“I was a bride of Christ . . . but I suppose He has annulled our union.
-- Anita (chapter 2)

Importance: This quote signifies the role that Hitler played in Germany at World War II. It also represents the role of God and religion in the story and these characters’ lives. Both Anton and his sister Anita are forced to leave the church for the Wermacht - Anton was a friar and Anita a nun. Anita says this to Anton as she packs his bags. Hawker uses this play on words to show to the reader how Hitler surpassed all other considerations for Germans at the time - even God. Average German citizens were forced to abandon all other work to support the Nazi regime. Capitalizing the H in He is standard grammar for God, when written about. Therefore, mixing these two together shows the reader how Hitler had replaced God for Anita and Anton. It shows...