The Boy Who Dared

Germany intensifies its fight in Poland, committing atrocities like purposely shooting women and children. Hugo and Mutti get married. During the celebration, Helmuth stands up to Hugo, arguing that the Nazis are doing horrible things to Jewish people and taking away Germans’ freedoms. Hugo subtly threatens Helmuth’s safety. Mutti quietly defends Hugo and Helmuth knows that his mom will always be on Hugo’s side.  

Germany conquers Poland, and in 1940 invades France. The British bomb Hamburg. Helmuth blames Hitler for the war. Rudi suggests that the war is Germany’s retaliation for the Treaty of Versailles. Germany conquers Paris, where Gerhard is sent for his Reich Labor Service. Helmuth and his older brother Hans move into Gerhard’s room at Oma and Opa’s. Helmuth volunteers at his church where he types letters to Mormon soldiers, reinforcing his hatred for Hitler.

Helmuth, Rudi, and their friend Karl walk home one night and sing the American song “You Are My Sunshine.” A group of Hitler Youth arrives, and Helmuth continues singing to antagonize them. The leader demands to see their IDs even though it is not past curfew, angering Helmuth. Karl prods Helmuth to give his ID, and the Hitler Youth leader writes down Helmuth’s information. He warns Helmuth not to sing foreign songs. Helmuth wants to argue but Karl stops him, telling him it is not worth it.

By the end of the year, Hitler has taken over several more countries, pleasing most Germans. Helmuth, Rudi, and Brother Worbs are on “air-raid duty” on New Year’s Eve (86). Helmuth is irritated that he can only listen to the RRG, the government’s radio station. Everything else on the radio is static. They go on the roof to watch the fireworks and briefly feel hopeful about the new year. Brother Worbs prays aloud and the boys are aghast when he asks God to “break the yoke of the Nazi butchers” (89). Rudi and Helmuth remind Brother Worbs that he should not risk saying such things out loud.

Helmuth the prisoner eats watery soup and misses home. He desperately wants a letter from his family. His only regret is that he hurt his loved ones with his actions. He remembers the day Gerhard came home from France. Gerhard bought a real radio in France; in his memory, Helmuth is delighted. He wants to keep it, but Gerhard will not allow it because of the Radio Law. Helmuth mocks Hitler and all the things he has banned which makes Gerhard panic, afraid someone will hear. Gerhard says they must obey the law and not listen to the radio. Helmuth resents Gerhard’s rigidity in following laws he does not believe are right. Gerhard believes that the Nazi’s regime will end someday, but Helmuth is not sure. He resolves to unlock the radio from Gerhard’s closet after Gerhard leaves.

At the party celebrating Gerhard’s return, Hugo beams at Gerhard’s uniform and praises Helmuth for his senior thesis on politics. He thinks Helmuth should become an officer, but Helmuth angrily ignores him. In bed, Helmuth asks Gerhard if he thinks Hitler is God’s curse. Gerhard thinks Hitler’s leadership is not a curse, simply the result of an election. They must be good Germans and support Hitler. Helmuth is unsure if Germany should win the war and cannot sleep.

Gerhard packs for boot camp two days later. He encourages Helmuth to put his feelings about Hitler aside and pray Germany wins the war. He will fight for Germany because it is the right thing to do, even if he does not agree with the Nazis. Helmuth argues that Gerhard should not fight for something he does not believe in, and Gerhard asks him not to diminish his sacrifice if he is killed in battle. Helmuth chooses to say nothing because he “fears [his] answer” (98). He brings Gerhard to the train station and is incensed when the Nazi band’s drums “try to convince him that war is good” (98). He pictures snuggling with his brothers as children. While he asks God to protect Gerhard, he feels like he is floating.

Helmuth is taken from his memories when two guards and four prison officials crowd into his cell. He hopes against the odds that they are there because of letters written on his behalf. He nearly faints when Herr Ranke, the “Executory Leader” (100), introduces himself. To the sound of Herr Ranke’s ticking watch, Helmuth prays, “As. Thou. wilt. As. Thou. wilt. As. Thou. wilt” (101).

In his memory, Helmuth begrudgingly types his thesis paper full of ideology he does not believe in. He checks that Oma and Opa are asleep and breaks into Gerhard’s locked closet. He carefully takes Gerhard’s radio into the kitchen and boldly turns it on. He cannot believe it when he receives the British radio station, the BBC, reporting the news in German. He hesitates, remembering that Gerhard said it would be dangerous and selfish to listen, but his outrage at the Nazi laws is too great. The BBC reports that many British ships were destroyed by the Germans; it “electrifies” Helmuth to know that the BBC does not lie about their losses (103). It also inflames him that Germans cannot know the truth.

On the last day of school, Helmuth’s teacher, Herr Meins, announces that everyone has a talent to contribute to Germany. He does not name Helmuth but says that his thesis was the best and showed “the gift of interpretation” (105). Helmuth has suspected that Herr Meins does not truly agree with the Nazis. He thinks that Herr Meins may be trying to tell him something when he says good Nazis should be leaders. Herr Meins asks Helmuth to stay behind and compliments his ability with words but warns him that he does not hide his idealism well. Helmuth thinks Herr Meins knows and shares his true feelings but neither one says anything aloud.

Helmuth starts an apprenticeship at City Hall. He is astounded when he finds hundreds of banned books in the basement. Risking his safety, he takes a copy of Geist und Tat (Spirit and Action) by Nazi critic Heinrich Mann. He takes it from its hiding place in his room a few nights later and shows it to Rudi, explaining Mann’s idea that people have to be less selfish to start revolutions. The book and conversation make Rudi anxious; he knows Helmuth is putting himself in great danger by reading and saying such things. Helmuth has a realization: “spirit and action” is exactly what he wants.

Germany takes control of Greece and Yugoslavia, and several European countries ally themselves with Hitler. Hugo informs Helmuth and Mutti that Brother Worbs got arrested for complaining about a Nazi statue. Mutti does not think an elderly man should be arrested, but Hugo aggressively says they must stop “defeatist talk” (111). Mutti does not reply, and Helmuth walks out. He stares at the River Bille and is deeply upset that no one is selfless enough to go against the Nazis. At church he tells Rudi and Karl that Brother Worbs is at a concentration camp outside of Hamburg. He believes the German people are at fault because they follow the Nazis’ laws that harm their own neighbors.

Later that month, on June 22, 1941, Helmuth, Rudi, and Karl are at the pool. Rudolf Hess, a high-ranking Nazi, is allegedly missing after a plane crash. Helmuth accidentally says aloud that Hess is in a British jail, something he only knows from listening to the BBC. Hess actually fled Germany for Scotland and was taken prisoner. Helmuth nearly tells his friends about the radio when they question his source of information, but the pool’s intercom speaks first, announcing that Germany is now at war with Russia. The boys are fearful; history shows that Russia cannot be beat.

Since the RRG always lies, Helmuth stays up late every night listening to the BBC for the truth about the war. The RRG reports that Germany is winning against Russia, but the BBC reports prove that this is far from true. Helmuth cannot sleep most nights and Oma worries about his health. After several months of war with Russia, Helmuth and Karl worry that the German soldiers will not survive the harsh Russian winter. They do not understand why Hitler must dominate the world. Helmuth feels overwhelmed with his secret about the radio and invites Karl to come over, promising that he has proof Hitler is a liar. Karl is astounded when he sees Helmuth’s radio but wants to listen. The BBC report is about a Russian bayonet charge that resulted in huge losses for Germany. Helmuth says that he finds the BBC truthful because it reports losses on both sides. Helmuth expresses self-hatred for not acting against the Nazis, but Karl suggests there is not much they can do. He jokes that Helmuth’s rants make him “sound like a bloody pamphlet” (120).

After Karl leaves, Helmuth realizes that he should write a pamphlet. He writes his first one called “Who is Lying?” (121). He plays the radio for Rudi the next night, urging Rudi to have the courage to listen. For the rest of the month, he listens to the radio with Rudi and Karl on separate nights. Rudi and Karl do not know about each other’s visits; Helmuth thinks it is safer that way. The three young men know they are breaking the law and going against Mormon teachings, but they conclude it is necessary to be informed. The next month, in September, Helmuth invites Karl and Rudi on the same night. They are initially angry that Helmuth did not tell them he has been listening with both of them. Helmuth apologizes and says it was to protect them in case the Gestapo found out and wanted names.

Helmuth, Karl, and Rudi try to listen to the BBC but cannot get reception. Helmuth shows Rudi and Karl his numerous notes and leaflets exposing Hitler’s lies. Karl reads one that describes German bombings of innocent civilians. He and Rudi are astonished but impressed when Helmuth shares his other leaflets. The last line asks the recipient to pass the material on to a new reader.

Helmuth implores his friends to join his “war against lies” and shower the city with his pamphlets (126). Karl and Rudi are concerned the Gestapo will catch them, but Helmuth emphasizes the importance of letting others know the truth. The pamphlets, he hopes, will inspire those who already disapprove of Hitler to speak up. He does not think the Gestapo will find them since they are kids and working anonymously but suggests that if one of them does get caught, they should take all the blame. Since they are not yet eighteen, they should not be legally tried as adults. Rudi and Karl agree that they will not name names. Helmuth shares his pamphlets and the three boys leave to distribute them.