History and Geography
The Book Thief takes place in the fictional town of Molching, Germany which is outside the non-fictional town of Munich, Germany. Molching is on the way to the concentration camp of Dachau. It takes place on Himmel Street where the Hubermanns and Steiners live. Nazi Germany in which the book takes place, was created in 1933 after Hitler came to power and was dissolved in 1945 after Germany was defeated in WWII. It was allied with Italy and Japan. Hitler's goal was to create an all aryan world full of people with blonde hair and blue eyes. Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. Britain and France then declared war shortly after. Germany quickly took over most of Europe, quickly defeating France in June of 1940 and leaving Britain fighting alone until the Soviet Union was invaded by Germany in June 1941. Later in December of 1941 America joined in the war against Germany, Japan, and Italy. Munich, the city which the story takes place is the capital city of the German state of Bavaria. The book takes place on 33 Himmel Street which is fictional and follows Liesel who comes and lives with the Hubermanns. Also the Dachau concentration camp is near the town, although the book never enters Dachau, it is an important part of the setting along with Munich and Himmel Street.