41 pages 1 hour read

Hitler's Daughter

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1999

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Symbols & Motifs

The Nazi Regime

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of religious discrimination, antisemitism, graphic violence, emotional abuse, and racism.

In Hitler’s Daughter, the Nazi regime is a motif that supports The Importance of Questioning. The narrative depicts the Nazi regime as a system whose aim was to create a “perfect” Aryan race, valuing conformity and targeting anyone who did not fit the ideal. Heidi, the protagonist, was born with a red birthmark and a limp, traits that were considered worthy of rejection by Nazis. Her existence is in direct contrast with the regime’s ideals, which is why she often feels like she hardly exists at all. Characters like Frau Mundt and Frau Leib represent the influence of Nazi ideology on everyday people, with Frau Mundt sharing a story about Hitler’s rise to power and explaining how the German people were vulnerable to his manipulation due to the economic crisis following World War I. Heidi is taught that Jewish people are “different” and “deserve” their fate, but she demonstrates The Importance of Questioning by refusing to just accept what she is told as fact. The blurred text
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