In "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson, historian Friedrich Zipfel captures the pervasive fear experienced by citizens under an oppressive regime. His observation highlights how awareness of possible dangers allows individuals to navigate their realities, but when authority operates covertly, it creates a chilling atmosphere of distrust and uncertainty. The citizens find themselves in a precarious situation, where their ability to distinguish friend from foe becomes increasingly blurred.

As individuals grapple with the constant threat of surveillance and arrest, their sense of safety is undermined. The police, working silently and unpredictably, instill a sense of paranoia. This environment leads to a societal breakdown of trust, forcing people to question the intentions of those around them as they confront the terror of living under totalitarian rule.