NSDAP

NSDAP stands for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeitertartei, or more commonly known as, the Nazi Party. It was a political party in Germany from 1933 to 1945. There was many people who didn't join, most of them we're ridiculed.  Others we're killed or thrown in the concentration camps.

“***The Thought Process Of Hans Hubermann***

He was not well-educated or political, but if nothing else, he was a man who appreciated fairness. A Jew had once saved his life and he couldn't forget that. He couldn't join a party that antagonize people in such a way Also, much like Alex Steiner, much of his most loyal customers were Jewish. Like many of the Jews believed he did not think the hatred could last, and it was a conscious decision not to follow Hitler. On many levels, it was a disastrous one." (Zusak, 180)

Herbert Bollinger was a faithful customer of Hans Hubermann. When business was slowing down for Hans, he ran into Herbert Bollinger. They exchanged pleasentries for a few minutes, Hans then asked, “What’s going on, Herbert? I’m losing customers quicker than I can count.“

“Well, Hans. Are you a member?“ He replied.

“Of what?“ Hans already knew the answer.

“Come one, Hansi,“ Herbert persisted. “Don’t make me spell it out.“

The tall painter waved him away and walked on. (Zusak, 181)

In 1937, since so many Jews throughout his country were being terrorized, Hans Hubermann applied to the Nazi Party. Walking back home, he witnessed four men throwing several bricks into a clothing store owned by a Jew. Walking by, Hans noticed someone had written ‘Jewish Filth‘ on the doorway. Hans offered to help the small man inside, the man pleaded with him to go. Hans came back the next day and repainted his door.

The end of 1938, all the Jews were cleared out after Kristallnacht, the Gestapo came to check and search through houses. After they found nothing in the Hubermans house, Hans was allowed to stay. He was one of the lucky few.

Kristallnacht means the Night of Broken Glass.  The Kristallnacht was triggered by the assassination of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath by Herschel Grynszpan, a German-born Polish Jew. In a coordinated attack on Jewish people and their property, 91 Jews were killed and 25,000 to 30,000 were arrested and placed in concentration camps. 267 synagogues were destroyed, and thousands of homes and businesses were ransacked. This was done by the Hitler Youth, the Gestapo and the SS. The Kristallnacht also served as a pretext and a means for the wholesale confiscation of firearms from German Jews. (Wikipedia) in

I’ve never stood up for anything as big as what Hans did. The farthest I’ve done would be to stop a kid from getting bullied. I’ve never risked my life for someone else, although I would if the opportunity arised.

Works Cited

Zusak, Markus. The Book Theif. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Print.

“Kristallnacht.“ Wikipedia. 2001. Web. 21 Sept. 2010.