Projekt 1065

“People talked about plenty of other stuff they weren’t supposed to, but only after a quick glance over their shoulder to make sure no one else was listening. Everybody did it so much there was even a special word for it: Deutscherblick. The ‘German Look.’ You did the German Look right before you said Germany might be losing the war, or complained about the food rations, or told a joke about Hitler. Because someone was always listening, always waiting to turn you in to the Nazi secret police. Always ready to rat you out to prove how loyal they were, even if they had said the very same thing yesterday.” 

In this quotation, Gratz illustrates how Nazi Germany has created a culture of fear and betrayal that brings out the worst aspects of humanity. Hitler and his government reward people for turning each other in, and the Nazis quash any attempts at free speech or questioning the regime—all classic tactics of a totalitarian government, and the exact qualities that Michael, his parents, and the Allies are fighting against. The quote also reveals that most Germans are unhappy with the Nazis—even the loyalists who turn others in have often made “the very same” complaints themselves. Fear prevents the Germans from speaking out, and the harmful effects of fear become an important theme throughout the novel.

“I tossed one book onto the fire at a time, slowly, so Horst wouldn’t see me standing around doing nothing. My skin crawled, as if I was consigning little bits of my soul to the fire with each book I threw in. But like smiling at a Nazi dinner party or memorizing facts about the Nazis for tests in school, it was all about the bigger mission. It was all part of the game. If it meant them letting me stick around to steal their secrets so the Allies could win the war, I’d burn every last book in Berlin.” 

This quote introduces the theme of making sacrifices as part of a greater “mission.” In this case, Michael must give up some of his morals, his “soul,” by pretending to be a Nazi so he can gain information. The quote also incorporates the symbol of games that develops throughout the novel: At this early point, Michael sees his spy missions as a “game,” and doesn’t yet understand how serious his role is. Michael is already giving up “little bits” of his “soul” by feigning loyalty to a cruel regime; as the novel continues, he will have to compromise his morals in larger ways.