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The Book Thief ENGLISH B60 Setting and Background The novel takes place in Germany during World War II. Adolph Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Hiter’s Rise to Power In response to the burning of the Reichstag building in February 1933 (which was reportedly done by Communists but which the Nazis may have done themselves), the Nazis (under Hitler’s rule) were given almost unlimited power to attend to the emergency, which allowed for the emergence of a police state. Soon after he became Chancellor, Hitler authorized the construction of concentration camps. Dachau was the first to be created. Dachau Restrictions Dachau served as a place where Nazis trained their members in torture techniques. During this time, the Enabling Act was passed, which allowed the Nazis to pass laws without the approval of parliament. After the Enabling Act, the Nazis made Special Courts to accuse people of treason for political dissent. Jews in particular were targeted. Book Burnings Anything that went against the Nazi regime was considered disloyal to Germany, and was therefore illegal. Many books fell into this category; as a result, mass book burnings began in 1933. Book Burnings Hitler Youth The Nazi party began a campaign of propaganda designed to brainwash Germans, particularly the youth, against many minority groups, Jewish people in particular. The Hitler Youth was a mandatory movement designed to ensure that all German children grew up loyal to Hitler and his teachings. The Fuhrer In 1934, German president Hindenburg died, and Hitler, who had increasingly gained power, declared himself the Fuhrer of Germany, a combination of Chancellor and President. In 1935 Hitler announced the Nuremberg Laws, which took civil rights from Jews and declared them politically, socially, racially, legally separate from Germanys; Jews were categorized as a separate race (rather than a separate religion). Under these laws, strict separation between Jews and Germans was enforced. No mixed relationships or marriages were allowed, in part to work toward what Hitler believed was the master race of Aryan people. The Olympics The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, which gave Hitler the opportunity to promote Nazism world wide. The Olympics are supposed to be open to all without restriction due to class or race. Hitler did not follow these rules and denied nearly all Jewish participants. Ironically, Jesse Owens, an African American athlete, was the champion of the games, winning 4 gold medals. Jesse Owens Expansion In 1938, Hitler “peacefully” overtook Austria, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. In 1939, Hitler invaded Poland, which officially started World War II. Concentration Camps In 1941, Hitler began the extermination of the Jewish people via Einsatzgruppen, a group of men who worked along with German troops and who murdered Jews. By the end of 1942, they had killed 1.5 million Jews. Ultimately, Hitler began work on his Final Solution, the extermination of the Jewish people through death camps, which was “a better, faster, less personal method for killing…one that would spare the shooters, not the victims, emotional anguish” Death Camps Chelmno, the first death camp, began operations in late 1941. Toxic gasses were used to kill prisoners, which was “more effective” than using bullets. The murders happened secretly. Officially, the Nazis said they were moving the Jews to the East. Since many did not realize the full extent of what was happening, there was little resistance. Chelmno Death Tolls By the end of 1943 the Germans closed down the death camps built specifically to exterminate Jews. The death tolls for the camps are as follows: Treblinka, Belzec, (750,000 Jews); (550,000 Jews); Sobibór, (200,000 Jews); Chelmno, Lublin (150,000 Jews) and (also called Majdanek, 50,000 Jews). Auschwitz continued to operate through the summer of 1944; its final death total was about 1 million Jews and 1 million non-Jews Characters The protagonist (or main character) of the story is Liesel. She is a young German girl who is sent to live with a foster family when her mother is unable to care for her. Structure The novel has an unlikely narrator: death. In the novel, death is personified (or given a voice, much like a human’s), and it is through his eyes that we see the story unfold. Keep this in mind as you read the novel. Ask yourself why you think the author chose to write the novel in this way. How does it shape the way we see events unfold? Looking Ahead… With your newly acquired background knowledge about World War II, Hitler, and the Nazis, what do you predict is the significance of the title of the book? Why are books and words so important? Jot down your thoughts. Now share them with a partner. Now share with the class.
