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Anne Marie and Ellen Are Caught Running
Ellen and Anne Marie race home from school, only to attract the attention of two German soldiers. They are frightened and scolded, then quickly continue home. They are told by their mothers to go another way to school from now on so they do not become recognizable to the soldiers. -
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Number the Stars
Number the Stars is a historical fiction book about Anne Marie, a young Danish girl whose entire family risks their lives to help save Danish Jews from Nazi captivity. The main themes of the book include bravery, patriotism, friendship, and sacrifice. -
The Jewish New Year
Danish politicians were warned that the Nazis were planning to capture and move all the Jews in Denmark to concentration camps on the Jewish New Year. The local rabbis were told of this plan, and they in turn warned their congregations. They immediately went into hiding. Anne Marie's family took in Ellen, a Jew, and pretended that she was their eldest daughter, Lise.
https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/culture/rosh-hashanah-1943 -
The Journey to Uncle Henrik's House
Anne Marie's parents decide that mother should take the three girls to Uncle Henrik's house on the coast. Father stays home so the Nazi's aren't suspicious. On the train, a Nazi soldier tries to trick them into revealing that they are Jewish, but Mother pretends she is confused because it is only October, not yet time for celebrating the New Year. -
Escape
Uncle Henrik pretends to have a viewing at his house for an imaginary "Great Aunt Bertie". He brings many Jews from Copenhagen to his house that night. When Nazi soldiers arrive to question the movement of the people, they use the viewing as an excuse. The soldiers leave, and the Jews split into two groups. The first group makes their way with Peter to Uncle Henrik's boat, followed by the second group with Mother. They all make it safely, though mother breaks her ankle. -
Anne Marie, the Handkerchief, and Freedom
Anne Marie discovers that Mr. Rosen dropped the secret package he was supposed to take to Uncle Henrik. Because Mother's ankle is broken, Anne Marie decides to take the package herself in a lunch basket. Nazis find her and search her basket, finding a handkerchief within the secret package. She is allowed to go and she gives the package to Henrik. The handkerchief ruined the dogs' sense of smell so the Jews hiding in his boat would not be found. They all made it safely to Sweden.
