National Identity in The BookThief

            Nationality is an interesting concept to look at in Marcus Zusack’s The Book Thief.  The main character is Liesel; a young girl who is growing up in Nazi ruled Germany and everyone knows that nationality was extremely important to the Nazis.   Citizens of Germany were either supported or believed in Germany, the Nazis, and Adolph Hitler, or they were against him and an enemy of Germany. Liesel and her foster parents oppose Hitler and the Nazis, but they still have to keep up the appearance of support the government they oppose, especially when there is already suspicion around Hans for not being a member of the Nazi party.  Liesel and her family must appear to support Hitler or their lives may become endangered as well.  I think that this false sense of nationality that was forced upon Liesel and her family is portrayed in the scene where Hans slaps Liesel for saying that she hated Hitler.

            Hans slapped Liesel because she disclaims that she hates Hitler in public.  Liesel has just come to the realization that her mother was a communist and that Hitler’s reign on Germany may have been part of the reason her mother had to give her up.  Disclaiming hatred for Hitler in public at this time period risked not only for Liesel but her family as well.  Instead of trying to convince Liesel into following Hitler’s plan for Germany, he enforces the idea that opposing Hitler is dangerous and that she needed to be a “Good German”.  Hans reinforces the idea that it is okay to say that sort of thing in his house, but outside it is dangerous and unwise.  He teaches the importance of appearing to be a good German to Liesel early on in her life.  For the most part, Liesel appears to be a good German and supports Hitler.  She “Heil Hitlers” when asked, she attends the special club and meetings she has to go to, and respects the Nazi soldiers she encounters.  However, this is where the struggle between her identities begins.

            While Liesel does not agree with beliefs of Hitler and the Nazi soldiers, she still is identified as German.  To some extent, she has to keep up this identity in order to protect herself.  However, by portraying this type of nationality she also betraying her personal beliefs.  Liesel has many reasons to hate Hitler and his movement.  These reasons include being abandoned by her mother and Max being forced to not only hide and isolate himself in her home, but later on flee from her home.  However, there is a point where Liesel does not want to succumb to how Germans are treating Jews.  One example of this being shown is when Liesel and Rudy leave bread for the Jewish prisoners.  It is an act against their nationality, but at the same time since they are not caught, they still have the appearance of being loyal Germans. 

            Overall, I feel like nationality played a huge role in this novel, but at the same time it did not play a role at all.  Nationality was present throughout The Book Thief but at the same time, it was all an act in order to survive by many different characters.  Liesel participated in saying “Heil Hitler” when necessary; attending the sponsored events, and much more that was expected from her as being a girl growing up Germany.  However, this was only a public face of Liesel and not her true identity.  Liesel’s true identity was much more complex than one would believe.   This portrayal of nationality could allow Liesel’s identities to struggle about what was or was not the right thing to do.