Berlin, Germany

Much of the storyline within these short pieces is based in Berlin. Prior to the war, Berlin is a thriving city of industry and prosperity, but with the coming of World War II and through the bombing of the allied forces, the city is destroyed. Berlin is finally overrun by Russian Red Army in 1945.

The Darkroom

A source of peace and happiness for Helmut, the darkroom is also the title of this novel. The dark room appears to be a metaphor for the stages of the stories within the novel, as the images of Germany before, during, and after the war come to light through the eyes of the characters. As in Helmut's story, the dark room of Germany is often a source of mixed emotions for the characters, ranging from anger to happiness to pride to love.

German Occupation

The German occupation, occurring across Europe...