches, and you’ll be left furious at the end of certain chapters—both at the far-right extremists and at the authorities who let this nightmare unfold. This is by no means a feel-good read, and the frustration you’ll feel at the mishandling (or worse, deliberate ignoring) of these cases can be draining. But honestly, that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Kushner wants you to be outraged because it’s only by confronting these ugly truths that anything will change.

If you’re into books that make you think deeply about the political landscape of our world—and you don’t mind feeling unsettled—then White Terror is for you. It’s not just a warning about what’s happening in Germany; it’s a global cautionary tale about the rise of far-right extremism, wrapped in the guise of investigative journalism. Kushner does not sugarcoat the situation, and the result is a brutally honest, often heart-wrenching exploration of modern terrorism and the ways in which society—both intentionally and unintentionally—looks the other way.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

Why? Kushner’s deep investigative work combined with his ability to humanise the subject matter makes this an eye-opening and powerful read. The only reason it is not a perfect 5 is that the unrelenting bleakness may leave some readers needing a break, but that is more a reflection of the subject than the writing. For those who can stomach it, White Terror is a must-read that will leave you both informed and outraged. Keep a cup of tea or something stronger nearby because you will need it.