Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry (New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1989)

Introduction

The story is set in Denmark during WWII. Denmark is occupied by the Nazis and the Danish Resistance tries to hinder the Nazi’s programs. Eventually, a high ranking German official, G.F. Duckwitz, told the Danish government that the Nazis were planning on rounding up all Danish Jews and relocating them to concentration camps in other countries. The Danish government passed the information on to the leaders of the Jewish community, thus affording almost all the Danish Jews to escape, with help from their Danish neighbors and the Resistance.

This story demonstrates how thousands of Jews could have been saved during WWII if countries had supported and protected them, as did Denmark, Bulgaria, Tunisia, and Morocco. But more often, countries such as France, Poland and others feared for themselves and ignored the violence, torture and death that the Nazis inflicted upon Jews in the countries they occupied.

Summary

This is the story of two young Danish friends—one Jewish (Ellen), one not (Annemarie). Annemarie’s family takes in Ellen, claiming to the Nazi soldiers that Ellen is their oldest daughter who is really dead. Annemarie’s family arranges a stay with an uncle on the coast, close to Sweden. There, the Resistance organized safe passage for Ellen and her family, as well as for many other Danish Jews, to Sweden via Danish fishermen’s boats.

Annemarie has to face her fears when a vital part of the escape plan is left behind—a handkerchief. Jews were hid in tiny compartments under the hull of the boat, under piles of fish, but Nazi bloodhounds were able to sniff out the scent of people, even through the fish. Danish scientists concocted a powder of dried rabbit blood and cocaine to temporarily dull the dog’s sense of smell. Handkerchiefs were soaked/covered in the powder and every Danish fisherman who was ferrying Jews to Sweden carried the handkerchief in his pocket and would take it out when the Nazis and their bloodhounds boarded the boats for inspection. This handkerchief had fallen by the wayside and Annemarie had to run and deliver it to her uncle’s boat before the Nazi’s arrived with their bloodhounds. Because she was able to deliver the handkerchief to her uncle shortly before the dogs arrived, Ellen, her family, and many other Jews escaped to Sweden.

Excerpt from page 24

(Nazi soldiers occupy Denmark and begin to target the Danish Jews.)

“Is Mrs. Hirsch Jewish? Is that why the button shop is closed? Why have they done that?”

Peter leaned forward. “It is their way of tormenting. For some reason, they want to torment Jewish people. It has happened in the other countries. They have taken their time here—have let us relax a little. But now it seems to be starting.”

“But why the button shop? What harm is a button shop? Mrs. Hirsch is such a nice lady. Even Samuel—he’s a dope, but he would never harm anyone. . . .

Then Annemarie thought of something else. “If they can’t sell their buttons, how will they earn a living?”

“Friends will take care of them,” Mama said gently. “That’s what friends do.”

Annemarie nodded. Mama was right of course. Friends and neighbors would go to the home of the Hirsch family, would take them fish and potatoes and bread and herbs for making tea. Maybe Peter would even take them a beer. They would be comfortable until their shop was allowed to open again.”

Questions and Discussion

This story combines historical facts with a fictitious narrative. Danes united to protect their fellow Jewish citizens during WWII. Other countries occupied by the Nazis allowed them to persecute the Jewish citizens. How can we follow the example of tolerance and love that the Danes provided?

One of the characters states that the Nazi soldiers want to torment the Jewish people. We can see examples of one group tormenting members of another group: Hutus mass murdering Tutsis in Rwanda, Janjaweed (nomadic Muslim tribes) targeting and killing black African tribes in Darfur. Why do societies (at different times in their history) select a group and torment them?

How can we help our communities avoid picking on the weak?