"The Struggler"

• A guided tour of suffering. To your left, perhaps your right, perhaps even straight ahead, you find a small black room.    

In it sits a Jew.
He is scum.
He is starving.
He is afraid.
Please- try not to look away. (Zusak.138)
   It all starts years earlier with Hans Huberman. This dates back to world war I, Hans' was 22 years old fighting in France. most men in his platoon were ready for the fight. Hans was diffrent he was not egar to fight, in the army Hans didn't stick out at either end. He was not running into battle head on, but he was not hiding in the platoons.
    Hans was serving for about 6 months when he got to France. Hans liked very few things but he loved music,this attacked him to older man, about a year older. A German Jew named Erik Vanderburg, the two became good friends maybe because niether of them wanted to fight. They preferred rolling cigarettes and shooting craps. Erik Vanderburg taught Hans to play the accordion, a friendship built on gambling, smoking, and music.
    "I've seen so many young men over the years who think they're running at other young men. They're not, they're running at me."
    Soon Erik would be found on a hill in several pieces. This was the first time Hans escaped Death. He owes his survival to Erik Vanderburg. That morning before the men were leaving for battle the Sergent came in asking who had good penmanship. Erik Vanderburg nominated Hans. So the Sergent choose Hans for the task. Hans considered his self lucky since he wrote letter as good as he could, while the rest of the men went into battle. None came back.
    After leaving the Army and upon his return home he tracked down Erik Vanderburg's family. Erik's wife told Hans to keep Erik's accordion. He told her that Erik had saved his life..... He told her he's a painter by trade, and if there was anything she needed, he slid her a piece of paper with his name and address. He seen a young child on her lap, Erik had never mentioned a son.
     Twenty years later on June 16, 1939, just over 6 months after Liesels' arrival, an event occurred that changed their life's. A regular day as any other Hans left the house at 7 for work, upon his arrival he was approached by a stranger. The stranger asked "would you be Hans Huberman"? Hans relies, "yes". The man then asks "are you a man who likes to keep a promise'? Hans in return answers, "yes."
    The man is Walter Kugler, he is a childhood friend of Max Vanderburg. Max is Erik's son.He is in a dark storeroom sitting and patiently waiting. Weeks had went by, then another, until he had lost count. How long had he went without food? When was his friend coming back? Taking our story back a little further Walter had given Max a book "Mein Kampf" (meaning my struggle)_a book written by Hitler as Max started his journey he opened the book, on the inside cover was taped a key, and an identity card. Walter also brought food and a few other items.
     After Walter left Max started his journey now he waits in an empty dark storage room. When finally Walter returns this time with a map, and a ticket.(stuttgart to Munich to pasing. Walter also gave Max a razor, spoon,scissors, and shaving cream. As Max sat in the dark he shaved his face and all his hair. He left the storage room a new man. He was now a "German" man, Max is now on the train the ride is soon coming to an end. Now just blocks to his destination, he walks till he comes to Himmel Street. He continues walking down the block this is it "33". He walks through the iron gate holds the key in hand. Turns the handle in strolls in.

    Lisels looks and standing in the kitchen of the Hubermans is a man He says only a few words, "Hans Huberman"? Then "do you still play the accordion"? Hans tells him of course I do.
If you haven't realized by now Max is Hans's Hubermans friend from the wars son. Walter Krugler is Max's old frind from scholl and they're all helping Max escape and hide from the German Nazi's.


Works citied
Zusak, Markus. "The book thief". New York. :Alfred A.
     Knopf,2005.Print.