The Complexities of Friedrich

By Monica Granlove

Friedrich emerged as a multifaceted character in the novel The Electrician and The Seamstress, profoundly affected by the tumultuous backdrop of World War I. The war instilled in him a profound fear for the safety of his family. After World War I, like many Germans, felt adrift and needed a strong leader along with a sense of belonging. Entranced by Hitler's persuasive speeches, Friedrich initially believed that Germany needed transformative change to avert future conflicts. Casting his vote for the Nazis, he forged connections with officers within the Nazi regime, driven by a genuine desire to shield his daughters from harm.

However, as the Nazis ascended to power, disseminating their propaganda, Friedrich's convictions wavered. The very ideology he supported began to unravel before his eyes, prompting him to question the principles he once embraced. Yet, by the time he contemplated dissent, the consequences were severe. The Nazi regime demanded unwavering support, and any hint of opposition led to imprisonment, forced labor, or worse, not just for the dissenter but for their families.

With the German invasion of Poland and the declaration of war, Friedrich faced the harsh reality of his misplaced allegiance to Hitler and the Nazis. Deep regret settled in as he grappled with the ramifications of his earlier choices. In subtle acts of rebellion, he confronted his own daughter who berated his son-in-law's Jewish friends, asserting a moral stand against the bigotry infiltrating his community.

Simultaneously, Friedrich stretched beyond his comfort zone, tending to his young grandchildren and actively shielding the Jewish family from the oppressive regime. In parallel, his daughter and new son-in-law navigated the precarious balance between their moral convictions of treating everyone with respect regardless of their station in life or their religion and the stringent expectations imposed by the Nazi regime as they expanded their family.

The narrative unfolds in the novel The Electrician and The Seamstress with Friedrich's internal struggles against the backdrop of a society caught between the powerful sway of an authoritarian regime and the moral imperatives that sought to resist it.