The Bravest of Them All

~ I have just finished the book, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and I strongly recommend this book to everyone!!! It provoked so many strong emotions, and I felt so much empathy for each character. It was beautifully written. ~

"You coward." spat Hans Junior to his very own father, and stomped out to vanish onto Himmel Street. Hans Huberman? Papa? A coward? For not being apart of the Nazi Party? For being against Hitler? Not in my opinion. No one there on Himmel Street was a coward. Every neighbor's bond created a friendship so strong it could overcome any beast. It is Junior who is the coward.

Hans Huberman is one of the most inspiring characters to me. Because in a world that was then ruled by fear, he still managed to do what was right.

He was a painter. He was a father. He was a friend. So when Hitler came into power, he didn't have the heart to deny a Jew from his services of simply painting an insult off of his store's window. Strike one. He hid a Jew named Max into his family's basement. He cared for and shared what little his poor family had. Strike two. During a march of Jewish prisoners through the town on Munich, he gave an old man bread. He received a public whipping, and was the drafted to battle in Russia.

What am I trying to say? Well, it is those who joined forces with Hitler who are beneath us. The men who became Nazis although convinced themselves it was a good cause, were just hiding from the wrath of Adolf and his followers. It was people like Hans Huberman who against all risks did not fall under the brain washing of the tyrant who were courageous. It was them who were brave. Hiding a Jew during the Holocaust was life-threatening. It was not a small task. Those who did were standing up to a whole army of soldiers; once-innocent men who were blinded with hate.

So no, those German soldiers, back in 1930, they were not brave.
Max was, for staying some what sane during the time period.
Leisel and Rudy were, for befriending Max, and knowing right from wrong.
And Hans Huberman, who most definitely, was not a coward.