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The Effect Of Hans Hubermann In The Book Thief

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In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, war has a powerful effect on the characters, namely Hans Hubermann. During World War I, when Hans Hubermann is twenty-two years old, he gets sent to France to fight in the German army. There, he meets Erik Vandenburg, who becomes Hans’s close friend. “[Hans] didn’t go into battle that day. For that, he had Erik Vandenburg to thank.” Erik saves Hans’s life by volunteering Hans for a task. Because of this, Hans feels indebted to the Vandenburgs. During the next war, World War II, Hans agrees to hide Erik’s son, Max Vandenburg, in his basement. This affects the lives of all the Hubermanns. Not only does it put them in danger, but it also affects the family in a personal way. “…Liesel made her way to
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During World War I, Hans’s life is saved by Max’s dad, Erik Vandenburg, “Almost with self reproach, it sat on his makeshift bed at the base camp and was given to his friend, Hans Hubermann, who happened to be the only man to survive” (175).

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Another example of the beauty of humanity can be seen in Hans Hubermann's character. Throughout the novel Hans is a very easygoing and thoughtful man who has a tendency to put others before himself. Wherever he is, he is always trying to help others. For example when Hans goes around painting windows black to prepare for the air raids he does not charge his customers a certain amount of money. He only charges however much they can give.

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Max Vandenberg is a Jewish man who is taken in and hidden by the Hubbermanns, Rosa and Hans, during World War 2 in Nazi Germany. His father saved Hans's life during the First World War. Hans, in turn, repays this deed by hiding Max from the Nazis, therefore putting his family in great danger as a result of it. During Max’s time living in the Hubbermann residence he befriends the protagonist, Liesel Meminger. The two find that they are very similar to each other.

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Everything Rudy does after that moment, when you know he’s going to die at the age of 14, everything is in the shadow of that.’ (Zusak, 2010). Max Vandenburg is the Jewish man who seeks refuge in the Hubermann’s basement putting their lives in great danger. Max’s father saved Hans’ life in World War II and caring for Max is Hans’ way of repaying Max for what his father did for him. Max and Liesel’s match of personalities and shared qualities enable the two to become such great friends, giving each other’s life purpose and the drive to survive the horrors of the war.

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Hans Hubermann, Liesel’s foster father, helped Jewish people in whatever way he could. When a Jewish shop named Kleinmann’s was vandalized, Hans asked the owner if he needed any help cleaning up, and promised to come back the next day and paint his door, which he did (Zusak 181-182). Hans delayed applying to the Nazi party because he didn’t agree with their beliefs, and by helping the owner he was put under more suspicion, however he felt that it was a proper action and didn’t allow danger to stop him. In addition to Hans act of kindness, the Hubermanns took a Jew named Max into their care, and allowed him to stay with them to be safe. In a book overview, Tabitha Hall observes, “Though not Jewish, Liesel and her foster parents struggle as they keep their Jewish friend hidden…” (“Overview: The Book Thief”).

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Hence, Hans is extremely worried and cautious about being caught hiding a Jew, knowing that it could mean the death of them all, yet still proceeds with this humanitarian gesture, showing beauty where there is hatred and war. Another quote that emphasizes the enormous risk the Hubermann family is taking by hiding Max is when the Nazi soldiers arrive at their door and ask, “‘I need to inspect your basement, just for a minute or two, to see if it’s suitable for a shelter” (Zusak, 344) as the family waits in utmost anxiety as it was being searched, thinking “[none] of them had the audacity to consider what they’d do if the basement was appointed as a shelter. They had to survive the inspection first.” (Zusak, 344). Thus emphasizing how much the Hubermann family risks everything to help a complete stranger simply because it is the right thing to do, demonstrating kindness and sacrifice in times of war, hatred, and discrimination among

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“He - if there’s anything you ever need” (179). Hans Hubermann made a promise to Erik Vandenburg’s wife to help out in any way he could. He stuck to this promise and, consequently, agreed to house Max twenty years later. This shows how Hans kept to his promises and people could trust him. Housing a Jew in Nazi Germany could have lead to severe punishment, nevertheless, Hans decided to help Max in his time of need because he knew that he needed to stick to his commitment.

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