‘A world which will one day be ruled by you, my German youth.’ And he points at the formation of HJ boys.

He is a magnet, impossible to resist, pulling me towards him. When he finally finishes his speech, my eyes are filled with tears.

We stand together, we Germans.

Us against the world.

I am floating. High above the platform and the crowds. High over Augustusplatz and the great city of Leipzig. High over Germany itself. Higher and higher until I can see the great planet Earth as God sees it, spinning through space and time amongst the planets around the sun, and there, in the centre of it all, this blessed land, with its swathes of deep forests, rich farmland and lakes teeming with fish, its factories and coal mines and its army. I can see its people: good, honest and hardworking; cruelly downtrodden for so long, rising together and turning to face the outside world. To show them who we truly are and to take back what is rightfully ours. It is a power, a force, like gravity, which cannot be resisted.

The band strikes up again, only this time the drumbeat is like that of an ancient warrior dance. It beats and pulses through my body as the mighty Führer leaves the square, standing in his car like a victorious Roman emperor in his chariot. Behind him marches an army of torchbearers. The lights in the square are dimmed and, through the sudden darkness, the flames appear to flow like a river of fire through the centre of Augustusplatz.

*

Mutti and I walk home from the city centre in the dark, freezing night. Vati had to return to his office and Karl stayed with his new group.

‘When can I join the Hitlerjugend, Mutti?’ I ask, my breath dense as smoke in the light of the street lamps. The ceremony has burned an impression on my soul, like a footprint. I feel that He has called to me and I must answer. He wants me to play a role in Germany’s great and glorious future.

‘Don’t be silly,’ she says, ‘the HJ is for boys.’

‘But there is a girl’s section, the Jungmädelbund.’

‘Vati doesn’t approve of that sort of thing for girls.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because girls should concentrate on home things.’

‘But I don’t like home things. I want to go camping and play games and sing songs and march, like Karl will get to do. Besides, I’m twelve!’

‘And Vati would say that is even more reason why not.’

‘But it’s not fair! All my friends are joining the Jungmädelbund. What will they think if I don’t?’

‘Don’t exaggerate.’ Mutti hunches her narrow shoulders. ‘Many people don’t think it is right for girls. Even Herr Himmler himself doesn’t agree with it. He says the idea of girls marching about in uniform with backpacks is ludicrous and it makes him sick. Oh, do come along, Hetty.’

Trailing behind, I say no more the rest of the way home.