The mere implication of understanding towards the delicacy of the German history is a large improvement on the last few decades, where Germans were only viewed as insensitive and dangerous people. Almost every major culture on the globe was affected by the result and event of World War II, yet the German community remains the most harassed and misunderstood in terms of war and Nazism.
Rebecca Schwart wore her German heritage like a stain. Her history and reasons for moving to America left her tainted and incomplete. Later in her life after fleeing Niles Tignor, Rebecca called herself Anna and left her history even farther behind while focusing on raising her son. When she eventually remarried, she could not bear to disclose her history to her new husband Gallagher, though he was an extremely generous man that wished to know her very well.
In the Epilogue to The Gravedigger’s Daughter the reader discovers heartbreaking attempts by Rebecca to contact Freyda, her lost cousin. Within the letters Rebecca expresses that she refers to herself as Anna, and never her real name. She discusses with Freyda that she keeps her history and true name hidden from everyone especially those close to her. This is similar to the secrecy most surviving generations of World War II experience today.
Some individuals may have Nazi soldiers as their ancestors and never discover the truth, due to the strong sense of shame related to the history of the war and Nazism. The same may be said for those that survived the holocaust or have family that survived, also due to the very sensitive nature of the subject matter. The limitations secrecy holds on citizens are vast and can take centuries to release.
