Chapter 3 Summary and Analysis

The winter of 1939-40 is extremely cold and is the time of the "phony war," the last time before the "storm broke lose." The Germans do not think the French and British will attack, despite their September 3rd declaration, nor do they think Hitler will attack France. That Christmas, Alfons's family still hopes for peace. Many try to avoid discussion, including in the Gymnasium. That said, over half of Alfons's classmates are killed before they reach 18.

Early May 10th, 1940, Nazi troops march across the borders of France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland. The Hitler Youth rallies of the summer are a nice break given how much Alfons works for his grandmother on the farm. There is a great labor shortage caused by the war. However, during the war, Alfons's grandmother hardly asks him for anything. Yet she refuses to participate in reverence...