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  1. Fifth column - Wikipedia

    A fifth column (or internal enemy) is a group of people who undermine a larger group or nation from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or another nation. The activities of a fifth column can be …

  2. Fifth column | Definition & Facts | Britannica

    A cardinal technique of the fifth column is the infiltration of sympathizers into the entire fabric of the nation under attack and, particularly, into positions of policy decision and national defense. From …

  3. Where Does the Term ‘Fifth Column’ Come From? | HistoryExtra

    Jun 25, 2024 · What did the term ‘fifth column’ mean in the Second World War? With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the notion of a fifth column as an insidious – and typically ‘foreign’ – …

  4. Fifth Column - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase - Phrasefinder

    What's the origin of the phrase 'Fifth column'? In October 1936, in the hostilities of the Spanish Civil War, the nationalist General Emilio Mola and his supporters besieged Madrid with four columns of troops. …

  5. FIFTH COLUMN Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    The meaning of FIFTH COLUMN is a group of secret sympathizers or supporters of an enemy that engage in espionage or sabotage within defense lines or national borders. Did you know?

  6. Fifth Column - Political Dictionary

    A “fifth column” is a group which operates in secret, usually within enemy lines, in order to help further a cause which they secretly support. Origin of “Fifth Column” The term originated with Emilio Mola …

  7. Fifth column - Origin & Meaning of the Phrase - Etymonline

    Origin and history of fifth column fifth column (n.) 1936, from Gen. Emilio Mola's comment at the siege of Madrid during the Spanish Civil War that he would take the city with his four columns of troops …

  8. FIFTH COLUMN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

    FIFTH COLUMN definition: a group of people who act traitorously and subversively out of a secret sympathy with an enemy of their country. See examples of fifth column used in a sentence.

  9. Fifth Column | Ultimate Lexicon

    Understand the term 'Fifth Column,' its origins, historical usage, and modern implications. Learn about the concept of a fifth column and how it has played a role in historical and contemporary contexts.

  10. Idiom Origins - Fifth column - History of Fifth column

    Fifth column Origin and History - A fifth column is a subversive, clandestine group working from within an organisation or country with the objective of bringing about its downfall.