When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

The Threat of Antisemitism is explored in these chapters through Onkel Julius’s experiences in an increasingly antisemitic Germany, culminating in his death by suicide. Onkel Julius sends the simple message on a postcard: “[T]he more I see of men the more I love animals” (156). This message is haunting in its simplicity; it attests to the increasing cruelty which Onkel Julius is facing as antisemitism in Germany under the Nazi party becomes not only publicly embraced, but legally enforced. Herr Rosenfeld reveals that Onkel Julius was branded as a Jew because of his one Jewish grandparent, illustrating the fastidiousness of the Nazi’s program of genocide.

The simple postcard also refers to Onkel Julius’s daily trips to the zoo, which were clearly a source of strength for him. The Importance of Resilience is signaled in this routine, as Onkel Julius remains connected to a sense of self as well as to joy and purpose through visiting the animals, despite the efforts of the Nazi party to dehumanize him. When he receives the “official letter revoking his pass to the Zoo” (182), the dry and bureaucratic nature of the letter taking away his only source of joy is emphasized, highlighting the indifferent cruelty of the Nazi government. Papa’s grief over Julius’s death is illustrated in his quietness amid the family’s excitement over the move to England: “Onkel Julius’s watch was in his hand and he was stroking it, very gently, with one finger” (184). Once again, the dark historical context that surrounds the family is reflected in the behavior of one of the adults, while the children continue to be only partially aware of what is taking place politically and socially in their homeland.

The Challenges of the Refugee Experience continue for the family. While Anna is glad to have more of her father’s company, she adds, “This was because owing to the Depression the Daily Parisian had been reduced in size and could no longer print so many of his articles” (167). Anna is too distracted by her joy in her father’s presence to conceive of the financial ramifications for the family his lack of work brings. For Mama, their lack of money results in daily struggles: Her life is drastically different to her aristocratic upbringing, and many days, “the burden of all the cleaning and cooking and washing and ironing and mending seemed to her simply too heavy to be borne” (157). Papa’s effort to help by buying the sewing machine further illustrates their displacement from their previous life; it is a useless and broken antique that he was tricked into buying by a wily thrift store owner. Madame Fernand calls them “the two most impractical people in the world” (163), further emphasizing their struggle with managing the challenges of working-class life as a displaced and impoverished family. Cousin Otto has shared a similar fate. His appearance attests to the Nazi program of seizure of Jewish properties and possessions: “Anna remembered him [Cousin Otto] from Berlin as a rather dapper man, but now he looked shabby in a crumpled coat” (189).

The family continues to cope by embracing The Importance of Resilience. In only 18 months in France, Anna earns distinctions in all of her classes (which are taught entirely in French) apart from sewing. Her success with the language makes her feel proud and excited: “[I]t was as though she had suddenly found that she could fly” (154). Her greatest victory is the prize-winning essay about her father’s traumatic flight from Germany, written in fluent French. Meanwhile, Max is distinguished as the best student in his class, whereas previously he had been branded as lazy by his German and Swiss teachers. Both Anna and Max thrive in adversity; the challenges they face force them to work determinedly, resulting in academic accolades.

Anna’s family must move again, from France to England, to try to make ends meet. Anna copes with the family’s constant displacement by drawing strength from their unity as a family. She is devastated at the prospect of being sent with Max to live with their Omama because, as she tells her parents, she “cannot bear for them to be separated” (179). Anna learns that wealth is unimportant compared to them staying together. She also learns that friendship is an important component of withstanding challenging times, as is illustrated in their friendship with the Fernands, which brings each family member comfort and joy in spite of difficult times: “[T]here was even less money to spend at Christmas than the previous year, but it was more fun because of the Fernands” (155, emphasis added).

The novel’s final scene echoes when the younger Anna originally fled Germany: “[T]here was something familiar about the situation—her tiredness, the sound of the train wheels, and the rain splattering on the windows” (188). The story comes full circle—the family moves on again, but this time with the confidence that they will succeed in spite of the inevitable challenges that life in England will present. They draw confidence from their previous successes, such as when Anna confidently predicts that they will learn English: “‘Can you understand what they’re saying?’ asked Anna. ‘Not a word,’ said Max. ‘A few months and we’ll be able to,’ said Anna’” (188). Kerr celebrates the traits of persistence and determination that can arise from The Challenges of the Refugee Experience, as these qualities empower Anna and her family to overcome all of their hardships together.