Chapters 1 - 10 Summary

In Chapter 1, eleven-year-old Carla's parents rarely ever fight, but a fight erupts over Carla's mother, Maud's political gossip column about Hitler at President Hindenburg's reception. The column speaks ill of Hitler, which Maud's husband, Walter von Ulrich, knows will anger the Nazis. Maud believes the Nazis are dangerous, and so she mocks them. The talk of coming danger, of Fascism, makes Carla feel uneasy. Carla's brother, Erik, has pro-Nazi friends, whose ideas have begun to rub off on Erik. The Ulrichs, who live in the wealthy Mitte district, go to visit the Francks. Carla has a crush on Werner Franck, who is fourteen, and his sister, Frieda is Carla's best friend. But Frieda has the measles, so Carla cannot spend the day with her. Despite their friendship, Maud is not altogether comfortable with the family, because they are pro-Nazi. Ludwig Franck...