The Book Thief takes place in Munich, Germany. At this time, Germany was controlled by Hitler. Munich HELD SIGNIFICANCE IN WORLD WAR TWO, WHERE BECOMING HITLERS HOME IN 1913, WHERE HE ENLISTED INTO WW1 AND SOON AFTER ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE nAZI PARTY. mUNICH ALSO HOSTED hITLERS FIRST UNSUCCESSFUL ARMED REBELLION.