America was still fighting fascism overseas in 1945 when its military leaders alerted the troops that the menace could materialise at home, too. The War Department, as the Department of Defence was called until two years later, was issuing “orientation fact sheets” to soldiers, and the 64th edition, “Fascism!”, warned against complacency that America was proof against the danger. It wanted troops to recognise the nation’s vulnerabilities, including in themselves. “We all know that many serious problems will face us when the War is over,” the bulletin read. “If there is a period of economic stress it will create tensions among our people, including us as returning veterans.” Fascists, it continued, would make extravagant promises and then try to divide Americans by pitting racial, religious and economic groups against each other, encouraging them “to hate rather than to think”.