Figure 1.-- Here a Jewish boy is waiting at the Hamburg train station with other Jewish deportees waiting to be deported East. Notice the star of David on the chest of the woman and the boy (of about 11 or 12) wearing a beret, short trousers with tan long stockings, and an overcoat. The overcoat has the yellow star of David, indicating Jewish identity, on the chest. Younger children did not have to wear the stars. This shot represents about 1943, when the deportation of Hamburg Jews began in earest. Unlike deportations in other countries, German Jews were not loaded in box cars, probably because the NAZI authorities thought that would give a bad image to the Germans at the station.

The Holocausrt of course plays a major role in the film, but mostly as a background event. There is a pathetic scene at the railway station where Jewish families are reporting for deportation (figure 1). German Jews were not rounded up as was the case in other countries. They received registered letters in the mail telling them when and where to report and how much luggage they could bring. No one knew their destination. There were rumors about what awaited them, but no one knew for sure. Scholars differ as how much Germans, even German Jews, knew about the fate of the deportees. The Berini boys as Mischlings were not subject to deportation, but their mother was. This may be why the family went into hiding. NAZI authorities did not move aggresively against the spouces of German citizens. The NAZIs did begin arresting a number of Jewish husbands of German women. This gave rise to the Rosenstrasse protest (February-March 1943). This was a non-violent protest in Rosenstrasse conducted outside the building where their husbands were detained. The protestors were the German wives and relatives (mostly women). It was a rare example of public protest in Germany to the Holocaust. Thus while Lea as a Jew was in danger, she probably would not have received a deportation order. Lea's parents as Jews were subject to deportation. There is some indication that Lea's mother protects herself by making secret payments to an older woman who can assist in concealing her Jewish identity. I'm not sure just how this worked.

Created: 8:31 PM 12/20/2008
Last updated: 8:31 PM 12/20/2008