The Boy Who Dared

Helmuth is now 10, and it is April 1935. Mutti has a boyfriend, Hugo Hübener, who is a Rottenführer, a Nazi paramilitary rank. He staunchly supports Hitler and talks about him constantly. He replaces Mutti’s radio with one that only plays German stations. Helmuth cannot stand Hugo and his authoritative manners. After two years, in 1937, Hugo moves them to an apartment in a new neighborhood. Even though Mutti is happy and in love, Helmuth misses living next door to his grandparents and does not want Hugo to be his dad. He is jealous of his brothers who do not have to be home as often.

By 1938, Helmuth is thirteen and attends his first day at the Oberbau, or middle school. Many students are wearing Hitler Youth uniforms, and the classroom displays a swastika flag and picture of Hitler. The students greet the teacher, Herr Vinke, with “Heil Hitler!” (42). Herr Vinke explains that he will teach “the new thinking in Germany” and gives a lesson on what makes a man brave (42). He shows a picture of a sailor holding a flag above water while his ship sinks, praising the sailor’s courage and values. Helmuth asks Herr Vinke if it would have made more sense for the sailor to let the flag sink and save himself so he could keep fighting for the nation. Herr Vinke reprimands him, yelling that dying to save the flag is “the greatest honor” (44). Helmuth is humiliated and resents that his teacher questions his courage. Herr Vinke punishes the whole class and assigns an essay about how Hitler is Germany’s savior.

Helmuth works on his essay at home. Gerhard and Hugo argue when Gerhard says that the assignment forces Helmuth to idolize Hitler and thereby insults God. Hugo insists that Hitler is a blessing from God and insults the Mormon church. Helmuth snaps that it is his homework, but when Gerhard storms off, Helmuth feels guilty for not taking his side and wonders if Gerhard is right. Hitler’s face and name are everywhere now, and Germans believe that he is making Germany better. Helmuth is conflicted; he supports his country’s government, but also recognizes the hateful acts and laws the government is creating that hurt Jewish people. He decides to write an essay praising Hitler to get a good grade, but “feels worse than a coward” and “like a traitor” (50). He does not feel happy when he gets a good grade on it.

In the spring, Germany has taken over Austria. An SS officer—or member of a paramilitary unit of the Nazi Party—comes to Helmuth’s class to enlist the few boys not yet in the Hitler Youth; they are legally required to join. Helmuth does not want to join because of Hugo’s overzealousness for Hitler. The officer calls Helmuth’s name and questions his familial background, then makes him sign a document testifying he has absolutely no Jewish heritage. Mutti and Hugo are excited to see Helmuth join, and he spends the next few months doing Jungvolk activities. He misses going to church with Oma and Opa, but Hugo says it is a necessity and calls him “my boy” (53), which Helmuth hates.  

Seventeen-year-old Helmuth’s cell door opens, and he is brought outside for exercise. Prisoners are forbidden to communicate with each other, and Helmuth chooses not to look at their faces. He thinks about Rudi Wobbe and Karl-Heinz Schnibbe, his best friends and fellow Mormons.

In 1938, there are signs everywhere telling Jewish people to keep out, including on Helmuth’s church. Despite the threat of the Gestapo catching them, people from Helmuth’s church take the sign down. Helmuth’s friend Rudi is disappointed that Helmuth is now a Hitler Youth. Rudi left his Jungvolk platoon after getting beaten up, and their friend Karl was kicked out of his for beating up his aggressive leader. Helmuth insists he is not a Nazi, even though he secretly enjoys some of the Jungvolk activities. To cheer up Rudi, he tells him about his detective book and suggests they become amateur detectives. Helmuth makes business cards that say, “LORD LISTER DETECTIVE AGENCY” (58), named for the detective in his book.

Helmuth and Rudi go to the police station and meet with Inspector Becker, who wants them to turn in anyone speaking or acting against the government. He is irritated when the boys offer their detective services, but Helmuth convinces him their young ages will allow them to discover information inconspicuously. Becker tasks them with an open murder case in Rudi’s neighborhood. During their investigation, they learn that a man, Franz Seeman, was seen talking to the murder victim. They report back to Becker with his name, and when Becker learns that Seeman is unemployed, he immediately concludes that Seeman is a deviant and guilty. Helmuth is disturbed when Seeman goes to jail because he is not sure that Seeman is really guilty.

Rudi later injures his arm and goes to the hospital where the Gestapo interrogate him. They think he is working for England because of the Lord Lister card found in his wallet. The Gestapo slap Rudi and refuse to believe him, twisting and recording his words. Rudi tells them to contact Inspector Becker for verification. Helmuth does not know how to comfort his traumatized friend.

On death row, Helmuth deep cleans his cell. He wants to apologize to Franz Seeman and debates whether he and Rudi turned in the right man. He remembers autumn of 1938 and arguing with Hugo about Hitler’s deportation of Jewish people to Poland. Hugo wants them all gone, but Helmuth defends Jewish individuals, who are only a small portion of Germany’s population. Poland and Germany argue over who will keep the deportees. When Poland accepts some but returns the rest to Germany, Hugo is pleased, stating “Germany is for Germans. True Germans” (69).

Hamburg is flourishing, but when a Jewish person shoots Nazi leader Ernst vom Rath, Hugo is outraged. He calls it a “Jewish plot.” Helmuth disagrees since it was only one person. The newspapers later announce “Outrage! World Jewry Attacks!” (70), which makes Hugo feel even more confident in his claim. He warns Mutti to stay inside a couple nights later. Helmuth watches from the window as Hugo leaves with other Nazis. The radio says that Ernst vom Rath has died and outside there are sounds of destruction. Hugo returns in the morning as the radio describes the night’s violence against the Jewish community. Gerhard is furious when Mutti pretends to not know what Hugo did. She explains that “Silence is how people get on sometimes” (72), and Helmuth is ashamed to recognize his own daily silence. He walks around the burned and broken buildings of the Jewish neighborhood and hates seeing his reflection—a “silent German” (73).

In his cell, Helmuth is eager to look at a passing sparrow, but is forbidden to look out the window. He paces around his cell trying not to hear the executioner collecting other prisoners. He remembers the spring of 1939: Hitler wants more territory, Gerhard moves in with Oma and Opa, and Helmuth keeps away from Hugo. He transitions from the Jungvolk to the older Hitler Youth group but does not enjoy going. The group’s activities center on politics, military training, and punishment. Helmuth attends as infrequently as he can. The military calls upon Gerhard to work for the Reich Labor Service and then join the military. Gerhard and Helmuth agree that Hitler will soon start a war.

On September 1, Germany officially starts a war with Poland. Germany is now under the “Extraordinary Radio Law” (77) which outlaws all foreign radio stations and incenses Helmuth. He hates Germany, knowing the government lies to them, but Gerhard says it is important to remain loyal citizens. France and England join Poland’s side. Helmuth finds a flyer dropped by a British plane, warning that Germany will lose. Helmuth knows he must destroy it, but he is hesitant to obey the law now that Hitler has taken yet another freedom from his people.