Summary

In late January of 1933, Helmuth sits with his classmates in the auditorium, awaiting unknown big news via the school's radio. Hitler is announced chancellor of the newly formed government, the National Socialist Party. Jubilation erupts in the room, and some older boys bolt to their feet, shouting "Heil Hitler!" Helmuth observes that amazingly no teachers move to quiet the boisterous students. The boys belong to the Jungvolk, the Hitler Youth group for boys aged ten through fourteen. Helmuth is also swelling with excitement at the news.

Helmuth hears one of the Jungvolk boys taunt his classmate, Benno Seligmann, one of the few Jews in his school. Seligmann ignores the boy's taunt and leer, but Helmuth sees Benno's blush of either embarrassment, fear or anger. The teachers continue to ignore the students, but Helmuth hears them having the same arguments he...