Laurie’s answer to “Do we know why Frederick was so pushed by his family to attend the Nazis school where he obviously …” > Likes and Comments
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I agree I was reading through all the comments on this question, and this is the first answer that suggests the obvious answer. Sure they were compelled, but they could have used his poor eyesight as a means of keeping him home.
I just went to a discussion of this book at my local library. 20+ people showed up which is unusual. Not one person brought up the Jewish angle.
I agree with Laurie Hanan that the mother was ambitious but I also think she had no idea of the brutality her son would experience or the full implications of wanting that apartment. Later her guilt was enormous and she cared for her son for the rest of his or her life with the knowledge that she was complicit. It is easy for us to judge but these people were caught up in the movement and were mostly trying to carry on with their lives without completely realizing what was going on and, by the time they did have some understanding of the sinister nature of Hitler's restoration of German pride, it required more than the average person, wealthy or not, had to stand up and oppose the Nazis. The question I have to ask myself: what would I do in similar circumstances? Frederick's mother was a complicated character and the author conveyed that very well.
I disagree, but that's OK. That's why we have discussions! The demonizing of Jews in Germany was rampant. Mobs of civilians tore through towns, broke windows of Jewish home, beat Jews, and worse. The Jewess upstairs had a yellow star sewn to her clothes. I can't believe Fredrick;s mother didn't understand the sinister nature of events taking place. I have never doubted which side I would have stood on. I know where my heart lies.
There were plenty of anti-Semites who weren't technically members of the Nazi party but who were willingly complicit in stealing the property of their Jewish neighbors and turning them in to the Gestapo.
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Pat
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May 08, 2015 10:14PM
I agree I was reading through all the comments on this question, and this is the first answer that suggests the obvious answer. Sure they were compelled, but they could have used his poor eyesight as a means of keeping him home.
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I just went to a discussion of this book at my local library. 20+ people showed up which is unusual. Not one person brought up the Jewish angle.
I agree with Laurie Hanan that the mother was ambitious but I also think she had no idea of the brutality her son would experience or the full implications of wanting that apartment. Later her guilt was enormous and she cared for her son for the rest of his or her life with the knowledge that she was complicit. It is easy for us to judge but these people were caught up in the movement and were mostly trying to carry on with their lives without completely realizing what was going on and, by the time they did have some understanding of the sinister nature of Hitler's restoration of German pride, it required more than the average person, wealthy or not, had to stand up and oppose the Nazis. The question I have to ask myself: what would I do in similar circumstances? Frederick's mother was a complicated character and the author conveyed that very well.
I disagree, but that's OK. That's why we have discussions! The demonizing of Jews in Germany was rampant. Mobs of civilians tore through towns, broke windows of Jewish home, beat Jews, and worse. The Jewess upstairs had a yellow star sewn to her clothes. I can't believe Fredrick;s mother didn't understand the sinister nature of events taking place. I have never doubted which side I would have stood on. I know where my heart lies.
There were plenty of anti-Semites who weren't technically members of the Nazi party but who were willingly complicit in stealing the property of their Jewish neighbors and turning them in to the Gestapo.
