Resumo de The Assault - Harry Mulisch

The Assault is usually marked as a war book, but the events in World War II form only a small part of the book. It is so that the post-war life of Anton Steenwijk is almost completely in the sign of the war. The novel can be seen as a search for the how and why of the assault. In World War II there is an assault in Haarlem on a NSBer in front of Anton Steenwijks house (the main character). This assault will define the rest of Steenwijks life.
First episode: 1945. On a night in January 1945 the family Steenwijk is startled by six shots. In front of the house of neighbour Korteweg lies the corpse of Fake Ploeg, head inspector of the Haarlem police. Mr. Korteweg and his daughter Karin drag the corpse in front of the house of the Steenwijks family. Peter Steenwijk runs outside to drag the corpse away. Then the Germans arrive; Peter flees away and takes the revolver of Fake Ploeg with him. Anton Steenwijk and his parents are taken out of the house and it is put on fire, after the windows have been thrown in. Anton is put in a car and driven away. He does not know what is going to happen to his parents. He is thrown into a cell in the police station in Heemstede. In this cell there is already a woman. She comforts Anton and tells him about the fascists and the necessity of hating them.
The following day Anton is brought to the Ortscommander in Haarlem, who lets him go to his uncle and aunt in Amsterdam. During the trip from Haarlem to Amsterdam the convoy is shot at by an English plane and there are some deaths. In Amsterdam Anton is brought to a German general who is kind to him. Uncle Peter comes to get him.
Second episode: 1952. Anton is brought up by his uncle and aunt, on the Apollostreet in Amsterdam. After the war it appears that his parents and Peter have been shot dead during that fatal night. Anton reacts restrained: he does not start an investigation. After high school he starts to study medicine. When he is in his second year he is invited by a classmate to a party in Haarlem. Thus he finds himself back for the first time in the city that he left in January 1945. The party is a disappointment to him, because a few lame students make offending remarks. But it seems there are several old SS-ers in the legion. I heard that they will obtain exoneration of persecution if they report themselves. So what? You''re lagging behind man, with your SS. In Korea they can compensate it nicely. By this Anton is reminded of what he has gone through during the war. The incitement to report himself as a volunteer for the war in Korea make him leave the party early.
Third episode: 1956. Four years after Antons visit to Haarlem there are large revolts in Amsterdam. Anton, who in the meantime is studying for anaesthetist, meets Fake''s son during the revolts, also called Fake. Fake also had a hard time due to his fathers dead and still suffers by the sight of deterioration of his mother. This episode ends with Fake smashing Antons mirror with a large stone.
Fourth episode: 1966. In 1959 he passes his physicians examinations and he obtains an internship in anaesthesia. He meets his first wife, Saskia de Graaff, in London in 1960. In July 1966 Anton attends the burial of a journalist, together with Saskia and his four year old daughter Sandra. The burial in a village to the north of Amsterdam is attended by people who know each other from the resistance: a minister, a known pastor, a poet, a publisher, the mayor of Amsterdam. It seems like a reunion, especially after the burial, when the visitors meet in a cafe. There is a strong discussion about the role of the Americans in Vietnam, about communism and anti-communism, about the Royal House.
Fifth episode: 1981. Anton is divorced from his first wife. One year after the divorce from Saskia, he remarries with Liesbeth and together they have a son. Anton is waked up by a terrible toothache. He asks his dentist whether he can do something aboutpain. The dentist is only willing to help is he participates in a demonstration against nuclear weapons. Anton accepts and goes with him. In this demonstration he accidentally meets Karin, the daughter of the neighbour who put the corpse before their door. But during the conversation Anton gets to know more details. Such as that his parents and brother died because of Kortewegs big love for lizards and that they did not put the corpse before Aarts'' house, since he was hiding Jews. Completely puzzled Anton continues to walk in the demonstration. He can not decide who was guilty and who was innocent.

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