Chapter 10
November 1894
Hate
The room was filled with wooden desks arranged in three precisely regimented double rows facing the wall-to-wall blackboard at the front of the room. Albert made his way to a seat at the end of one of the rows. Dropping his books on the desk, he searched for Johann. He was surprised to see his friend sitting next to Werner von Wiesel. When Johann glanced up, Albert gestured for his friend to sit next to him. Johann shook his head and looked down, unable to meet Albert’s eyes. Puzzled, Albert shrugged and sat as a blond boy took what was to have been Johann’s seat.
His back to the class, the teacher, Herr Hamlin, spoke while he wrote on the blackboard, “What... does it... mean... to be... German?” Dressed in a simple, dark-green wool suit, the tall, white-h
