‘If it comes to it, Hélène, I’m certain that victory will be swift and decisive. As for me, I must concentrate on this city.’ He frowns. ‘If we stick to our principles, the future is positive. We can’t be complacent. I must use the Leipziger to further our cause.’

‘How?’ I ask.

‘A newspaper, Schnuffel, is a powerful weapon. Of course, our Herr Goebbels guides us with his daily press releases and it is our duty to shape the opinion of the masses and ensure the Fatherland’s values and best interests are always in the forefront of people’s minds.’

I chew my bread and cheese. At school, we are studying Mein Kampf. Everyone knows the Jews stabbed our army in the back at the end of the last war, and with the help of Fink’s new book, The Jewish Question in Education, I can identify a Jew just by looking at a person’s features. If I see one, I cross the street, just like everyone else, and I never look them in the eye.

‘Franz, these things will still be there if you take a few days off to go to the beach. Besides, you are the boss. You must have people who can run things while you aren’t there?’

Vati shrugs. ‘I only appointed Josef Heiden as editor two weeks ago. I can hardly go off and leave him at this stage. Besides, with my SS commitments ever increasing…’ He pauses. ‘If Karl wasn’t so busy flying gliders this summer, I could have him work with me at the Leipziger. He would be such an asset. And think what I could entrust to him in the future, which I can’t to anyone else.’

‘If you could get him to work with you over the summer, before he leaves… I wish with all my heart he’d change his mind. I worry sick about him going.’

Vati shakes his head. ‘The Luftwaffe arranged it. It’s vital flying experience before moving onto the real thing. Besides, he’s determined to go. I think, in time, he’ll come back to the Leipziger. He’s a young man, Hélène. He must find his own way. He wants to do his bit for the Reich and it’s only right and natural that he should.’ He drains his coffee cup.

‘I want to do my bit for the Reich too,’ I blurt out. ‘Perhaps I could work at the paper this summer, Vati? I’m a quick learner.’

Vati looks at me, narrowing his pale eyes. In the strong sunlight, his skin is pasty and sags with fatigue.

‘That’s a kind offer, Herta,’ he says slowly, ‘but your place is here, with Mutti, helping her with her charity work. It’s more important, too, that you learn how to run a home than understand the inner workings of a newspaper.’

‘But Vati—’

He scrapes back his chair and the discussion is over.

‘Now, I must get to work.’

He leans across to peck Mutti’s cheek and plants a kiss on the top of my head. Mutti hurries out of the room after him, just as Karl arrives, unshaven and sleepy eyed. I ball my fists beneath the table.