Parallel Journeys

During World War I, many German citizens felt helpless. The harsh Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for the war. It prevented Germany from rebuilding its army, and it made them give lots of money to the countries it damaged. Germany lost its luster. Due to the treaty and the Great Depression, its economy was in shambles. As Eleanor Ayer says, “Money had become so worthless that people carried it around in wheelbarrows just to do their daily shopping” (16). Hitler offered an antidote to the shame. He crafted a strong image and vowed to restore Germany to its glory. He projected power, and, as Ayer writes, “In growing numbers, people were now listening” (17).

Alfons listens and becomes a passionate supporter. He “will never forget the magic” of watching a Nazi parade in Wittlich, and he believes that Hitler will build an empire—the Third Reich—that will “last a thousand years” (27). Power intoxicates Alfons, and neither he nor the other Hitler Youth members can fathom anything as mighty as Hitler. In Ayer’s words, the boys think of him as “invincible” and “more powerful than God” (52). Through power, the boys become unthinking. They don’t question the Nazis: It doesn’t make sense to question someone whose authority is unquestionable.

The Nazis use their power to make jews like Helen feel helpless. Their newspapers contain headlines like “JEWS, ABANDON ALL HOPE!” (54) and “JEWS FOR SALE—WHO WANTS THEM? NO ONE!” (67). The Jews aren’t supposed to question the Nazis either, and the Nazis create a malign atmosphere that makes their death inevitable. When Helen asks an Auschwitz prisoner how they can escape, he replies, “There is no way out for any of us but through the chimney” (215). Yet power and helplessness are fluid, so there is a way out, and Helen, showcasing her will, survives the Holocaust.

The unfixed relationship between power and helplessness impacts Alfons too. He goes from a powerful member of the Hitler Youth to a translator for the Americans and then a prisoner under the French occupation. While Helen keeps her composure in her helpless situation, Alfons gives in to helplessness when he thinks the French will kill him. Alfons admits, “I cried silently at times, and I prayed, and I went through a rage of self-pity” (307).

Once Free, Alfons continues to feel helpless. He doesn’t know how to articulate his feverish connection to the Nazis. By taking accountability for his role in the genocidal Nazi regime, he regains his power. He takes control of his narrative, and his honesty captures the attention of Helen. Together, they use their power not to make people feel helpless but to help them understand why genocides happen.