Puppilein

About this book

A historical novel narrated by Clara, nicknamed 'Puppilein' (little doll), who turns five in Munich on February 28, 1933 — the day after the Reichstag fire pushes Adolf Hitler toward full power. Framed as a letter to a 'Doktor' looking back roughly a decade later, the novel follows Clara's family through Germany's collapse into dictatorship. Author Maureen J. Olson drew on her mother's, grandfather's, and aunt's experiences during World War II, and includes a historical note on Weimar-era Germany's civil-rights record and the Reichstag Fire Decree that ended it.