So this is just something between an afterward and an author's note in which I'm going to explain the events of WWII that are brought up in this story, some explanations of how things were (as I understand) at the time, which might explain events more and also an explanation of the nature of Alfons' death. (If you don't want a history lesson, just skip down to the bottom and please read the explanation of Alfons' death.

Firstly though, all my information about WWII for this story was either my own knowledge (which is either from school, my dad, or my own general nerdiness) and then The History Place Holocaust Timeline. The segment of Hitler's speech was also from The History Place.

So, a little bit of a time-line-y thing that sort of puts the story into perspective.

July '34 - when the story started.

Jews are prohibited from getting legal qualifications.

Before that, basically, Jews were stripped of little rights like this in the years leading up to this. Polish Jews in Germany had also been stripped of their citizenship.

Basically, through the years after that, and through the chapters that are more like one shots than actual storyline, the old Fuhrer dies, and Hitler becomes Fuhrer and the 90% vote gives him his powers.

In short, the Jews are then basically made a mockery of and treated as a general lower class race due to laws that say they are to join this, join that and such. I don't want this to be a history lesson!

In August 36 there is a campaign set up to combat homosexuality and abortion. I just thought I'd put that in because Hitler didn't just get at the Jews, it was pretty much any minority group.

Everything from blacks, to gays to people with glasses were targeted during the holocaust. In fact, this might not be true… but I'm sure when we studied the Holocaust last year in history I was told that blacks were gassed. (well that's me done for saying as I'm specky and mixed raced!)

Oh! And lets not forget, Jews were prohibited from going to school with German children and Jewish teachers were prohibited. Also, it was taught to German children in German schools 'how to recognise a Jew.'

It's almost comical, but… Not really.

Moving on, by '38 we have the law prohibiting Jews from becoming doctors (as in the penultimate chapter) and that Jewish papers have to be stamped with a red 'J.' (Note 'JUDE' (the German word for Jew) as I had in the penultimate chapter. But I Wanted to have some German words in to remind everyone where we were!)

In January '39 Hitler does his speech threatening the Jews that appears in… I can't remember which chapter. But you know.

Then in Dec '39 Britain and France declare war on Germany.

Here we go. In Sept '39 Warsaw surrenders (that's the Polish capital if you didn't know) and HEYDRICH becomes leader of the RSHA. Well hello hello. (His first name was Reinhard I think)

The only person to be hanged at Auschwitz was Heydrich, the same place where he killed thousands and thousands of people. Personally, I think he should have been gassed in his own chamber but…

So that's the short history of WWII that is relevant to Charismatic. Also, I think it's a little unfair that Heiderich has obviously had his name inspired by this man but whatever. If you have a history test, you're sure to remember Reinhard Heydrich. The dickhead of recent history.

Basically, as my understanding is, (and obviously as a fourteen year old Brit, I never experienced Nazi Germany) here is how the general vibe was, if you didn't know. Based of GCSE History, a good teacher, general interest and a lot of inferring.

Germany was in a really bad way after WWI. They'd lost money, troops and weapons to WWI and pretty much most of Europe and some other places were pretty pissed off with them. Especially Britain and France. WWI was fought mostly between Britain and Germany on French land (of course, there were other countries fighting, it was a WORLD WAR) but the Allies (that's Britain, France, America, Russia, China and that lot) were convinced (especially France) that Germany started it, and so Germany was going to pay for it. Germany was already in debt - the war had struck there too, and now they were being made to pay back France for damages.

It was around this time that the mark was worth pretty much nothing and it was said that German workers would run from work to the market with a wheelbarrow full of marks and the quicker they got there, the more food they got because the worth of the mark fell so quickly. This is referenced in The Conqueror of Shamballa when Hughes and a bunch of punters are talking and they are on about how his money is more useful for slapping him around the face than for actually buying any beer.

And then there was the Wall Street Crash.

(My history teacher told me this quote, BTW) When America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold.

America's bust after the boom in the twenties hit German HARD. Germany was a big trader with America and since Germany was broke and America was RICH, America was Germany's only strong point, but when America went, Germany basically passed out.

There were no jobs, no food, no money. Think The Great Depression, but in Europe. Everyone forgets about the Great Depression's effect on Germany. In some cases, it was to the point where people could not afford to feed their families, if anyone was still in work, their pay was abysmal. You get the idea.

And then Hitler comes to light. An old soldier and a man who had big promises and more importantly, someone to blame.

The Jews.

Now, the Treaty of the Versailles that was passed by the Allies meant that every country that took part was to be weapon less, among other, irrelevant things. The Treaty was basically passed to stop Germany staring another war because Germany was VERY GOOD at starting wars, and Britain just couldn't cope financially or (in a way) psychologically, with another war. And everyone knows that if there is a war, Britain has to get involved. It's just tradition. (I mean other countries had their reasons for keeping a close eye on Germany, but I'm British. So neither do I know or care!)

Also, Germany was to surrender ALL of it's overseas colonies and 10% of it's land.

But of course, Hitler wasn't going to let that stop him. Upon becoming Fuhrer, he removed Germany from the Act, meaning that they could be armed, so basically rendered the treaty useless.

I'd say, on a guess, about 75% of Germany was pro-Hitler in the beginning. You know, when he was just saying about how he could remove the country from the act, so that they weren't following the rules of any big headed countries like Britain and were free to build up the economy and a positive attitude.

Hitler was a real pro at what he was doing to the German public, I just want to point that out. I know that Edward often bashes Germany's stupidity, but Hitler knew what he was doing. There are theories out that he just trundled along, making daring guesses and coming out on top, but personally, I think that he knew exactly where he was going.

And he knew how to work a crowd. Germany was falsely lead into what was happening, basically. Of course, when Hitler started to be blaming the Jews, people started to realise what was going on. Though a good few went along with it, people would have been starting to catch on, but there was basically nothing they could do, because if you helped a Jew, then you were basically a Jew, and Jews might as well have been illegal.

Moving on from the politics lesson and onto the 'home front.'

After a few years, the fear was really in there, and that was about when the last two chapters are set. When minorities were being killed off and Hitler was really treating Germany like a game of Sims.

Jews were sent to ghettos and slowly starved. They were made to dig their own graves, watched by SS Soldiers, and then shot. And of course, their accomodation was raded, they were carted off to camps on overcrowded trains and trucks and then made to work all hours, left in horrible conditions and then gassed, their bodies burnt.

So, if we consider the chapter in which the market square is set on fire and Edward goes out to help, basically what happened there was that Edward ended up assisting someone climbing from the window of the bookshop, was spotted and had a brick thrown at his head. Simple. If you want to think that they did it because they were a Nazi supporter, then fine, or if you want to think that they did it to save Edward from the worse fate of being caught by the SS, then fine. It really doesn't matter, so I didn't put it in.

So just sort of consider that general fear when considering the last two chapters as well. Edward's reaction to the soldier who killed Alfons and the Jew, I didn't want him to fight back with two prophetic limbs, because he'd just be killed, realistically. The soldier knocked him out using the butt of his gun when passing. If that wasn't clear.

The other soldier. Basically, Edward had lost his only reasons for living. Alfons and Alphonse, at that point, and so he really didn't give a shit, so he made a point. Also, I know that he and the soldier share a little back and forth that is quite poetic. I just wanted Edward to say 'do not speak with compassion whilst you wear that uniform.' I like that line.

And 'It seems I got dressed with my eyes closed.' Was basically 'I put on this uniform not fully understanding what I was setting myself up for.'

And finally and most importantly, the reason Alfons' death was as it was.

I've had a couple of people saying that Alfons' death was abrupt.

And it was. I'm going to explain why his death was so undignified, pointless and abrupt.

Basically, it was because it would have been unfair on every other ordinary person in the Holocaust who was killed in some horrific way that was mentioned above. I don't see why Alfons should have got a fair, heroic death when so many other people were stripped of that right, like the Jewish man who was shot dead, and who knew he was going to be shot dead, for no reason. I wanted Alfons to just be killed, and be done, because the world keeps on spinning and people kept on dying and Alfons was just a speck, really.

Also, the way that this story was set out literature wise meant that there was no REAL plot other than their lives, and Al's death was just a part of their lives.

It's sort of hard to explain what I'm getting at here, but I hope you understand.

Lastly, thank you all for reading and reviewing and faving. It means so much! You have no idea how excited I get for reviews, it's like Christmas!

Anyway, if you write any Alfons Heiderich fics, feel free to PM me about them, because I will read and review. I do love a bit of Hei. Or basically anything WWII ish.

Everyone likes to get reviews, and you know it!

See ya!

~BS