That night, three Gestapo officers come to the Johansens' apartment to look for the Rosens. To stay safe, Ellen will pretend to be Annemarie’s sister. Papa explains that the Germans are starting to arrest the country’s Jews. Rosen have had to leave Copenhagen and Ellen will be staying with the Johansens. However, on the day of the Jewish New Year, Mama announces that Mr. Ellen is very excited about the Jewish New Year and everything seems to be back to normal. Kirsti throws a temper tantrum when Mama buys her shoes made of fish scales, but Ellen solves the problem by dying the shoes with black ink. Later that week, Annemarie, Ellen, and Kirsti play with paper dolls.

Hirsch and the Rosens, but the adults assure her that their friends will take care of them. Annemarie wonders what will happen to Mrs. Peter explains that life will only get harder for the Jews in Denmark. That night, Mama brings Annemarie into the living room to talk with Mr.

Upon hearing this, Mama becomes very worried. When they arrive, they find out that the Germans have closed Mrs. Hirsch, who owns a button-and-thread store. Mama sends Annemarie, Ellen, and Kirsti to visit Mrs. Despite the German occupation, most Danes are still steadfast in their loyalty to King Christian X and refuse to embrace the Nazi ideology.Ī few weeks later, one of the buttons on Kirsti’s jacket breaks. Her fiancé, Peter Neilsen, still visits the Johansens, although he is increasingly busy because of his role within the Danish Resistance. A few years ago, Annemarie’s older sister, Lise, was hit by a car and killed, only two weeks before her wedding. German soldiers patrol every corner of Copenhagen, and all Danes are coping with severe food and electricity shortages. Life has changed a great deal for the Johansens and the Rosens since the war started. They warn the girls against interacting with the soldiers.

Rosen are very upset to hear about their daughters' encounter with the Germans. The Germans question Annemarie about why she is running, but Kirsti manages to defuse the moment with her comically rude behavior. Annemarie and Ellen decide to race, but two German soldiers stop them on the corner near their apartment building. One day, Annemarie, Ellen, and Annemarie’s five-year-old sister Kirsti walk home from school. Nazi Germany has occupied their country for the past three years. In 1943, Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen are ten years old, growing up in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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