"As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen's family takes in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as a part of the family.
Through the eyes of ten year old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war." - Amazon.com
The advice that Mrs. Rosen gave the girls about playing outside after their run-in with the soldiers is that when walking to school the girls should go a different way to avoid the soldiers on the corner of Osterbrogade. They should also take a different way back home from school. The girls should do this because Mrs. Rosen doesn’t want the soldiers to remember them. She also gives the advice of not standing out in the crowd. For example, if the girls stood out in the crowd by running again and the soldiers saw them, it might focus attention on them. On page 5, the soldier says to the girls, “Go home, all of you. Go study your school books. And don’t run. You look like hoodlums when you run.” Since the soldier said this, I know that running might bring danger to the girls. I know that “hoodlum” means “criminal” and if the soldiers think the girls are criminals, they could be sent to jail or worse.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Rosen told the girls this advice because, she’s worried that if they walk the same way to school and draw attention to themselves, then there might be uncertain dangers. When the mothers were talking, they mentioned the “latest Resistance incident.” The Natzi soldiers had to be extra careful so that no one was dangerous to them. Therefore, Mrs. Rosen told the girls to be extra careful so they wouldn’t be noticed. It is more difficult for the Natzis to fight the Resistance because they are secret. If the girls were running, the Natzis could think they were part of the Resistance.
Mrs. Rosen’s advice means the girls should blend in with the crowd to stay safe. Mrs. Rosen said, “It is important to be one of the crowd, always. Be one of many.” I think if the girls do this, they might be safe. For three years, the Natzis have been in Denmark and the Danish have had to blend in with the crowd. Now Annemarie and Ellen must be careful to stay a part of the crowd.
Sophie - you are spot on! I wonder if Mrs. Rosen's advice not to stand out in the crowd (and stay, in essence, unknown) is important in other ways as well...like to keep themselves from being associated with certain families. I fear what may happen in the future if those soldiers recognize Kirsti and her older sister, and remember that Ellen was just a "friend"....
DeleteWhat Mrs. Rosen means with her advice, is if the girls go to school tomorrow the same way they came when the soldiers spotted them, the soldiers might come and talk to them again and eventually find out what their families are up to. They might find out that they support the Resistance and that could be dangerous. Also, maybe Annemarie, Ellen, and Kristi might get killed. The advice means “don’t go by the soldiers or they might find out about Peter, but they might also find out that Ellen in Jewish, and you could get killed.”
ReplyDelete@ Sarah
DeleteGreat Job! I loved how you mentioned Peter and how he is part of the Resistance. I also liked that you mentioned that Ellen is Jewish. I think both of these people will play a big part in how the story plays out. Great ideas.
Sophie