Stripmaker Tobi Dahmen's family navigated Nazi Germany, changing with the times

Stripmaker Tobi Dahmen, who resides in the Netherlands, has delved into his family's history, specifically examining their entanglement with Nazi Germany between 1935 and 1945. His graphic novel meticulously chronicles the gradual shift in his family's lives and their adaptation to the prevailing political climate.

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The Catholic lawyer Dahmen wants nothing to do with it; National Socialism will only bring Germany misfortune, is his firm conviction.

The narrative centers on Karl Dahmen, Tobi's grandfather, a lawyer living in Düsseldorf. Initially opposed to Nazism, Karl's convictions wavered as he felt his principles no longer guaranteed his family's safety. By 1939, he joined Hitler's party, eventually becoming a fervent supporter of the National Socialist ideology.

Dahmen's work also follows other family members, including Heinz Funcke, a factory supervisor whose compliance became necessary as war production escalated. The experiences of Karl's sons, Eberhard and Peter, who fought on the front lines in Russia, Italy, and North Africa, are depicted through genuine documents like letters and diaries. These sources allow Dahmen to accurately portray the war years.

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From triumph to bitterness.

Eberhard's letters initially convey triumph but later reveal bitterness, while his brother Peter expresses constant doubt. Dahmen masterfully illustrates the contrast between the brothers' attempts to reassure their family back home and the harsh realities they faced. The graphic novel employs a grayscale palette, symbolizing the ambiguity and moral complexities of the era, suggesting that nothing was purely black or white.

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In the letters home, the brothers try to maintain the appearance that they are doing well, but what we see is a completely different reality.