I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944

In literature and folklore, the robin is often a symbol of good luck and hope. In I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944, this bird plays a similar role. Zena spots a robin perched on the barbed wire fence in Chapter 2 and, aware of its symbolic meaning, she points it out to Max: “Don’t you know that robins are lucky birds?” (7). The robin indeed brings them luck when they find a raspberry bush behind it. Not only does this bush provide immediate relief from their hunger, but it also becomes the catalyst for their escape from the ghetto. If they hadn’t ventured beyond the fence, they would have been captured and sent to a concentration camp.

The robin is mentioned again later, after the children are reunited with their Aunt Hannah. Zena reflects, “That robin did bring us luck” (38). Zena’s belief in the lucky bird highlights her ability to find beauty and optimism in even the darkest times, underscoring the theme of The Resilience and Resourcefulness of Children in Extreme Circumstances. Max, who has never been one to believe in lucky birds, now finds himself reconsidering. This reflects a subtle shift in his outlook.