Hans Hubermann’s political ideology does not fall within “oppression” nor "tyranny.” In “The Accordionist” chapter, Death says Hans was “. . . not well-educated or political, but if nothing else, he was a man who appreciated fairness . . . A Jew had once saved his life and he couldn’t join a party that antagonized people in such a way . . . Like many of the Jews believed, he didn’t think the hatred could last, and it was a conscious decision not to follow Hitler” (Zusak 137).
Hans Hubermann is clearly against the Nazi Party and their inhumane crimes against humanity. In fact, he even argued with Hans Junior, his son, who is a Nazi supporter, and told him that he had made many mistakes but “. . . joining the Nazi Party isn’t one of them” (Zusak 82). Each day he deals with the danger of hiding Max in
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It is his courage to stand against the oppression and tyranny. His sense of loyalty and fairness is apparent by how he learns early on that he must keep up the “masquerade” of wanting to join the party while doing what he can to act according to his true beliefs. At that time, to be against Hitler meant that you were approaching Death. It may not have the safest option for Hans; however, it certainly is one that he is proud of and truly believes in. Only a hero has such guts to pull this off; he is not fearful of Death or such negativity that would put him in jeopardy if someone were to find out that he strongly resented Hitler's ideology. Hans Hubermann represents all of the traits that a modern hero is supposed to have. I remember once scene in the movie version of The Book Thief. Max's "rat-like" living under the stairs is made human on Christmas Eve when Hans decided to build a snowman in the basement. Liesel asked Hans why did they build the snowman. Hans’s response was, “Because we had to. It made us human.” I think this is Hans Hubermann’s “political ideology”—to be human in the midst of