In 33 Place Brugmann, Alice Austen dismantles the notion that passivity during wartime is a neutral stance. The novel argues that even minor acts of self-interest and quiet cooperation with an occupying force are essential components that enable systemic atrocity. Through the residents of a single Brussels apartment building and their acquaintances, the narrative reveals how small, individual choices, like profiting from a neighbor’s misfortune, enforcing petty rules, or trading information for favor, collectively build the infrastructure of persecution. The story demonstrates that in a time of moral crisis, there is no middle ground; every action either resists or enables the encroaching darkness.

The most common form of complicity is economic opportunism, which corrodes the bonds of community. Smets, the local grocer, consistently attempts to short Charlotte Sauvin on her rations and shows deference to Nazi officers, prioritizing his own small gains over his lifelong neighbors. His maliciousness illustrates how the occupation empowers petty tyrants to weaponize their minor authority. A more sophisticated version of this opportunism is seen in the art dealer Mats, who tries to exploit Leo Raphaël’s precarious position as a Jewish dealer by offering to “front” his business. Mats presents his proposal as a realistic adaptation to the times, but Leo recognizes it as a predatory attempt to profit from antisemitic policies. Both Smets and Mats choose personal advantage over loyalty and decency, their actions serving as microcosms of the broader societal breakdown, where self-interest becomes a quiet form of collaboration.

Beyond financial gain, the novel explores how the manipulation of information becomes a critical tool of oppression. Miss Hobert cloaks her invasive curiosity in the language of truth and order. Her tendency to eavesdrop and report “irregularities,” such as hearing voices in Colonel Warlemont’s apartment, directly leads to Gestapo searches and places her neighbors in mortal danger. Though she may not see herself as a Nazi sympathizer, her actions make her an agent for the regime. Similarly, the building’s notary, Jan Everard, receives a “Christmas bonus” for informing the authorities about the potential hidden value of the Raphaëls’ empty apartment. His betrayal is a calculated transaction, trading his knowledge of his former neighbors for financial reward. In both cases, information is a currency used to purchase security or advantage at the expense of others, demonstrating how easily personal grievances and greed can be co-opted by a totalitarian state.

Ultimately, these isolated acts of complicity are shown to be interconnected, forming a web that supports the occupation. The grocer who favors a soldier, the informant who reports a neighbor, and the professional who exploits a colleague all contribute to an environment where persecution can flourish. The novel powerfully argues that the great evils of history are facilitated by the countless ordinary people who choose to look away or, worse, to quietly benefit from the suffering of others.