Arrival of the Enemy

In the small Arkansas town of Jenkinsville during World War II, the arrival of German prisoners of war stirs up excitement and suspicion. Twelve-year-old Patty Bergen, a Jewish girl, watches as the townspeople gather to witness the spectacle, their patriotism tinged with fear and prejudice. The prisoners, young and unthreatening, are marched to a nearby camp, but the event plants the seeds for a story that will challenge the boundaries of loyalty, identity, and compassion in a divided community.

Jenkinsville's Unlikely Friendship

Patty, feeling isolated in her own family and community, encounters Anton Reiker, a German POW with perfect English and a gentle manner. Their brief interaction in her family's store—where Anton buys pencils and a gaudy pin—sparks a sense of kinship. Patty is drawn to Anton's intelligence and kindness, which stand in stark contrast to the cruelty and indifference she experiences at home. This meeting sets the stage for a secret friendship that will test Patty's courage and values.

Family Tensions and Secrets

Patty's family life is marked by emotional neglect and abuse. Her father is volatile and violent, her mother cold and critical, and her younger sister Sharon is the favored child. The only warmth Patty receives comes from Ruth, the family's Black housekeeper, who offers unconditional love and wisdom. Patty's longing for acceptance and understanding makes her vulnerable, and her sense of self-worth is constantly undermined by her parents' expectations and the town's narrow-mindedness.

The Prisoner in the Store

When the German POWs are brought to the Bergen store to buy hats, Anton stands out for his politeness and intelligence. Patty is captivated by his story—his English mother, his academic father, his own interrupted medical studies. She realizes that Anton is not the monster the town imagines, but a young man caught in circumstances beyond his control. This recognition deepens Patty's empathy and sets her apart from her peers, who view the prisoners with suspicion and hatred.

A Dangerous Kindness

After Anton escapes from the POW camp, Patty discovers him hiding near her home. Driven by compassion and a sense of connection, she decides to shelter him in the abandoned rooms above her family's garage. She brings him food, books, and news, risking her safety and reputation. Their secret friendship blossoms into a bond that gives Patty a sense of purpose and value, even as the danger of discovery looms ever larger.

Ruth's Wisdom, Patty's Pain

Ruth becomes Patty's confidante and protector, offering advice and comfort as Patty navigates the perils of hiding Anton. Meanwhile, Patty's father's abuse intensifies, culminating in a brutal beating when he suspects her of wrongdoing. Ruth's steadfast support is a lifeline for Patty, who struggles to reconcile her loyalty to Anton with her fear of her father and the expectations of her community.

Anton's Escape

Anton shares his story with Patty: his opposition to the Nazi regime, his family's suffering, and the clever ruse that enabled his escape. He uses a fake diamond pin to bribe a guard, exploiting the guard's greed and the chaos of war. Anton's vulnerability and honesty deepen Patty's feelings for him, and she becomes determined to help him survive, even as the FBI and townspeople intensify their search.

Hiding Above the Garage

The rooms above the garage become a sanctuary for Anton and Patty, a place where they can share ideas, dreams, and fears. Patty brings Anton her father's fine shirt, symbolizing her willingness to give up what little she has for someone she cares about. Their conversations about philosophy, history, and hope give Patty a sense of agency and self-worth, challenging the limitations imposed by her family and society.

The Town Turns Hostile

As news of Anton's escape spreads, Jenkinsville becomes a hotbed of suspicion and paranoia. The FBI arrives, and Patty is questioned about her interactions with the POWs. The town's latent anti-Semitism and xenophobia surface, and Patty becomes a target of gossip and hostility. Her father's anger and violence escalate, and even her small acts of kindness are twisted into evidence of betrayal.

Divided Loyalties

Patty faces an impossible choice: protect Anton and risk everything, or betray him to gain her father's approval and the town's acceptance. Her longing for love and belonging is pitted against her sense of justice and compassion. Ultimately, Patty chooses to help Anton, even as she realizes that this decision will isolate her further from her family and community.

The Ring of Value

Before Anton leaves to attempt his escape to freedom, he gives Patty a family heirloom—a gold ring with a crest—telling her she is a person of value. This gesture affirms Patty's worth and gives her a tangible reminder of their bond. The ring becomes a symbol of love, sacrifice, and the possibility of being seen and cherished for who she truly is.

Betrayal and Beatings

Patty's father discovers the ring and, suspecting her of immoral behavior, beats her and calls the authorities. The town turns against Patty, branding her a traitor and a "Jew Nazi." She is interrogated by the FBI, who use her own words and gifts to Anton as evidence against her. Patty's isolation is complete, and she is left to face the consequences of her compassion alone.

FBI and Falsehoods

Under pressure from the FBI and her father, Patty weaves a web of lies to protect Anton and herself. Despite her efforts, the authorities track Anton to New York, where he is shot and killed while trying to escape. Patty is devastated by his death, and the ring he gave her becomes both a comfort and a reminder of all she has lost.

Ruth Discovers the Truth

Ruth, ever perceptive, uncovers the truth about Anton and Patty's role in his escape. Instead of condemning her, Ruth offers understanding and love, affirming Patty's goodness and the righteousness of her actions. Ruth's support helps Patty begin to heal, even as she faces punishment and exile from her home.

The Last Goodbye

After being sent to a reformatory, Patty receives a visit from Ruth, who brings her food, comfort, and the ring she thought she had lost. Their farewell is bittersweet, but Ruth's faith in Patty's future gives her hope. Ruth encourages Patty to pursue her dreams and assures her that she is loved, no matter what others say.

Anton's Fate

Patty learns of Anton's death at the hands of the authorities. The loss is shattering, but it also marks a turning point. Patty realizes that her love and courage, though costly, were not in vain. Anton's memory and the lessons he taught her become a source of strength as she faces an uncertain future.

The Cost of Compassion

Branded a traitor and sent away from home, Patty reflects on the price of compassion in a world ruled by fear and conformity. The town's hostility and her family's rejection are painful, but Patty clings to the knowledge that she acted out of love and integrity. Her punishment becomes a crucible in which her sense of self is forged.

Exile and Reflection

In the reformatory, Patty finds solace in memories of Anton and the support of Ruth and a sympathetic reporter, Charlene Madlee. She dreams of a future where she can be free to love, learn, and be herself. The ring on her finger is a constant reminder that she is a person of value, capable of rising above the cruelty and ignorance of her past.

Characters

Patty Bergen

Patty is a twelve-year-old Jewish girl growing up in a small, prejudiced Arkansas town during World War II. Neglected and abused by her parents, she is desperate for love and validation. Patty's intelligence, curiosity, and empathy set her apart, but also make her a target for ridicule and violence. Her relationship with Anton, the escaped German POW, becomes a lifeline, giving her a sense of worth and purpose. Patty's journey is one of painful self-discovery, as she learns to value herself despite rejection and punishment. Her psychological complexity lies in her simultaneous longing for acceptance and her willingness to defy authority for the sake of compassion.

Anton Reiker

Anton is a young German POW with an English mother and an academic background. Unlike the stereotypical Nazi, Anton is thoughtful, kind, and opposed to the regime he was forced to serve. His intelligence and humanity draw Patty to him, and he becomes both a friend and a symbol of the world beyond Jenkinsville. Anton's vulnerability and courage inspire Patty, but his fate is ultimately tragic. His gift of the family ring to Patty is both a token of love and a lesson in self-worth.

Ruth Hughes

Ruth is the Bergen family's Black housekeeper, but to Patty she is a surrogate mother and the only source of unconditional love. Ruth's wisdom, humor, and resilience provide Patty with guidance and comfort. She recognizes Patty's goodness and supports her even when it means risking her own safety. Ruth's own experiences with racism and hardship deepen her empathy, and her faith in Patty's future is a crucial force in the girl's survival and growth.

Harry Bergen

Patty's father is a volatile and violent man, whose own feelings of inadequacy and resentment are projected onto his daughter. He is obsessed with appearances and control, and his inability to express love or vulnerability leads to repeated acts of cruelty. Harry's relationship with Patty is a study in the destructive power of unmet needs and generational trauma.

Pearl Bergen

Patty's mother is preoccupied with social status and outward appearances. She favors Patty's younger sister and is critical of Patty's looks and behavior. Pearl's inability to offer warmth or understanding exacerbates Patty's sense of isolation. Her character reflects the limitations placed on women of her era, as well as the corrosive effects of internalized prejudice and disappointment.

Sharon Bergen

Sharon is Patty's younger sister, adored by their parents for her beauty and sweetness. She is largely unaware of Patty's suffering and serves as a foil to Patty's outsider status. Sharon's innocence highlights the arbitrary nature of familial love and the pain of being the "unwanted" child.

Charlene Madlee

Charlene is a reporter from Memphis who befriends Patty and encourages her intellectual ambitions. She represents the possibility of a life beyond Jenkinsville and offers Patty a vision of female independence and achievement. Charlene's support is instrumental in helping Patty imagine a future for herself.

Sister Parker

A clerk in the Bergen store, Sister Parker is a minor but significant character who observes Patty's struggles and occasionally offers support. Her presence underscores the social dynamics of the town and the limited avenues for female solidarity.

Freddy Dowd

Freddy is a poor local boy and one of Patty's few friends. His own outsider status and loyalty to Patty provide her with moments of companionship and acceptance, though he is ultimately unable to understand the depth of her struggles.

Anton's Family (Offstage)

Though never seen, Anton's family—his academic father and English mother—represent the world of culture, learning, and possibility that Anton and Patty both yearn for. Their absence is a reminder of what war and prejudice destroy.

Plot Devices

Dual Outsider Perspective

The novel's central device is the connection between two outsiders—Patty, a Jewish girl in the South, and Anton, a German POW. Their friendship allows the narrative to explore themes of prejudice, identity, and empathy from both sides of the war. This dual outsider perspective exposes the arbitrary nature of hatred and the universality of longing for acceptance.

Symbolism of the Ring

Anton's gift of the family ring to Patty is a powerful symbol of self-worth, love, and the possibility of redemption. The ring's journey—from Anton's family, to Patty, to being lost and found—mirrors Patty's own search for meaning and belonging. It serves as a tangible reminder of the transformative power of kindness.

Foreshadowing and Irony

The narrative is laced with foreshadowing, as Patty's acts of kindness are repeatedly met with suspicion and punishment. The irony of a Jewish girl being accused of aiding a Nazi, and the town's Christian values being expressed through cruelty, underscores the novel's critique of hypocrisy and moral blindness.

First-Person Intimacy

Told in Patty's first-person voice, the story immerses the reader in her psychological landscape. Her candid reflections, self-doubt, and moments of hope create an intimate portrait of a young girl coming of age in a hostile world. The narrative structure allows for both immediacy and retrospective wisdom.

Social and Historical Context

The setting of Jenkinsville, with its racial and religious prejudices, is not just a backdrop but an active force shaping the characters' choices. The wartime context heightens suspicion and conformity, making acts of compassion both dangerous and revolutionary.

Analysis

Summer of My German Soldier is a searing exploration of what it means to be an outsider in a world ruled by fear and conformity. Through Patty's journey—from neglected child to courageous friend—the novel interrogates the boundaries of loyalty, the meaning of family, and the transformative power of empathy. Greene's narrative exposes the hypocrisy of a society that preaches Christian values while practicing exclusion and violence, and it challenges readers to consider the true cost of compassion in a world that punishes difference. The story's enduring lesson is that acts of kindness, though often costly, are the seeds of hope and change. Patty's final realization—that she is a person of value, capable of love and worthy of being loved—offers a quiet but profound resistance to the forces that seek to diminish her. In a time when questions of identity, belonging, and moral courage remain urgent, Greene's novel continues to resonate as a call to see the humanity in others—and in ourselves.

Last updated: May 15, 2025