German Boy

999 Words4 Pages
The harrowing narrative of a young boy and his family struggling to survive during World War II is told in the novel German Boy, by Wolfgang W.E. Samuel. After leaving their home to escape the advancing Russian troops, Wolfgang and his family are forced to move from one war-torn town to the next. They rely on begging, prostitution, and the kindness of others to obtain food, clothes, and other basic necessities.Wolfgang and his family eventually move from impoverished Germany to America, where they are finally able to settle down without having to scavenge for their survival. Through dynamic characters, thought-provoking themes, and a notable setting, author Wolfgang E. Samuel recalls a compelling tale of the struggle and strife of a family…show more content…
The main character, Wolfgang Samuel, is a nine year old boy living in Germany, who is looking forward to his upcoming 10th birthday. He begins just like any other child who loves to play with his friends in the the sandpiles, but he becomes a refugee overnight, running from the Russians with his sister and mother. Wolfgang is forced to grow up quickly and care for his family. He spends his days begging for food or other goods for his family’s survival. Wolfgang says, “I no longer felt like a child even though I was only ten years old,” (192). Wolfgang’s biggest excitement in the beginning of the novel was his upcoming 10th birthday. For his 11th birthday, he says, “In February, 1946, I turned eleven. It was no cause to celebrate. I was just one year older,” (225). Wolfgang transforms from an innocent, fun-loving child to a working, independant boy who is able to help ensure the survival of his family. His childhood ended abruptly when he becomes a refugee, but he manages to find hope, even in the darkest of times. Wolfgang finds solace by attending school and playing in abandoned airplanes. He writes, “I had gotten used to doing without food. But I couldn’t do without hope,” (300). Though Wolfgang grows up in the worst conditions, he manages to remain kind and hopeful, believing that he will eventually have a better life. Wolfgang’s progression from a helpless child to a boy who saves his…show more content…
One prominent theme is the real war. As the German army fights the Allies, there is another fight taking place within the German people: the fight for their life. For many, the war does not end in 1945. Wolfgang writes, “For me, war was not just the shooting of guns and the dropping of bombs. It was all the other things, created by war which continued to make life difficult for me and impossible for some - fear, hunger, disease, exploitation and abuse, and rape of women of all ages by force and through circumstance,” (344). Overall, it is innocent families who pay the real price of war. Many live in poverty, suffering the consequences of a war they do not believe in. Wolfgang says, “We were the people who had nothing and lived from hand to mouth. We were the human debris of that evil war,” (327). Often, it is children who pay for the sins of others. Many children cannot go to school, do not have enough food, and lose their childhoods. Most of all, they do not understand the war, and do not understand why their lives are being ruined. Some children grow up only knowing war, their lives a continuous struggle. Wolfgang writes, “As a young boy, I felt violated by my elders. How could they have done done this to us children?” (409). The real war of hunger, disease, and fear does not end for the German people until years after 1945. Multiple thought-provoking themes are present throughout, providing depth and insight to the
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