Historical Context
The Book Thief was based on the Holocaust, a war based on religion. All events, people and places were either exact replicas of the Holocaust and parts of it, or similar to such things that happened. The Holocaust is the main factor in the story of the book, and many things that changed the story were based on true happenings. Markus Zusak wrote this book based on witness accounts from his parents, not based on a present situation, current effect or modern day conflict.
The biggest part of this book is Liesel's interest in books, and one portion of the book is dedicated to a book burning hosted by the Nazis. Liesel attends this event, and has to be happy about the loss of Jewish books. Real Nazi book burnings that happened during World War II. These book burnings represented the power of the Nazis and censorship. The image to the left is of a Nazi book burning that took place Berlin's Opera Square in Berlin, Germany. Taken on May 10, 1933, this picture clearly depicts the massive amount of people that turn up to support Hitler, and the towering pile of books that are being burned because of religious, cultural or political opinion that opposes those of the Nazis.
The biggest part of this book is Liesel's interest in books, and one portion of the book is dedicated to a book burning hosted by the Nazis. Liesel attends this event, and has to be happy about the loss of Jewish books. Real Nazi book burnings that happened during World War II. These book burnings represented the power of the Nazis and censorship. The image to the left is of a Nazi book burning that took place Berlin's Opera Square in Berlin, Germany. Taken on May 10, 1933, this picture clearly depicts the massive amount of people that turn up to support Hitler, and the towering pile of books that are being burned because of religious, cultural or political opinion that opposes those of the Nazis.
Liesel takes part in many Nazi activities such as the Hitler Youth. The Hitler Youth she is part of was influenced by that of the Nazi's in the 1920's. The group, primarily boys started becoming co-ed, and girls were part of it in 1930's. The Hitler Youth was mandatory for children over the age of 10. When Liesel turns ten, she is admitted to the Hitler Youth, and this starts a chapter of the book in which Liesel will start feeling anger towards the Nazis, yet she is surrounded by their propaganda, guards and rules in a german town.
The Book Thief author, Markus Zusak, was greatly influenced by his parents' experience with the Holocaust. His book is based on the information of this parents and that of the world and books. Even though many of the characters in this book are fictional, the origins of the towns, events and actions are historically accurate. Although The Book Thief wasn't written during the time of World War 2, Zusak was still around people who had been there and witnessed it.
Sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slagheap/157302461/
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005852
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Nazi_Germany/hitler_youth.htm
http://curiouseggs.com/rare-photos-of-nazi-germany-in-color/ (National Archives of Norway)
http://www.worldwar2stories-sheffield.com/hitler-youth---league-of-girls.php
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005852
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Nazi_Germany/hitler_youth.htm
http://curiouseggs.com/rare-photos-of-nazi-germany-in-color/ (National Archives of Norway)
http://www.worldwar2stories-sheffield.com/hitler-youth---league-of-girls.php