Hitler's Daughter

In the story’s climax, the setting shifts from the quiet, isolated life Heidi once knew to the chaos and terror of Berlin during wartime. As Heidi and Fraulein Gelber flee once more, the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense, and it is less and less certain that Heidi will survive. The description of the bunker contrasts with the brightness and beauty Heidi tries to imagine above ground and the innocent days walking past the woods she used to know. The clear difference between the world Heidi knows and the violence surrounding her increases her fear, and the suspense continues to build.

One powerful image in the bunker scene is when Hitler smiles at Heidi, looking stressed and exhausted. Despite his visible malaise, Heidi imagines that his smile reflects his love for her. This portrait of Hitler as a father figure contrasts with his brutal actions as a dictator. Heidi still loves her father and looks for a sign of his humanity. Instead, Hitler looks at her as though he has never seen her before and orders her to be removed from the bunker. This act of total betrayal is devastating for Heidi at first but turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to her, as she is adopted. Heidi’s journey at the novel’s end reflects Awakening to the Horrors of the World: “With every inch she crawled it seemed she left her old life behind. It was burnt out of her by the shells and smoke and fire” (125). This demonstrates how Heidi leaves the violence she witnessed and the lack of care she experienced in her past life behind to start her future.  

Mark experiences the same awakening but through the vehicle of the story, rather than experiencing these tragedies directly. The theme of Storytelling as a Means of Understanding the Past becomes more prominent as the story concludes. Anna’s storytelling not only provides Mark with a sense of connection to history but also allows him to engage with it on an emotional level. Through the shared act of storytelling, Mark can confront the painful truths of history and how the past affects individuals’ perceptions and actions in the present, something that solidifies The Importance of Questioning for him.

French’s use of imagery and vivid description continues to deepen the narrative. In Chapter 16, the moonlight is described as “blacker than the moonlit darkness” (114), symbolizing the despair and uncertainty that surrounds Heidi as she finds herself caught in the wreckage of war. The world outside the bunker is described in grim detail, painting a picture of devastation and despair: “The air was full of a new sound, a high-pitched squeaking rolling, and the yellow light of flames” (126). The physical destruction mirrors Heidi’s psychological and emotional turmoil. The gruesome scene when Heidi is ushered outside and witnesses a soldier’s arm being blown off further emphasizes the brutality of war and the point of no return for her awakening.

When Heidi is rescued, the suspense that has built throughout the book finally releases, giving way to a twist ending: Anna, the storyteller, suggests that her grandmother might have been Hitler’s daughter. Mark is the only one who seems to realize that Anna’s knowledge of the time period and her ability to speak some German are connected to a deeper, personal history. Anna’s statement that Hitler’s daughter shared her story with her just before she died adds mystery to the story’s conclusion. Heidi, in her own way, desired to create a legacy separate from her father, refusing to be defined solely by her association with Hitler. Anna reflects this desire, as she is empathetic, kind, and wise.