Helmuths story may end her but his friends lives still continued on. Karl-Heinz was sentenced to five years in a concentration camp while Rudi had to serve a harsher sentence. Toward the end of the war however the Nazi offered Karl the oppertunity to restore his dignity by fighting for Germany.In return he was released from prison, Karl immigrated to the united states in 1952.
As for the rest of Helmuths family Gerhard received the news that Helmuth had died when he was at officer training school in Warsaw Poland. Wounded three times in battle Gerhard received the Iron Cross, The Medal of Valour and the Russian Battle Medal.
Emma Guddat and Kunkel Hubner, Helmuths mother and father in law received the news about Helmuths death after reading about it in the newspaper. Helmuths mother and grandparents died in late July of 1943 during massive bombings in hamburg where about 43,000 people perished.
Many of the people that new Helmuth sad that he was very brave and noble and that his courage was un-wavering, that remains true to this day. He is still honored and admired by many people who struggle with doing what is right and being forced to witness or engage in cruel and unjust activity. Helmuth Hubner was a bold, courageous and noble young man.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Boy Who Dared pages 160 to 180
As fast as Helmuths life begins it ends. In this final chapter in Helmuths life he writes his letters to his family members and is taken to be hanged. Helmuth is finally killed by the Nazi. But because of his noble spirit and perseverance his memory and remarkable story lives on. Helmuth was very brave and when he was taken to be killed at only the age of 18 he went with his head held high and his dignity still intact.
There were many other innocent people who also died like Helmuth for standing up for what they believed was right even when they faced uncertainty, extreme pain and even death. The Nazi and Hitler were terrible people for what they did to others, but Helmuth showed us that not all Germans supported Hitler and the Nazi and that many of them suffered as well as the Jews. Without the brave people like Helmuth and the others that lived during this terrible time we would never know the many truths that the Nazi and Hitler tried to hide from the rest of the world about the terrible and repulsive things they did to all kinds of people.
Helmuth was extremely brave, courageous, and kind hearted throughout the book but in the beginning he was unsure of Hitler and the Nazi and did not form his own strong opinion against him until the end or close to the end of the book. Throughout the story Helmuth became wiser and braver. Helmuth was also very independent and smart
There were many other innocent people who also died like Helmuth for standing up for what they believed was right even when they faced uncertainty, extreme pain and even death. The Nazi and Hitler were terrible people for what they did to others, but Helmuth showed us that not all Germans supported Hitler and the Nazi and that many of them suffered as well as the Jews. Without the brave people like Helmuth and the others that lived during this terrible time we would never know the many truths that the Nazi and Hitler tried to hide from the rest of the world about the terrible and repulsive things they did to all kinds of people.
Helmuth was extremely brave, courageous, and kind hearted throughout the book but in the beginning he was unsure of Hitler and the Nazi and did not form his own strong opinion against him until the end or close to the end of the book. Throughout the story Helmuth became wiser and braver. Helmuth was also very independent and smart
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Boy Who Dared pages 140 to 160
Even though Helmuth knows that he will die for sure now he still drifts back to the memory of his past not to long ago. Helmuth remembers being held by the Gestapo in a police interrogation room, he has been accused of distributing enemy propaganda. He is beaten badly by the Gestapo and to Helmuths disappointment Duwers makes a statement saying " one day it could have been the middle of January, Hubner handed me a typewritten paper and asked me to read it. I read the paper and without saying anything I hid it and took it home. I could tell at once it was inflammatory writing against Germany . At home I locked the papers up in a box because I wanted to gather evidence , so that at the right time I could Denounce Hubner. Helmuth feels betrayed and shortly after hearing this the Gestapo raid Helmuths grandparents house where he lives to try and find more enemy propaganda. They find his shortwave radio and many of his pamphlets.
They then send Helmuth to a concentration camp in Fuhlsbuttel to the north of Hamburg where he awaits in jail. Then the Gestapo take Helmuth to Gestapo headquarters where Helmuth awaits his turn in the interrogation room which is painted a dazzling white with brightly lit lights. The Nazi calls it the hall of mirrors. All around the room other prisoners stand for hours on ending to moving not even a small flinch or they are beaten. They question Helmuth and try to pull other peoples names out of him, they beat him until he gives in and gives them Karl and Rudi's names Helmuth hates himself for doing that, but the pain was too unbearable.
Then later on after thee Gestapo question Rudi and Karl and Helmuth Rudi, Karl and Duwner are taken to court. Helmuth is sentenced to die but luckily the rest of his friends are only sentenced to 10 and five years in prison. Helmuths friends stay true with him until the end and he forgives Duwner for betraying him.
I think that this part in the book is not the climax but the falling action because Helmuth already new what the consequences of his actions would have been if he was caught. I think that the climax of the story was when the Gestapo first came and arrested Helmuth because than he had no other way out. Helmuth was very blessed and lucky to have trustworthy friends like Karl and Rudi with him through the hard times even when they were facing the Factor of death. You are lucky if you even find one friend like that.
They then send Helmuth to a concentration camp in Fuhlsbuttel to the north of Hamburg where he awaits in jail. Then the Gestapo take Helmuth to Gestapo headquarters where Helmuth awaits his turn in the interrogation room which is painted a dazzling white with brightly lit lights. The Nazi calls it the hall of mirrors. All around the room other prisoners stand for hours on ending to moving not even a small flinch or they are beaten. They question Helmuth and try to pull other peoples names out of him, they beat him until he gives in and gives them Karl and Rudi's names Helmuth hates himself for doing that, but the pain was too unbearable.
Then later on after thee Gestapo question Rudi and Karl and Helmuth Rudi, Karl and Duwner are taken to court. Helmuth is sentenced to die but luckily the rest of his friends are only sentenced to 10 and five years in prison. Helmuths friends stay true with him until the end and he forgives Duwner for betraying him.
I think that this part in the book is not the climax but the falling action because Helmuth already new what the consequences of his actions would have been if he was caught. I think that the climax of the story was when the Gestapo first came and arrested Helmuth because than he had no other way out. Helmuth was very blessed and lucky to have trustworthy friends like Karl and Rudi with him through the hard times even when they were facing the Factor of death. You are lucky if you even find one friend like that.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Boy Who Dared pages 120 to 140
Now as Helmuth becomes more braver and a little less cautious he invites not only Karl to listen to the shortwave radio but also Rudi to listen but both rotate on separate evenings because Helmuth does not want them to know any other names but his in case they get caught. Throughout August Helmuth listens to the BBC London one night with Karl and another night with Rudi. Then soon after in September Helmuth decides to tell both Karl and Rudi what he is doing. At first his friends become upset with him but then understand his reasoning and forgive him.
Helmuth soon gets an idea to write pamphlets about the Nazi with tittles such as "It All Hitler Fault", 'There not telling you everything!", and " Do you know what the Hitler Youth is and what goal it Perseus? Its a compulsory organization of the highest order for the cultivation of obedient Nazis. Helmuth shows these to Karl and Rudi, they disperse them everywhere they can as a way to attack the Nazi and let people know what is really going on. Helmuth makes sure that there are no names in the letter so that none of them get caught and each week and sometimes each night Helmuth stays up at night typing vigorously a new pamphlet.
Soon after Herhard graduates from training in the single corps and is sent to officer training school in Warsaw. Then America declares war on Japan and Germany declares war on America. Hugo constantly vents to Helmuth saying " Roosevelt has his war now!" he says" Thanks to his Jewish advisers. Its all the Jews fault you know, Its all apart of there plan to destroy the German Reich!"
Then Brother Worrbs is set free and returns bruised and severely beaten. He tells Helmuth of how he was treated in the concentration camp. He tells him about the starvation rations, the guard, the punishments and how he was stripped naked and forced to stand knee deep in snow, how the guards poured hot water on his hands , let them freeze and then hit his hands with a club " to warm them up", they broke all his fingers. Brother Worbbs tells Helmuth gruesome stories saying that you will admit to anything to stop the pain. Helmuth is out ragged and finds this behaviour inhuman and repulsive.
Helmuth shows his radio to a co-worker Gerhard Duwer who rolls his eyes at the reports on the RRG. Helmuth also shows him the pamphlets, and to Helmuths surprise Duwer knows two printing apprintances in Kiel. They can be trusted to print leaflets, hundreds and hundreds of them. This excites Helmuth at the prospect of spreading thousands of leaflet's across Germany.
Helmuth begins to grow less cautious now trying to find more people to help him with spreading his leaflets. Another co-worker Werner Kranz jots down notes in French and Helmuth thinks that maybe he can get him to translate the pamphlets for him so he can give them to the French so they ill see that not all Germans support Hitler and his beliefs. The author uses foreshadowing in this scene because when Kranz sees the writing he refuses to get involved.
Then on February fifth at two thirty, two Gestapo agents stride purposefully through the office door. Helmuth figures that his boss Herr Mohns reported him to the Gestapo after he saw Helmuth trying to give the leaflets to Werner Kranz who refused to have anything to do with the Pamphlets.
Then once again in Helmuths present, Herr Rank tells Helmuth that there will be no clemency and that he is sentenced to death and the loss of civil rights during his lifetime. The execution of the judgment will take place 1942 the 27 of October after eight pm. That is today. Helmuth decides to write letters to his family before he is executed.
Helmuth soon gets an idea to write pamphlets about the Nazi with tittles such as "It All Hitler Fault", 'There not telling you everything!", and " Do you know what the Hitler Youth is and what goal it Perseus? Its a compulsory organization of the highest order for the cultivation of obedient Nazis. Helmuth shows these to Karl and Rudi, they disperse them everywhere they can as a way to attack the Nazi and let people know what is really going on. Helmuth makes sure that there are no names in the letter so that none of them get caught and each week and sometimes each night Helmuth stays up at night typing vigorously a new pamphlet.
Soon after Herhard graduates from training in the single corps and is sent to officer training school in Warsaw. Then America declares war on Japan and Germany declares war on America. Hugo constantly vents to Helmuth saying " Roosevelt has his war now!" he says" Thanks to his Jewish advisers. Its all the Jews fault you know, Its all apart of there plan to destroy the German Reich!"
Then Brother Worrbs is set free and returns bruised and severely beaten. He tells Helmuth of how he was treated in the concentration camp. He tells him about the starvation rations, the guard, the punishments and how he was stripped naked and forced to stand knee deep in snow, how the guards poured hot water on his hands , let them freeze and then hit his hands with a club " to warm them up", they broke all his fingers. Brother Worbbs tells Helmuth gruesome stories saying that you will admit to anything to stop the pain. Helmuth is out ragged and finds this behaviour inhuman and repulsive.
Helmuth shows his radio to a co-worker Gerhard Duwer who rolls his eyes at the reports on the RRG. Helmuth also shows him the pamphlets, and to Helmuths surprise Duwer knows two printing apprintances in Kiel. They can be trusted to print leaflets, hundreds and hundreds of them. This excites Helmuth at the prospect of spreading thousands of leaflet's across Germany.
Helmuth begins to grow less cautious now trying to find more people to help him with spreading his leaflets. Another co-worker Werner Kranz jots down notes in French and Helmuth thinks that maybe he can get him to translate the pamphlets for him so he can give them to the French so they ill see that not all Germans support Hitler and his beliefs. The author uses foreshadowing in this scene because when Kranz sees the writing he refuses to get involved.
Then on February fifth at two thirty, two Gestapo agents stride purposefully through the office door. Helmuth figures that his boss Herr Mohns reported him to the Gestapo after he saw Helmuth trying to give the leaflets to Werner Kranz who refused to have anything to do with the Pamphlets.
Then once again in Helmuths present, Herr Rank tells Helmuth that there will be no clemency and that he is sentenced to death and the loss of civil rights during his lifetime. The execution of the judgment will take place 1942 the 27 of October after eight pm. That is today. Helmuth decides to write letters to his family before he is executed.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Boy Who Dared pages 100 to 120
Once again we reside in Helmuths present, in late march of 1941 in Hamburg. Helmuth steals the Rollo radio from his brothers closet and tunes into BBC London with the German news broadcast. Over the next few days Helmuth ponders in his mind about the differences between the BBC and the RRG radio stations. Hulmeth notices that the British disclose actual losses, whereas the RRG never has. Helmuth believes the British reports to be more truthful and honest because they not only list the enemy's losses but also there own. Hulmeth is angry at the Nazi for lying to the German people, he belives that they have a right to know the truth as well.
Hulmeth finishes his final paper for school which he needs to graduate with good grades. Helmuth hands in his paper to find that he received the highest grade. As his teacher discusses with Helmuth the results of his paper Helmuth senses that his teacher Herr Meins is not a true Nazi at heart. They booth sense this in each other but say nothing in fear that they could be caught and the punishments would be sever.
In May Helmuth graduates and finds himself working at Bieberhaus, the social welfare department at the city hall. One day while Helmuth is working there he is asked to retrieve something from the basement, but as Helmuth enters the basement he sees row and rows of forbidden books that were un-German. Helmuth thought that the books had burned eight years ago. Illegally he takes out a book and sneaks it home for him to read.
It is now June and the Nazi have overrun Greece and Yugoslavia. One night while Helmuth is eating dinner with his mother and new father Hugo he hears the devastating news that brother Worrbs had been arrested. This angers Helmuth because Worrbs has been taken to Neuengamme, a concentration camp near Hamburg, notorious for its subhuman conditions, where brutal guards force prisoners to do hard labour with inadequate food and live in squalid cells. Helmuths friends Rudi and Karl are also outraged and the Nazi behaviour, and all because brother Worrbs criticized a Nazi statue. What s even worse is that now Germany has declared war on Russia, a country that has never been overthrown. Helmuth decides to show Karl his radio and Karl is astounded and admires Helmuths courage but fears that he will get caught.
I think that Helmuth is taking a huge risk showing his radio to other people because there are spy's everywhere. I think that Helmeth will soon get caught because he is starting to become carless and there have been many events that may be leading up to the climax of the story. Helmuth should be more careful and keep his opinions to himself even though it is the right thing to stand up against what is wrong, but then again you cant stand up very well for what is right when you are in jail or dead.
Hulmeth finishes his final paper for school which he needs to graduate with good grades. Helmuth hands in his paper to find that he received the highest grade. As his teacher discusses with Helmuth the results of his paper Helmuth senses that his teacher Herr Meins is not a true Nazi at heart. They booth sense this in each other but say nothing in fear that they could be caught and the punishments would be sever.
In May Helmuth graduates and finds himself working at Bieberhaus, the social welfare department at the city hall. One day while Helmuth is working there he is asked to retrieve something from the basement, but as Helmuth enters the basement he sees row and rows of forbidden books that were un-German. Helmuth thought that the books had burned eight years ago. Illegally he takes out a book and sneaks it home for him to read.
It is now June and the Nazi have overrun Greece and Yugoslavia. One night while Helmuth is eating dinner with his mother and new father Hugo he hears the devastating news that brother Worrbs had been arrested. This angers Helmuth because Worrbs has been taken to Neuengamme, a concentration camp near Hamburg, notorious for its subhuman conditions, where brutal guards force prisoners to do hard labour with inadequate food and live in squalid cells. Helmuths friends Rudi and Karl are also outraged and the Nazi behaviour, and all because brother Worrbs criticized a Nazi statue. What s even worse is that now Germany has declared war on Russia, a country that has never been overthrown. Helmuth decides to show Karl his radio and Karl is astounded and admires Helmuths courage but fears that he will get caught.
I think that Helmuth is taking a huge risk showing his radio to other people because there are spy's everywhere. I think that Helmeth will soon get caught because he is starting to become carless and there have been many events that may be leading up to the climax of the story. Helmuth should be more careful and keep his opinions to himself even though it is the right thing to stand up against what is wrong, but then again you cant stand up very well for what is right when you are in jail or dead.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Boy Who Dared pages 80 to 100
As we continue this incredible journey throughout Hulmeths life we are taken back once again into Hulmeth”s past. Now Poland has surrendered and Germany celebrates a short victory, however to everyone’s dismay in the spring of 1940 Hitler sends German troops marching into France. Hulmeths city of Hamburg prepares itself for war and starts to build immensely huge concrete towers armed with flank guns to shoot down enemy bombers, as well as they are starting to construct underground bomb shelters that can hold up to one thousand people. On one June night Hamburg two bombs from the British hit a neighborhood that is usually very busy and the middle of a street. Luckily to the Germans people's relief the damage is light but it strikes fear into their hearts. Hulmeth becomes angry at Hitler and blames him for what has happened telling his friend Rudi that Hitler should have been satisfied with Poland like he said he would, but instead he goes and expands the war into France. Hulmeth's idea of Hitler grows bitterer with every action that Hitler takes even though he tries to reassure the German people that it is for the good of the country.
Shortly after, about five days it is announced on the radio that Paris has fallen to the Germans, Hitler has sent the Luftwaff to bomb Britain. By the end of summer Gerhard is forced to leave for mandatory Reich Labor Service where he will be stationed outside of Paris. After Gerhard leaves Hulmeth decides to move into his grandparents flat in order to escape Hugo’s constant rambling about the Nazi an Hitler and how good they are for Germany. Hulmeth soon takes up a volunteer position at the church as a secretary and spends many nights typing letters to fellow Mormons stationed at the front in Paris France. Each time Hulmeth thinks of Gerhard or the letter's he is writing to the poor souls in this war it causes him to hate and dislike Hitler more and more. Hulmeth know has a strong and developed opinion about the Nazi and Hitler.
Every thing that seems to be taking place in Hulmeth's life causes him to dislike Hitler more and more, for instance, on a cool September night while Hulmeth, Rudi, and Karl, one of Hulmeths good friends, are walking home together after choir practice at there church Hulmeth starts singing an American song in a very loud voice. Suddenly a group of Hitler youth patrols around the corner and hear Hulmeth singing. The leader approaches Hulmeth and says "Hail Hitler" saluting him. Hulmeth salutes him to against his will ass he knows he must. Hulmeth doesn’t know the young boys but recognizes their uniforms. HJ Streifendienst, patrol force, they are junior Gestapo. They try to bully Hulmeth questioning him as to why he is singing a British song. Hulmeth retaliates saying "Its not British its American." The leader try still to bully Hulmeth taking down his name telling him that it is un German to sing American songs. Hulmeth is seething but Rudi and Karl try to cal him down to keep him from getting into more trouble. Outraged Hulmeh tells Rudi and Karl how the Gestapo and Hitler youth are nothing but bullies.
By 1941 the Nazis have overrun Poland, France, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. But British bombs continue to fall over Hamburg. Hitler is known beginning to take even more extreme actions to "protect his people". He has ordered the Nazis to jam every other airway on the radio but the RRG, German Reich Radio. Hulmeth finds it extremely frustrating that Hitler is slowly taking their freedom away. Hulmeth fiddles with the radio trying to find any other radio station other than German while he awaits patiently for the new year to come along with a couple other boys in his church with Brother Worbs there priest.
Finally midnight comes and there is a small set of fireworks that goes off at the chime of the church bell. Somewhere a police whistle shrills through the night and it is dark and deserted in the streets once again. Hulmeth listens to brother Worbs as he kneels down and pray saying aloud as if he wanted everyone to hear him "Lord, give us peace, break the yoke of the Nazi butchers, make us free" The boys sit in stunned silence as brother Worbs says his prayer aloud in fear that someone will hear him. Even though the boys are scared to admit for fear of Hitler and the Nazi they know that he speaks the truth. Later on one day when Hulmeth returns home from school, Gerhard is back. Hulmeth feels overjoyed to see that his brother is back but only for a short time he says. Gerhard has brought a short-wave radio, this causes Hulmeth to become very excited knowing now that he can discover what is really going on from other radio stations other than the German RRG. Gerhard tells Hulmeth that he bought it in the black market, where Germans stationed in France filling their duffel bags with goods that are rationed or no longer available at home. But to Hulmeths disappointment Gerhard licks the radio away for safekeeping; he tells Hulmeth that to use it carelessly it could endanger their whole family.
Gerhard’s homecoming only lasts for a few days as he receives his draft notice ordering him to boot camp in Reibeck-Gesthact to the north of Hamburg. Hulmeth does not want Gerhard to leave even though he knows he must. Gerhard tells him that even though he is not a real Nazi that he must still stand by his country in its time of need. Hulmeth becomes irritated at how Gerhard is always right. When Gerhard leaves Hulmeth prays to God to keep him safe and return him home soon.
Then once again we are taken back into the present situation that Hulmeth is in. His day 264 in prison passes slowly as usual, but unlike every other day Hulmeth hears footsteps outside his cell, the jangle of keys and then the door opens to reveal four uniformed prison officials enter his cell, two guards are accompanying the officials there clubs at the ready. One of them the first state attorney Herr Ranke an executioner leader speaks to Hulmeth, he is appearing by instruction from the attorney general of the peoples court. Hulmeth steadies himself against the wall. Hope flutters like a butterfly in his chest. He knows important people have written letters on his behalf, people like his attorney and his senior district Hitler Youth Leader and even Hugo asking for clemency.
I predict that in the next few chapters Hulmeth will steal the radio from Gerhard’s "safekeeping" place and find out information that Hitler is not telling the Germans. I also predict that he will get caught and punished because the author used foreshadowing when Gerhard looked the radio up because he was afraid it could endanger the family if he used it. Hulmeth now has a very clear personal opinion about Hitler and the Nazi but it might get him into big trouble if he continues to speak out against them. Hulmeth is a very brave young boy for standing up for what is right and having too deal with his brother going away to war. But if Hulmeth does not control his curiosity it will soon get him into trouble.
Shortly after, about five days it is announced on the radio that Paris has fallen to the Germans, Hitler has sent the Luftwaff to bomb Britain. By the end of summer Gerhard is forced to leave for mandatory Reich Labor Service where he will be stationed outside of Paris. After Gerhard leaves Hulmeth decides to move into his grandparents flat in order to escape Hugo’s constant rambling about the Nazi an Hitler and how good they are for Germany. Hulmeth soon takes up a volunteer position at the church as a secretary and spends many nights typing letters to fellow Mormons stationed at the front in Paris France. Each time Hulmeth thinks of Gerhard or the letter's he is writing to the poor souls in this war it causes him to hate and dislike Hitler more and more. Hulmeth know has a strong and developed opinion about the Nazi and Hitler.
Every thing that seems to be taking place in Hulmeth's life causes him to dislike Hitler more and more, for instance, on a cool September night while Hulmeth, Rudi, and Karl, one of Hulmeths good friends, are walking home together after choir practice at there church Hulmeth starts singing an American song in a very loud voice. Suddenly a group of Hitler youth patrols around the corner and hear Hulmeth singing. The leader approaches Hulmeth and says "Hail Hitler" saluting him. Hulmeth salutes him to against his will ass he knows he must. Hulmeth doesn’t know the young boys but recognizes their uniforms. HJ Streifendienst, patrol force, they are junior Gestapo. They try to bully Hulmeth questioning him as to why he is singing a British song. Hulmeth retaliates saying "Its not British its American." The leader try still to bully Hulmeth taking down his name telling him that it is un German to sing American songs. Hulmeth is seething but Rudi and Karl try to cal him down to keep him from getting into more trouble. Outraged Hulmeh tells Rudi and Karl how the Gestapo and Hitler youth are nothing but bullies.
By 1941 the Nazis have overrun Poland, France, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. But British bombs continue to fall over Hamburg. Hitler is known beginning to take even more extreme actions to "protect his people". He has ordered the Nazis to jam every other airway on the radio but the RRG, German Reich Radio. Hulmeth finds it extremely frustrating that Hitler is slowly taking their freedom away. Hulmeth fiddles with the radio trying to find any other radio station other than German while he awaits patiently for the new year to come along with a couple other boys in his church with Brother Worbs there priest.
Finally midnight comes and there is a small set of fireworks that goes off at the chime of the church bell. Somewhere a police whistle shrills through the night and it is dark and deserted in the streets once again. Hulmeth listens to brother Worbs as he kneels down and pray saying aloud as if he wanted everyone to hear him "Lord, give us peace, break the yoke of the Nazi butchers, make us free" The boys sit in stunned silence as brother Worbs says his prayer aloud in fear that someone will hear him. Even though the boys are scared to admit for fear of Hitler and the Nazi they know that he speaks the truth. Later on one day when Hulmeth returns home from school, Gerhard is back. Hulmeth feels overjoyed to see that his brother is back but only for a short time he says. Gerhard has brought a short-wave radio, this causes Hulmeth to become very excited knowing now that he can discover what is really going on from other radio stations other than the German RRG. Gerhard tells Hulmeth that he bought it in the black market, where Germans stationed in France filling their duffel bags with goods that are rationed or no longer available at home. But to Hulmeths disappointment Gerhard licks the radio away for safekeeping; he tells Hulmeth that to use it carelessly it could endanger their whole family.
Gerhard’s homecoming only lasts for a few days as he receives his draft notice ordering him to boot camp in Reibeck-Gesthact to the north of Hamburg. Hulmeth does not want Gerhard to leave even though he knows he must. Gerhard tells him that even though he is not a real Nazi that he must still stand by his country in its time of need. Hulmeth becomes irritated at how Gerhard is always right. When Gerhard leaves Hulmeth prays to God to keep him safe and return him home soon.
Then once again we are taken back into the present situation that Hulmeth is in. His day 264 in prison passes slowly as usual, but unlike every other day Hulmeth hears footsteps outside his cell, the jangle of keys and then the door opens to reveal four uniformed prison officials enter his cell, two guards are accompanying the officials there clubs at the ready. One of them the first state attorney Herr Ranke an executioner leader speaks to Hulmeth, he is appearing by instruction from the attorney general of the peoples court. Hulmeth steadies himself against the wall. Hope flutters like a butterfly in his chest. He knows important people have written letters on his behalf, people like his attorney and his senior district Hitler Youth Leader and even Hugo asking for clemency.
I predict that in the next few chapters Hulmeth will steal the radio from Gerhard’s "safekeeping" place and find out information that Hitler is not telling the Germans. I also predict that he will get caught and punished because the author used foreshadowing when Gerhard looked the radio up because he was afraid it could endanger the family if he used it. Hulmeth now has a very clear personal opinion about Hitler and the Nazi but it might get him into big trouble if he continues to speak out against them. Hulmeth is a very brave young boy for standing up for what is right and having too deal with his brother going away to war. But if Hulmeth does not control his curiosity it will soon get him into trouble.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Boy Who Dared pages 60 to 80
In these next few chapters of the boy who dared Hulmeth and his good friend Rudi decide to become real detectives. Hulmeth and Rudi travel together to the local police station at Hammer Deich 57. Hulmeth and Rudi go to the police station and to there surprise an inspector gives them an open case to try and solve after Hulmeth persuades him that Rudi and he can solve the case. After a lucky lead the boys stumble upon a name and a possible suspect, Franz Seemann an unemployed dockworker. Hulmeth and Rudi give the name to the inspector and to there dismay they learn that later on the Nazi arrest Franz even though there is no real evidence. Hulmeth cautiously questions the inspector about this and he tells Hulmeth that It is very suspicious that Frenz is unemployed considering all the jobs that Hitler is making available to the German people. Hulmeth regrets his decision about telling the inspector about Frenz because he knows that he has a terrible fate awaiting him. Helmuth wishes he could undo what he just did.
Later on Hulmeth meets Rudi but relies that he has been injured. Rudi's arm is all bandaged up and Rudi tells him what happened to him. Rudi tells Hulmeth that it was an accident; he was playing with some other boys when he fell through a window and cut his arm badly severing an artery in his wrist. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Hulmeth begins to shudder as Rudi tells him what happened next. Rudi told Hulmeth how the nurses found there fake detective card in his wallet and they reported him as a potential enemy agent. The Gestapo also known as Nazi who brutally enforce Hitler’s law Came to Rudi and questioned him and wanted to know who he was working for. Rudi was very afraid because he also told Hulmeth that they hit him and abused the power that they had and tried to play sick games with him and twist his words. He remembers the look in there eyes as if they enjoyed scaring him. From then on they decided not to play detectives anymore.
Once again we are taken back into Hulmeth's present state in the prison where exercise time is ending and the gaurs is taking them back in to there cells. Hulmeth begins his daily morning chore of cleaning and dusting his small cell, dust is Verboten in this prison he fears what punishment they will give him if he does not do his "duty". Hulmeth's mind works vigorously as he thinks about Frenz Seeman and the terrible Gestapo investigations he must have gone through on behalf of Hulmeth. Hulmeth can still recall his Gestapo interrogations. He wishes badly that he could tell Franz Seeman how sorry he his.
Soon it becomes the crisp fall of 1938 and the Germans are starting to become very mad and upset about the stories that they hear that the Czechs and the Poles are abusing ethnic Germans living in Czechoslovakia and Poland. Hitler becomes outraged and sends troops to the borders of Czechoslovakia to send a strong warning to anyone who dares mistreat the Germans. Hitler is also starting to arrest and ship Polish Jews living in Germany back to Poland, Poland does not want them back. Hulmeth feels very sorry for them. Hugo, Mutti's boyfriend troubles Hulmeth even more with his rude and discriminatory remarks about the Jews mocking then constantly Things only get worse from there.
Then on November 7 Hulmeth hears terrible news crackles over there old "poor people radio". The newscaster states with what seems like a mixture of anger and fear in his voice telling the German people that a young Jew called Herschel Grynszpan has shot a Nazi official, Ernest Von Rath in Paris. The German people become terrified as they hear the news that the official lies near death in a Paris hospital. Hugo warns Hulmeth and his brothers yelling in outrage "It’s a plot" "It’s a plot!" "They are planning a cowardly plot!" Hulmeth shudders at his next words, “Another plot to bring Germany to its knees, to cripple the Fatherland!" Later on they learn that the official has died and this outrages Hitler and the Nazi. Along with Hugo at there side they destroy everything Jewish ransacking the city and leaving a path of utter destruction behind them. Hulmeth feels sickened at their vulgar actions. Just as Hulmeth begins to feel more afraid and sad Mutti , his mother drops her own kind of bomb on him and his family. Her and Hugo are getting married, Hulmeth feels very disappointed and sad at his mothers decision.
Later on Hulmeth is now 14 and his brother Herhard who is 18 receives his letter recruting him to fight for Hitler. Hulmeth fears for hi brother’s life.
During this insight into Hulmeths life we discover even more fears and challenges that he had to face at a very young age. Sometimes even though we don’t relies it the fears and challenges that we face in our life will and have determined the people that we are. Usually they make us stronger and a little more prepared for what we are to face ahead in life. I think that because of the challenges that Hulmeth is facing now he will grow up to be a very strong and brave young man.
Later on Hulmeth meets Rudi but relies that he has been injured. Rudi's arm is all bandaged up and Rudi tells him what happened to him. Rudi tells Hulmeth that it was an accident; he was playing with some other boys when he fell through a window and cut his arm badly severing an artery in his wrist. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Hulmeth begins to shudder as Rudi tells him what happened next. Rudi told Hulmeth how the nurses found there fake detective card in his wallet and they reported him as a potential enemy agent. The Gestapo also known as Nazi who brutally enforce Hitler’s law Came to Rudi and questioned him and wanted to know who he was working for. Rudi was very afraid because he also told Hulmeth that they hit him and abused the power that they had and tried to play sick games with him and twist his words. He remembers the look in there eyes as if they enjoyed scaring him. From then on they decided not to play detectives anymore.
Once again we are taken back into Hulmeth's present state in the prison where exercise time is ending and the gaurs is taking them back in to there cells. Hulmeth begins his daily morning chore of cleaning and dusting his small cell, dust is Verboten in this prison he fears what punishment they will give him if he does not do his "duty". Hulmeth's mind works vigorously as he thinks about Frenz Seeman and the terrible Gestapo investigations he must have gone through on behalf of Hulmeth. Hulmeth can still recall his Gestapo interrogations. He wishes badly that he could tell Franz Seeman how sorry he his.
Soon it becomes the crisp fall of 1938 and the Germans are starting to become very mad and upset about the stories that they hear that the Czechs and the Poles are abusing ethnic Germans living in Czechoslovakia and Poland. Hitler becomes outraged and sends troops to the borders of Czechoslovakia to send a strong warning to anyone who dares mistreat the Germans. Hitler is also starting to arrest and ship Polish Jews living in Germany back to Poland, Poland does not want them back. Hulmeth feels very sorry for them. Hugo, Mutti's boyfriend troubles Hulmeth even more with his rude and discriminatory remarks about the Jews mocking then constantly Things only get worse from there.
Then on November 7 Hulmeth hears terrible news crackles over there old "poor people radio". The newscaster states with what seems like a mixture of anger and fear in his voice telling the German people that a young Jew called Herschel Grynszpan has shot a Nazi official, Ernest Von Rath in Paris. The German people become terrified as they hear the news that the official lies near death in a Paris hospital. Hugo warns Hulmeth and his brothers yelling in outrage "It’s a plot" "It’s a plot!" "They are planning a cowardly plot!" Hulmeth shudders at his next words, “Another plot to bring Germany to its knees, to cripple the Fatherland!" Later on they learn that the official has died and this outrages Hitler and the Nazi. Along with Hugo at there side they destroy everything Jewish ransacking the city and leaving a path of utter destruction behind them. Hulmeth feels sickened at their vulgar actions. Just as Hulmeth begins to feel more afraid and sad Mutti , his mother drops her own kind of bomb on him and his family. Her and Hugo are getting married, Hulmeth feels very disappointed and sad at his mothers decision.
Later on Hulmeth is now 14 and his brother Herhard who is 18 receives his letter recruting him to fight for Hitler. Hulmeth fears for hi brother’s life.
During this insight into Hulmeths life we discover even more fears and challenges that he had to face at a very young age. Sometimes even though we don’t relies it the fears and challenges that we face in our life will and have determined the people that we are. Usually they make us stronger and a little more prepared for what we are to face ahead in life. I think that because of the challenges that Hulmeth is facing now he will grow up to be a very strong and brave young man.
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