1. Regine's mother believes wholeheartedly in the truth of the Nazi movement. Does this make her a bad person, as much to blame for the atrocities committed by the Gestapo, or does naivete cloud her judgement?

2. How easy would it be for a totalitarian regime like the Third Reich to rise to power in today's world?

3. Why does the farmer's wife cry for Fritz Kruse?

4. Ethnic separation was mandated by law in Hitler's Germany. Are there still countries that subscribe to similar laws? What about social separation of ethnic groups? Look at South Africa, the former Yugoslavia, and urban America.

5. What do you think will happen to Maurice when the war ends? To Gertrud? To Regine?

6. When the farmer's wife dies, Maurice tries to comfort Gertrud by telling her, "It was a good death, cherie."

Gertrud responds, "A good life wouldn't have been a bad...