When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

"When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" is a children's novel, by Judith Kerr, first published in 1971. It is a semi-autobiographical story of a young Jewish girl who is forced to flee her home in Germany in 1933 with her family to escape the Nazis, who her father, a writer, had campaigned against. The family escaped through Switzerland, spent some time in Paris, before finally arriving in England in 1936. The book is often used in German schools as an introduction to the period in history.

It is based upon the early life of the author whose Jewish father, Alfred Kerr, was also wanted by the Nazis. The heroine, Anna, and her family, flee their home in Berlin via Switzerland to escape to Paris and then England.

Plot summary

Nine year-old Anna lives in Berlin, with her Papa, Mama, and brother Max. Papa is a Jewish writer, and the German elections of 1933 are quickly approaching. Her father goes to Switzerland, where he tries to establish a home for his family. The Saturday before Hitler is elected, Anna and her family travel to Switzerland, not bothering to wait for the election results. After an initial illness, Anna recovers and attends a local school, where she notices some odd characteristics among the children. Boys and girls do not mix at games, and when she demonstrates how to perform a cartwheel, six boys fall in love with her and demonstrate this by throwing rocks at her. Some German kids vacation in Switzerland, and Anna wants to play with them, but their parents are Nazis who will not permit their children to mess with unclean Jews. Another important character is Anna's father's good friend, the naturalist Uncle Julius, who believes that the Nazi regime will end abruptly.

Meanwhile, the family moves to Paris, where it is more likely that Papa will be able to publish his articles. The Swiss wish to remain neutral, and they obstinately refuse to print his material, especially after the Nazis burned all of Papa's books.

In France, Anna and Max learn to speak and read French, although Anna initially struggles to do so. Max is particularly anxious to not be singled out as different, and he studies hard, eventually becoming the best student in his class. After Anna becomes fluent in French, she passes a standard elementary school test for French 12 year-olds and wins a monetary prize for a composition she writes. Anna's best friend in France is a schoolmate, Colette.

Papa tells his kids about Napoleon's life, and he gets an idea of writing about Bonaparte's mother. He sends the script to two French filmmakers, but they return it speedily. He then sends it to a Hungarian film producer in England, who does not give happy news at first. However, on the day that they learn of Uncle Julius' death, they find out that a thousand pounds was offered up for the screenplay. Then Anna's family moves to London.

The title of the novel comes from Anna's favorite stuffed animal, Pink Rabbit, which she leaves behind in Berlin, taking along a stuffed dog instead. She imagines Hitler playing with her games compendium and playing with her Pink Rabbit.