Winter in Wartime

Michiel leads an enterprising teenage life in a Veluwe village on the IJssel river while bombardments and railway strikes disrupt schooling. He helps local farmers with small chores and ferries food to the many city visitors staying at his home. The constant danger shapes his longing for action and a sense of responsibility beyond his years.

He secretly dreams of becoming a Resistance fighter and often clashes with his father, whom he sees as too soft. Michiel idolizes Uncle Ben, who claims to be part of the Resistance. His daily life is a mix of chores, risk, and the lure of clandestine action.

Dirk Knopper reveals a secret plan to attack the local ration card office to steal cards, pulling Michiel into the intrigue. Michiel is given the job of delivering a letter if the raid fails. The plan marks the turning point toward direct involvement in Resistance activities.

That evening, Nazi vehicles roll up to the Knopper home as the raid collapses. The failure amplifies fear and confirms that the war is encroaching on everyday life. Tension tightens around the village and those involved.

The following morning, Michiel tries to deliver the critical letter to Bertus van Gelder. A broken bicycle and a string of delays threaten to derail the mission before it starts. The stakes feel higher as the search for the letter intensifies.

An Allied air raid disrupts the route, and Michiel senses he is being watched by Schafter, a farmer suspected of Nazi loyalties. The combination of bombs and surreptitious surveillance heightens the danger of every move. The mood in the village grows heavier as fear spreads.

Midday or late afternoon, Nazi forces arrest Bertus van Gelder in search of the letter. The arrest removes a potential ally and increases the risk for anyone connected to the letter. Michiel becomes more determined, yet more exposed to danger.

Facing the danger, Michiel initially considers throwing the letter away. Curiosity and duty win out, and he finally opens it to learn the letter's full contents. He discovers Dirk Knopper's plan and that an English pilot, Jack, is hiding in a forest burrow nearby.

The letter reveals that Dirk has hidden an English pilot named Jack in a self-made burrow in the nearby forest. Dirk had hoped Bertus would maintain Jack, but Bertus has been arrested. Michiel realizes the pilot's life now depends on him and his village.

Despite the danger, Michiel decides to take over Jack's maintenance himself. He steps into a risky role that connects him to the hidden pilot and the broader Resistance effort. The decision marks a turning point in his personal courage and commitments.

Michiel's choice pulls him deeper into the clandestine world of the Resistance, bringing new responsibilities and looming threats to his family. The village's war-time secrets start to intersect with ordinary life, intensifying the atmosphere of fear and resolve.

With Jack's safety as a delicate balance, Michiel's new role pushes him to face danger, suspicion, and the moral complexities of war. The timeline hints at a longer arc of resistance that will test courage and loyalty beyond the events described.