The Book Thief takes place in Nazi Germany, 1939. Throughout the entire book, the setting stays the same- Himmel Street in a small town named Munich. This story takes place during World War 2 and into the Holocaust. During this time, money was scarce and people lived in fear. The Nazis were quickly taking over all of Germany and turning the country against the Jewish religion. Whether you supported Hitler or not, you were forced to at least pretend you did, for the sake of your life. Life or death for anyone living in Germany depended on their decisions and how loyal they were to the Fuhrer. In this book, the characters struggle to support themselves and their families, which is why Rudy and Liesel must turn to thievery.