--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Did the Führer take her (mother) away?”…" description: "\"“Did the Führer take her (mother) away?” The question surprised them both, and it forced Papa to stand up. He looked at the brown-shirted men taking to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/mark-zusak-52263_parenting_did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the_1830966.jpg" --- # Did the Führer take her (mother) away?” The question… ![“Did the Führer take her (mother) away?” The question surprised them both, and it forced Papa to stand up. He looked at the brown-shirted men taking to the pile of ash with shovels. He could hear them hacking into it. Another lie was growing in his mouth, but he found it impossible to let it out…” quote by Mark Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/mark-zusak-52263_parenting_did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the_1830966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/mark-zusak-52263_parenting_did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the_1830966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/mark-zusak-52263_parenting_did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the_1830966.jpg) > ““Did the Führer take her (mother) away?” The question surprised them both, and it forced Papa to stand up. He looked at the brown-shirted men taking to the pile of ash with shovels. He could hear them hacking into it. Another lie was growing in his mouth, but he found it impossible to let it out. He said, “I think he might have, yes.” “I knew it.” The words were thrown at the steps and Liesel could feel the slush of anger, stirring hotly in her stomach. “I hate the Führer,” she said. “I hate him.” And Hans Hubermann? What did he do? What did he say? Did he bend down and embrace his foster daughter, as he wanted to? Did he tell her that he was sorry for what was happening to her, to her mother, for what had happened to her brother? Not exactly. He clenched his eyes. Then opened them. He slapped Liesel Meminger squarely in the face. “Don’t ever say that!” His voice was quiet, but sharp. As the girl shook and sagged on the steps, he sat next to her and held his face in his hands. It would be easy to say that he was just a tall man sitting poorpostured and shattered on some church steps, but he wasn’t. At the time, Liesel had no idea that her foster father, Hans Hubermann, was contemplating one of the most dangerous dilemmas a German citizen could face. Not only that, he’d been facing it for close to a year. “Papa?” The surprise in her voice rushed her, but it also rendered her useless. She wanted to run, but she couldn’t. She could take a Watschen from nuns and Rosas, but it hurt so much more from Papa. The hands were gone from Papa’s face now and he found the resolve to speak again. “You can say that in our house,” he said, looking gravely at Liesel’s cheek. “But you never say it on the street, at school, at the BDM, never!” He stood in front of her and lifted her by the triceps. He shook her. “Do you hear me?” With her eyes trapped wide open, Liesel nodded her compliance. It was, in fact, a rehearsal for a future lecture, when all of Hans Hubermann’s worst fears arrived on Himmel Street later that year, in the early hours of a November morning. “Good.” He placed her back down. “Now, let us try …” At the bottom of the steps, Papa stood erect and cocked his arm. Forty-five degrees. “Heil Hitler.” Liesel stood up and also raised her arm. With absolute misery, she repeated it. “Heil Hitler.” It was quite a sight—an eleven-year-old girl, trying not to cry on the church steps, saluting the Führer as the voices over Papa’s shoulder chopped and beat at the dark shape in the background.”” [Mark Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child confronts the harsh reality of war, questioning authority while a father protects her with harsh love and caution. **In simple terms:** A girl learns to balance truth and safety under oppression. Key Takeaway Speak truth wisely, protect loved ones. Themes war family authority survival morality Mood fearful tense reflective Type literary dialogue When to use this quote - family discussions - school environments - political oppression - personal safety - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts censorship courage protective discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect loved ones while staying true to ourselves? - When is silence a form of resistance? A Different Perspective Balancing honesty with safety can be impossible in extreme regimes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Liesel meminger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liesel-meminger/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [The-book-thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-book-thief/) ## Related quotes > [“He pushed his two feet together and shot his right arm in the air before clicking his two heels together and saying in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/he-pushed-his-two-feet-together-and-shot-his-right-arm-in-the-air/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I would gladly say 'Heil Hitler!' and at once part company with him, realizing what a pitiable insult it is to such a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-joyce/i-would-gladly-say-heil-hitler-and-at-once-part-company-with-him/) [William Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-joyce/) > [I say, Ich liebe Deutschland! Heil Hitler! and farewell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-joyce/i-say-ich-liebe-deutschland-heil-hitler-and-farewell/) [William Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-joyce/) > [“ Heil Hitler ," he said, which, he presumed, was another way of saying, "Well, goodbye for now, have a pleasant afternoon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/heil-hitler-he-said-which-he-presumed-was-another-way-of-saying-well/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [Goose pimples rose all over me, my hair stood on end, my eyes filled with tears of love and gratitude for this greatest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lincoln-rockwell/goose-pimples-rose-all-over-me-my-hair-stood-on-end-my-eyes-filled/) [George Lincoln Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lincoln-rockwell/) > [“Close to forty thousand Germans gathered in front of Berlin’s opera house on May 10, 1933, as a parade of swastika-wearing students and beer-hall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/close-to-forty-thousand-germans-gathered-in-front-of-berlin-s-opera/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [I had learned and written too much history not to know that the great masses always and at once respond to the force of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/i-had-learned-and-written-too-much-history-not-to-know-that-the-great/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“Heil Hitler to you too, Karl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horst-christian/heil-hitler-to-you-too-karl/) Horst Christian > [“Hessen? Dr. Mengele. Everything’s fine, there’s nothing to worry about. Exactly the amateur I expected. I don’t think he even understood German. Send the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-levin/hessen-dr-mengele-everything-s-fine-there-s-nothing-to-worry-about/) [Ira Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-levin/) > [“Heil Hitler, Y'all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-fraction/heil-hitler-y-all/) [Matt Fraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-fraction/) > [Politically popular speech has always been protected: even the Jews were free to say ‘Heil Hitler.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/politically-popular-speech-has-always-been-protected-even-the-jews/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“How many times did she have to say goodbye?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/how-many-times-did-she-have-to-say-goodbye/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [And I can promise you something, because it was a thing I saw many years later - a vision in the book thief herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/and-i-can-promise-you-something-because-it-was-a-thing-i-saw-many/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“The juggling comes to an end now, but the struggling does not. I have Liesel Meminger in one hand, Max Vandenburg in the other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/the-juggling-comes-to-an-end-now-but-the-struggling-does-not-i-have/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“You could argue that Liesel Meminger has it easy. She did have it easy compared to Max Vandenburg. Certainly, her brother practically died in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-could-argue-that-liesel-meminger-has-it-easy-she-did-have-it-easy/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More by Mark Zusak > [“In the kitchen on those mornings, Papa made the accordion live. I guess it makes sense, when you really think about it. How do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/in-the-kitchen-on-those-mornings-papa-made-the-accordion-live-i-guess/) [mark zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) > [“Because the world does not deserve them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/because-the-world-does-not-deserve-them/) [mark zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) > [“I walked in, loosened his soul, and carried it gently away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/i-walked-in-loosened-his-soul-and-carried-it-gently-away/) [mark zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) > [“I climbed aboard and took it in my hand, not realizing that I would keep it and view it several thousand times over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/i-climbed-aboard-and-took-it-in-my-hand-not-realizing-that-i-would/) [Mark Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) > [“Yes, often, I am reminded of her, and in one of my vast array of pockets, I have kept her story to retell. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/yes-often-i-am-reminded-of-her-and-in-one-of-my-vast-array-of-pockets/) [Mark Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) > [“I saw the book thief three times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/i-saw-the-book-thief-three-times/) [mark zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) [Explore all 7 Mark Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zusak/) ## More Liesel meminger quotes > [“You could argue that Liesel Meminger has it easy. She did have it easy compared to Max Vandenburg. Certainly, her brother practically died in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-could-argue-that-liesel-meminger-has-it-easy-she-did-have-it-easy/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“The juggling comes to an end now, but the struggling does not. 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But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/yes-i-have-seen-a-great-many-things-in-this-world-i-attend-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Quise decirle muchas cosas a la ladrona de libros, sobre la belleza y la crueldad, pero ¿qué podía contarle sobre todo eso que ella…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/quise-decirle-muchas-cosas-a-la-ladrona-de-libros-sobre-la-belleza-y/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“He odiado las palabras y las he amado, y espero haber estado a su altura.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/he-odiado-las-palabras-y-las-he-amado-y-espero-haber-estado-a-su/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“As it turned out, Ilsa Hermann not only gave Liesel Meminger a book that day. She also gave her a reason to spend time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/as-it-turned-out-ilsa-hermann-not-only-gave-liesel-meminger-a-book/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right. - Liesel Meminger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-have-hated-the-words-and-i-have-loved-them-and-i-hope-i-have-made/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“At this point, I couldn't help it. I walked around to see her better, and from the moment I witnessed her face again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/at-this-point-i-couldn-t-help-it-i-walked-around-to-see-her-better/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-wanted-to-tell-the-book-thief-many-things-about-beauty-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-wanted-to-ask-her-how-the-same-thing-could-be-so-ugly-and-so-2/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [After another ten minutes, the gates of thievery would open just a crack, and Liesel Meminger would widen them a little further and squeeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/after-another-ten-minutes-the-gates-of-thievery-would-open-just-a/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“He didn't deserve to die the way he did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/he-didn-t-deserve-to-die-the-way-he-did/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Jesus, Mary …” She said it out loud, the words distributed into a room that was full of cold air and books. Books everywhere!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/jesus-mary-she-said-it-out-loud-the-words-distributed-into-a-room/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Browse all 23 Liesel meminger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liesel-meminger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Did the Führer take her (mother) away?” The question surprised them both, and it forced Papa to stand up. He looked at the brown-shirted men taking to the pile of ash with shovels. He could hear them hacking into it. Another lie was growing in his mouth, but he found it impossible to let it out. He said, “I think he might have, yes.” “I knew it.” The words were thrown at the steps and Liesel could feel the slush of anger, stirring hotly in her stomach. “I hate the Führer,” she said. “I hate him.” And Hans Hubermann? What did he do? What did he say? Did he bend down and embrace his foster daughter, as he wanted to? Did he tell her that he was sorry for what was happening to her, to her mother, for what had happened to her brother? Not exactly. He clenched his eyes. Then opened them. He slapped Liesel Meminger squarely in the face. “Don’t ever say that!” His voice was quiet, but sharp. As the girl shook and sagged on the steps, he sat next to her and held his face in his hands. It would be easy to say that he was just a tall man sitting poorpostured and shattered on some church steps, but he wasn’t. At the time, Liesel had no idea that her foster father, Hans Hubermann, was contemplating one of the most dangerous dilemmas a German citizen could face. Not only that, he’d been facing it for close to a year. “Papa?” The surprise in her voice rushed her, but it also rendered her useless. She wanted to run, but she couldn’t. She could take a Watschen from nuns and Rosas, but it hurt so much more from Papa. The hands were gone from Papa’s face now and he found the resolve to speak again. “You can say that in our house,” he said, looking gravely at Liesel’s cheek. “But you never say it on the street, at school, at the BDM, never!” He stood in front of her and lifted her by the triceps. He shook her. “Do you hear me?” With her eyes trapped wide open, Liesel nodded her compliance. It was, in fact, a rehearsal for a future lecture, when all of Hans Hubermann’s worst fears arrived on Himmel Street later that year, in the early hours of a November morning. “Good.” He placed her back down. “Now, let us try …” At the bottom of the steps, Papa stood erect and cocked his arm. Forty-five degrees. “Heil Hitler.” Liesel stood up and also raised her arm. With absolute misery, she repeated it. “Heil Hitler.” It was quite a sight—an eleven-year-old girl, trying not to cry on the church steps, saluting the Führer as the voices over Papa’s shoulder chopped and beat at the dark shape in the background.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Zusak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the-question-surprised-them-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Liesel meminger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zusak/did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the-question-surprised-them-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/mark-zusak-52263_parenting_did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the_1830966.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/mark-zusak-52263_parenting_did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the_1830966.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/mark-zusak-52263_parenting_did-the-f-hrer-take-her-mother-away-the_1830966.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Did the Führer take her (mother) away?” The question surprised them both, and it forced Papa to stand up. 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