Child Nazi

by Andreas Okopenko, Mike Mitchell (Translator)

Okopenko's portrayal of a young boy during the Hitler years begins at the end, with the collapse of the Nazi Reich, then works its way back to 1939. Told from the child's perspective, it paints a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up in a state where almost everything was seen in terms of National Socialist ideology. The basic mode of realistic narration is enriched with a wide variety of stylistic devices, ranging from diary entries, school essays, lists and dramatised dialogue to abrupt switches of perspective and poetic evocations of mood. The inclusion of a large number of authentic 'objects' -- for example, songs, jokes, posters and slogans -- helps to give the reader the flavour of the period. 'Child Nazi' is about childhood and adolescence, but it is also about childhood and adolescence at a time when even the most personal thoughts and feelings were manipulated by the ruling system to bind the rising generation to Nazism and its leaders.

Genres: History

139 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Andreas Okopenko was an Austrian writer.

Andreas Okopenko's father was a Ukrainian physician and his mother was Austrian. From 1939, the family lived in Vienna. After studying chemistry at the University of Vienna Okopenko was active in the industry. Starting from 1950 he dedicated himself increasingly to the literature. From 1951 to 1953, he created a literature magazine, in which he published numerous member of the Austrian avant-garde of that time. From 1968 until his death he lived as a free writer in Vienna.

Okopenko was, from 1973 to 1985, a member of the Grazer author meeting and from 1999 until his death he was a member of the Austrian art senate.