The title caught my eye. The cover pulled me in closer. I was with a group of students at Barnes and Noble, and I had to have this book. There was just something about it that drew me to it. I made sure it made it to the purchase basket. I have now finished the book, and it has been one of the most powerful, thought-provoking books I have ever read.
When Hitler came to power, Germany was rebuilding after a devastating end to the first world war. Hitler promised to give them their country back, and give them good jobs. He told the Germans that the Jews were rich businessmen who were making huge profits from Germany's troubled economy.
His solution? He was going to send them back where they came from. Where was this? Many thought they were being sent back to Poland or Romania. Some thought maybe they were being sent to Israel. Hitler had mentioned all Jews and immigrants were going to be sent to Madagascar to build their own country. He also convinced the German people that the Polish and Slavic peoples belonged to a lower race and these people were essentially criminals.
Albrecht, Connie, Marianne, and a few others realize what Hitler really is. “For so long Marianne and Albrecht and many of their friends had known Hitler was a lunatic, a leader whose lowbrow appeal to people's most selfish, self-pitying emotions and ignorance was an embarrassment for their country.” Hitler was a danger to all of Germany, and the German people were too blind to see what was happening. They were too busy in their own lives to care. The churches were behind Hitler's theories because the leaders believed his words.
An assassination plot is crafted, and the men bring Marianne in on their plot for one reason: if the plot fails, then she will be the one to keep the women and children safe. Marianne knows this plot is extremely risky, but she also believes this is the only hope for their country.
If you know history, then you know the assassination plot failed. The men who were part of the plot were murdered in horrendous ways, and their wives and children were sent to work camps. Marianne is able to get free, and then she starts her quest to find the wives and children of those men who were part of the assassination plot.
This book kept me awake at night. There are so many parallels that I find increasingly troubling. Every day I see something in the news that reminds me of the words in this book. When our youth are part of a political tirade, when a former leader is booed at a national gathering, and when the leaders of that group are smiling and clapping in the background. I am sure you can think of more examples to add.
It is said that history always repeats itself, and I can remember from the time I could first read asking myself and others the question, "If we know about history and the mistakes we made the first time, why do we allow this to happen again?" I ask all of you the same question today.
No comments:
Post a Comment