How Is Nazi Germany Portrayed In The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a girl living in Nazi Germany through the narration of death. Just nine years old when her brother dies and her mother leaves her in the care of the Hubermanns, Lisel turns to the comfort of books to ease her pain. However, as she grows up the innocent words in her books lead her to discover the immense pain words carry through the horrific doings of Hitler. A man seen by many Germans as their savior, Hitler rose to power in the early 1930s, vowing to change the economy and transform Germany into a superior country. The portrayal of life in Nazi Germany depicted by The Book Thief is accurate due to events in the book that correspond with those in history such as the book burning,

In 1920, the Youth League of the Nationalist Socialist Party was created through authorization of Hitler. Not popular at first, the Hitler Youth membership count skyrocketed through propaganda advertisement and compulsory membership. This organization offered special programs for German girls and boys through the ages of six to twenty-one such as the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls. By 1939, the Hitler Youth had over seven million members who were taught Nazi idealism (Nizkor Project 319). Similarly, the Hitler Youth served an important purpose in The Book Thief. Shortly after moving in with the Hubermanns, Lisel was required to join the Band of German Girls also known as the League of German Girls. While recollecting the events she partakes in the BDM, Lisel states, “The first thing they did there was make sure your “heil Hitler” was working properly. Then you were taught to march straight, roll bandages, and sew up clothes. You were also taken hiking and on other such activities”(Zusak 40). This quote is significant because it shows the opportunities offered by the BDM, many of which took place in Nazi Germany during the 1930s. The BDM met twice a week for two hours showing the value placed on young children in Nazi Germany. Not only were children considered to be the future to Hitler, it was necessary to teach them about the importance of their culture and provide them with means

In the beginning of the book Liesel observed the road of yellow stars, a place where outcast Jews lived in vandalized houses graffitied with the Star of David (Zusak 51). This scene shows the hate Jews received due to Anti-Semitic ideals. Many Germans believed their country’s problems were because of the Jews, giving them an excuse to dehumanize them. Later in the book, Anti-Semitism is further shown during the night of the broken glass, an event in which, “many Jewish establishments were being surgically smashed and looted” (Zusak 192). This description shows the danger many Jews faced on that horrific night, losing not only their homes and valuables, but family as well. The appalling actions of the Nazis during that night correspond similarly to the event in history. In The World Must Know, the night of the broken glass is described as an event in which, “ seven thousand Jewish businesses were trashed and looted… Jewish cemeteries, hospitals, schools, and homes were destroyed” (Berenbaum 54). This night stripped Jews of the little rights they once had, making Germany a dangerous place for them. Another example of Antisemitism in The Book Thief were the Nuremberg Laws which denied the Jews rights to German citizenship and intermarriage with Germans (Zusak 192). These laws were passed on September 15, 1935 and affected anyone tied to Judaism even those who did not practice the religion but had family