Bruno’s New Home
Moving to Auchviz
Bruno, a nine-year-old boy, lived in Berlin with his parents and his sister, Gretel. One day, Bruno discovered that their maid, Maria, was packing her belongings. Bruno’s mother explained that they were moving because of his father’s important work. Bruno’s father was a high-ranking Nazi officer, but Bruno didn’t fully understand his father’s role. Bruno was upset about leaving his school, home, and friends, but his mother insisted they had to move.
When they arrived at their new home in Auchviz, Bruno was shocked. The house was small and ugly, located in a desolate area with no other houses nearby. Bruno reluctantly unpacked his belongings in his new room. He heard a man upstairs and assumed it was his father, but it was a younger soldier in a similar uniform. Maria explained that he was one of his father’s soldiers.
Bruno missed his friends in Berlin and found his new surroundings unpleasant. Gretel tried to explain that the people who lived in Auchviz before them had lost their jobs and were forced to leave. She also mentioned that the people who lived on the other side of the fence were Jews.
Meeting Shmuel
One day, while exploring near the fence, Bruno encountered a young boy named Shmuel. Shmuel was wearing striped pajamas and had a sad expression on his face. He was barefoot and wore a bracelet with a Star of David. Bruno learned that Shmuel was from Poland and was also missing his friends. Bruno felt envious of Shmuel because he had friends, even though they were on the other side of the fence.
Life at Auchviz
Bruno’s father hosted a dinner for other Nazi officers, whom Bruno referred to as the “Furies.” Bruno overheard his father talking about important plans for Auchviz. Later, Bruno’s parents argued, and Bruno was sent to bed. Bruno continued to visit Shmuel every day, bringing him food. Bruno learned from Gretel that the people on the other side of the fence were Jews and that they were different from them.
Bruno contracted lice from spending time with Shmuel, and his father decided to shave his head. Bruno noticed that he looked like Shmuel, but fatter. Bruno’s father eventually realized that Auchviz was not a good place to raise children and decided they should return to Berlin.
A Fateful Decision
Bruno told Shmuel about their plans to return to Berlin, and Shmuel was saddened. Bruno expressed his desire to play with Shmuel and see where he lived. Shmuel suggested that Bruno could come over if he wore striped pajamas like his. Bruno agreed to the plan.
On Friday, Bruno went to the fence, changed into the striped pajamas Shmuel had provided, and went inside the camp. Bruno expected to see happy families, but he was met with a grim reality. The houses were dilapidated, the children weren’t playing, and groups of sad people stared at the ground. Bruno wanted to leave, but a whistle blew, and soldiers surrounded the camp. Shmuel told Bruno that they were organizing marches. Bruno worried about catching a cold if the marches lasted too long.
Bruno and Shmuel tried to avoid being seen by the soldiers. They entered a crowded room that seemed airtight. Suddenly, the lights went out, and chaos erupted. The story ends abruptly, leaving the reader to infer the tragic fate that befell Bruno and Shmuel in the gas chamber.