Summary Of On Hitler's Mountain

On Hitler's Mountain Simple, engaging, and compelling; for many people, these words are an excellent way to describe Irmgard A. Hunt’s childhood and family history. In her nonfiction book, On Hitler’s Mountain: Overcoming the Legacy of a Nazi Childhood, the author gives us an accurate account of German society before, during, and after the reign of one of the most evil men who ever lived. Throughout the book, the author defines who the German people were, their beliefs, and actions through the eyes of her family. Some of the most striking elements, however, are the portrayals of the common folk as being more humane than the dictatorial regime that so defined them. With an unfettered hand, and an original approach to one of the world’s most
Weihnact (holy night) became Julfest (Yuletide), and Santa Claus was to be replaced by Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) (44). Many new holiday songs that the Nazis thought up were emphasized to glorify German Culture such as motherhood, instead of Christianity (47). The author tries to portray these events as an attempt by the Nazi regime to remove tradition and put a new Germanic-centered culture in its place. Later, when Vati decided to place a swastika flag over their entryway, it almost seems as if Nazism had finally manage to sweep into the author’s home (52). Hunt frequently had friends who came over and played with her. One such friend’s name was Ruthchen (little Ruth). Peculiarly, one day, Ruth’s name was changed to Ingrid, since, Matti explained, “[r]uth is a Jewish name.” Ingrid’s father was to join the border police, so he needed to do such an action (55). This little snippet in Hunt’s life is a clear indication that Nazism’s Anti-Semitism had come into her family’s lives, as well as society. In some ways, Nazism had caused blind fervor in the lives of the adults around Hunt, while she herself was blinded by
One way he did this was through children. In the book, Hunt describes how her teacher Fraulein Stohr, a fanatical Nazi forced her to tell everyone in her class “…how proud [she] was that [her] father had given his life for the fuhrer.” (111). This time in her life was already emotionally stressful, and being forced to do this action just made things worse. Her teacher frequently brought up important events such as this as well as “…Hitler’s birthday, good or bad news from the front, or the visit of a prominent local Nazi to indoctrinate us” (118). Hunt was also involved with the Hitler Youth explaining that she wanted to do so because of so many girls in her class being involved with said group (171). Many of the activities in the Hitler Youth were reminiscent of the girl scouts and included such activities as hiking and sports competitions (173). Eventually she grew bored with this group, not liking the militaristic aspect of it (189). These indoctrinations through school helped give a different perspective of Nazism, and in many ways shaped her as a human