A Time For Defiance Summary, Characters and Themes
A Time For Defiance by James D. Shipman is a historical novel set during the harrowing years of World War II in Nazi-occupied Netherlands.
At its heart, the story captures the quiet heroism and moral dilemmas faced by everyday citizens thrust into the brutal machinery of war. Through the eyes of Aafke Cruyssen, a resolute Dutch shopkeeper, and Otto Berg, a principled German soldier, the novel explores how personal integrity, love, and survival are tested when ideological conflict tears apart families, communities, and consciences.
Blending tension, betrayal, and human connection, it’s a moving portrait of resistance and the choices that define who we become in our darkest hours.
Summary
A TIME FOR DEFIANCE opens on May 10, 1940, in Eindhoven, as the German invasion of the Netherlands becomes a horrifying reality. For Aafke Cruyssen, the day begins with radio reports of the attack, met with disbelief by her father, Maarten.
Their domestic rituals try to mask the fear bubbling underneath, but Aafke’s anxiety is real—her brother Christiaan has just been rushed to the front lines. At the family store, things unravel quickly.
Aafke finds that their delivery truck is seized and supply lines are cut. When she returns, the shop is swarmed by looters, neighbors turned frenzied by fear and hunger.
Arno, their former delivery man, steps in to rescue her and subdue the chaos. This event initiates a partnership between Arno and Maarten, as they conspire to hide goods and trade in the black market, hoping to survive the tightening grip of occupation.
However, the plan falters when German soldiers confiscate their goods, offering a pittance in return. The futility of their defiance stings Aafke deeply, while Maarten grows more embittered.
Parallel to this civilian turmoil is Otto Berg’s story. A German soldier fighting on Dutch soil, Otto survives gunfire and explosions, demonstrating uncommon bravery by capturing a Dutch artillery position alone.
Yet his superior officer belittles his heroism. In Eindhoven, Otto challenges looting soldiers in a grocery store—ironically Aafke’s—and demands they pay, illustrating his internal moral code.
Though briefly reprimanded, his actions suggest a rare decency among the occupying force.
Otto and Aafke’s lives intersect momentarily in this act, forging a fragile recognition of shared humanity amid opposing roles. Otto later finds himself on the battlefield at Dunkirk, where he saves comrades but also witnesses atrocities.
When British prisoners are executed under orders, Otto’s protest leads to his court-martial. Saved from execution by a well-connected friend, Fritz Geier, Otto is offered a comfortable Gestapo job.
He refuses, unwilling to betray his values.
Meanwhile, Aafke struggles to keep her store running amid escalating shortages, her father’s drinking, and town gossip. Arno becomes her key ally.
As their black-market efforts intensify, so do suspicions about Aafke’s loyalty. A daring supply run secures temporary stability, but eviction looms.
Arno stages a desperate fire sale, earning just enough to save them for now. But stability is always short-lived.
SS officers return—one of them is Otto—signaling a storm on the horizon, even as a tentative bond between the two moral outliers begins to reemerge.
The stakes escalate when Aafke lures Corporal Hemmel, a Gestapo officer, into a trap. She gains credibility with the Dutch resistance, proposing a covert “dating club” where women seduce and eliminate or extract secrets from high-ranking Nazis.
The plan’s success breeds tension. Joelle, another resistance member, resents Aafke and believes she’s using her relationship with Arno to climb in rank.
Joelle’s solo success deepens the rift. During a compromised mission, Aafke is forced to kill a Nazi officer.
Another member, Maaike, is captured and executed. Grief and blame fracture the group.
Arno and Peter turn cold, even cruel, accusing Aafke of causing the failure. Arno’s affection twists into emotional and sexual coercion, highlighting how war corrodes human intimacy.
Otto’s journey continues as he is reassigned to Otto Skorzeny’s elite commando unit. Despite his disdain for the Nazi cause, he stays—fighting for his comrades and haunted by guilt.
A conversation with his English mother reveals his anguish and love for Aafke, who he hasn’t forgotten. Back in Eindhoven, Aafke is betrayed by Joelle, manipulated by Arno.
But Aafke overcomes her captor and convinces Joelle to help rescue Otto, who has returned only to be handed over to Arno by Maarten.
Otto, tortured by Arno, refuses to believe the lies about Aafke. As Arno prepares to mutilate him, Aafke storms in, gun in hand.
The confrontation peaks when Arno murders Peter and threatens Otto’s life. Joelle, changed by Aafke’s unwavering courage, turns on Arno.
Aafke seizes the moment and kills Arno, ending his descent into brutality. She, Joelle, and Otto flee.
Otto, badly injured, urges the women to leave him behind. Aafke tries, but returns, unwilling to abandon him.
They’re captured by American forces but are not treated as enemies. An intelligence officer named Varberg interrogates them and is struck by Otto’s nuanced past.
His record of defying the SS and his bond with Aafke lead Varberg to offer him a chance at a new life in exchange for discreet cooperation.
In the final scenes, Aafke and Otto are reunited. The war has ravaged them, but not destroyed them.
Otto promises to raise Aafke’s unborn child as his own. They plan to rebuild their lives in post-war Germany, away from the ruins of Eindhoven.
Through bloodshed, betrayal, and fleeting grace, A TIME FOR DEFIANCE tells the story of two people who choose love and moral clarity in a world that has lost both. Their endurance is not grand but deeply human—quiet acts of courage that light the path forward in a broken world.
Characters
Aafke Cruyssen
Aafke Cruyssen stands at the emotional core of A Time for Defiance, embodying both the fragile humanity and fierce resilience that define the civilian experience during war. Initially presented as a responsible and emotionally perceptive young woman trying to hold together her family’s grocery store amidst the early chaos of the German invasion, Aafke is swiftly thrust into roles far beyond her years.
Her character arc begins with a desperate attempt to maintain normalcy—managing inventory, dealing with frightened customers, and placating her skeptical father, Maarten. As her environment descends into violence and scarcity, Aafke evolves from a cautious daughter into a bold, risk-taking agent of the Dutch resistance.
Her relationship with Arno, their former delivery driver, introduces complex emotional and moral layers. What begins as a partnership rooted in survival and shared purpose gradually becomes clouded by romantic entanglement, jealousy, and ultimately betrayal.
Aafke’s moral compass is severely tested as she shifts from protecting her store to seducing and assassinating enemy officers through an audacious plan masked as a “dating club.” Despite her bravery, Aafke is frequently misjudged and marginalized, particularly by other resistance members like Joelle, who both envies and resents her.
Aafke’s internal strength is most visible when she endures personal losses—including the brutal death of her friend Maaike—and still finds the resolve to press forward. Her final act of confronting and killing Arno to save Otto is not just an act of vengeance, but a reclaiming of her agency.
By the novel’s end, Aafke, though scarred and burdened, emerges as a survivor shaped by pain but guided by integrity and compassion, willing to embrace love and a future even in the shadow of ruin.
Otto Berg
Otto Berg is a strikingly unconventional portrait of a German soldier in A Time for Defiance, a man defined less by uniform and nationality than by the moral turbulence that tears at his conscience. Introduced as a soldier already estranged from the callousness of the Nazi war machine, Otto’s first major act—defending a Dutch grocery store from fellow German looters—immediately positions him as a man out of sync with the brutality around him.
His sense of justice and decency, even in enemy territory, marks him as a rare figure of empathy amid systemic violence. Otto’s ethical resistance intensifies as the story progresses, culminating in his decision to strike a fellow SS officer to protest the unjust execution of British prisoners—an act that lands him in court-martial proceedings and nearly costs him his life.
Despite his physical courage and battlefield prowess, Otto is driven by emotional vulnerability and remorse. His refusal to exploit Aafke, even when given the opportunity, and his ongoing rejection of power and prestige within the SS highlight a man wrestling with guilt and searching for redemption.
His decision to remain within the military system, not to ascend but to reform or protect from within, places him in a tragic bind. He is a man haunted by the past but unable to abandon the battlefield.
His eventual involvement in elite SS missions—like the rescue of Mussolini—further deepens the irony of his character: a moral man executing immoral commands in the hope of minimizing harm. In the end, Otto’s reconciliation with Aafke and his acceptance of fatherhood mark his personal redemption.
His willingness to cooperate with American intelligence, not out of self-preservation but to help forge a better future, reflects the completion of a profound moral journey.
Arno
Arno begins as a practical and resourceful figure in A Time for Defiance, positioned as both a protector and provider for Aafke during the initial stages of occupation. His smuggling efforts and street-smart instincts allow Aafke’s family to survive amid the crumbling economic and social fabric of Eindhoven.
Initially presented as a possible romantic partner, Arno displays loyalty and emotional investment in Aafke’s safety and reputation. However, as the narrative unfolds, Arno’s character becomes increasingly dominated by insecurity, possessiveness, and ideological rigidity.
His jealousy, particularly in response to Aafke’s growing autonomy and involvement with other resistance members, warps into something darker and more dangerous.
After Maaike’s death, Arno’s reaction shifts from protective anger to punitive blame. His feelings for Aafke—once affectionate—curdle into control and emotional manipulation.
His betrayal of Otto, sadistic torture, and ultimate threat to Aafke’s life showcase a man consumed by resentment and an unyielding belief in his moral superiority. Arno becomes a tragic example of how war distorts not only societies but individuals, transforming a man of action into a vessel for hatred.
His final confrontation with Aafke is not just the climax of the plot, but a symbolic rupture between past loyalties and the moral rot of unchecked bitterness. His death at Aafke’s hands is as much an act of liberation for her as it is a fitting, if tragic, end for a man undone by his own emotional and ethical collapse.
Joelle
Joelle is a multi-faceted and emotionally charged character who represents the complicated dynamics within the resistance in A Time for Defiance. Introduced as a fierce and ambitious resistance fighter, Joelle initially appears to be Aafke’s foil—a woman skeptical of charm-based infiltration tactics and someone who resents Aafke’s sudden ascent in the ranks.
Their rivalry is punctuated by deep emotional undercurrents: Joelle harbors unresolved trauma and complex feelings about Arno, feelings that are later revealed to be rooted in abuse and exploitation. Her initial animosity toward Aafke stems not just from jealousy but from a desperate desire for validation and justice.
Over time, Joelle undergoes significant transformation. After a confrontation that reveals her vulnerability and the abuse she has endured, she begins to reassess her loyalties.
Her eventual alliance with Aafke, particularly during the rescue of Otto, is both surprising and redemptive. She shifts from being a spiteful adversary to a courageous ally, even risking her life to stop Arno and free Otto.
Joelle’s arc is one of painful evolution—she must confront her internalized hatred and guilt before she can act with clarity and courage. Her character captures the emotional complexity of women in resistance movements, often caught between empowerment, trauma, and the need for solidarity.
By the novel’s end, Joelle emerges as a figure of strength, not because she triumphs over her past, but because she finds a way to confront it with purpose and integrity.
Maarten Cruyssen
Maarten Cruyssen, Aafke’s father, is emblematic of the older generation struggling to come to terms with the collapse of a familiar world in A Time for Defiance. A man of routine and pragmatism, Maarten initially dismisses the gravity of the German invasion, focusing instead on inventory and deliveries.
His inability to fully grasp or accept the rapidly changing social and political landscape reveals a deep-seated denial rooted in generational fatigue and fear. As the occupation intensifies, Maarten becomes increasingly dependent on Aafke and Arno, though his authority remains entrenched in patriarchal rigidity.
Maarten’s interactions with Aafke are often cold and judgmental, particularly when he criticizes her decisions and morality. His behavior reflects both protective instinct and an outdated moral framework that cannot accommodate the complex ethical decisions demanded by wartime.
His eventual betrayal of Otto—delivering him into Arno’s hands—exposes a man desperate to regain control and assert moral clarity in a world that no longer offers any. Maarten is not villainous, but he is tragically misguided, shaped by fear and the illusion of order.
In the end, he stands as a cautionary figure—a symbol of those who, paralyzed by tradition and fear, fail to adapt and thereby compound suffering rather than alleviate it.
Peter
Peter serves as a quieter, stabilizing presence within the resistance in A Time for Defiance, though his role becomes more poignant due to its brevity and tragic end. He initially acts as a supportive comrade to both Aafke and Arno, providing logistical and emotional backing during some of their most dangerous missions.
While not as emotionally complex as the other characters, Peter’s loyalty and commitment to the cause are evident in his consistent support and even-keeled demeanor. His presence offers a semblance of normalcy and groundedness amidst the escalating tension within the group.
However, Peter’s death—delivered coldly and abruptly by Arno—shatters this sense of stability. His murder not only heightens the stakes of the narrative but also marks the final rupture within the resistance’s fractured internal dynamics.
His death forces Aafke and Joelle to act decisively and signals the irreversible moral decay of Arno’s leadership. In this way, Peter’s character, though less central, plays a pivotal symbolic role, illustrating the vulnerability of good men in times of chaos and the tragic cost of misplaced trust.
His demise propels Aafke toward decisive action and underscores the novel’s central theme: survival in wartime often demands painful, unflinching moral clarity.
Themes
Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Resistance
The characters in A Time for Defiance frequently face decisions that require the betrayal of one principle to uphold another. Otto, a German soldier, personifies this moral tightrope.
Though part of the Nazi war machine, he consistently resists the corruption and cruelty within it. He intervenes when German troops loot Aafke’s store, not out of duty but moral clarity.
His refusal to obey orders to execute prisoners and his subsequent strike against an SS officer mark him as someone who values human life over authoritarian directives. Similarly, Aafke engages in morally gray resistance tactics, including black-market dealings and seduction of enemy officers, to undermine the occupiers.
Her participation in a covert “dating club” to assassinate Nazis through manipulation presents a disturbing juxtaposition of virtue and vice. These acts, while rooted in noble intent, blur the line between courage and complicity.
The novel refuses to offer easy answers, asking readers to consider how resistance often demands ethical compromise. Aafke and Otto are not presented as purely heroic but as individuals whose moral integrity is constantly tested in a war that offers no clean paths.
Their struggle is not to remain untainted, but to remain human.
The Collapse of Civility Under Occupation
Daily life in A Time for Defiance is depicted as fragile and easily dismantled by external violence. The moment the German army reaches Eindhoven, the orderly routines of the townspeople vanish.
Aafke watches her family’s store devolve from a pillar of stability into a battleground of desperate looters and mob violence. Trust erodes swiftly; neighbors turn hostile and survival instincts override communal ties.
The occupiers strip the people of their autonomy, commandeering goods, imposing taxes, and inflicting psychological trauma. Maarten’s eventual complicity in black-market activity signals not personal greed but a survival mechanism in a society where formal structures have collapsed.
Even within the resistance, civility unravels as suspicion, jealousy, and coercion replace unity. The internal dissent between Aafke and Joelle, as well as Arno’s descent into authoritarianism within the resistance, reflects how even those fighting for justice are not immune to the corrupting pressures of war.
The novel captures how quickly war turns civilians into opportunists, skeptics, or traitors, making survival a test not just of endurance but of character.
The Gendered Cost of War
The experiences of Aafke and her fellow female resistance members illustrate how war weaponizes and exploits gender. Aafke’s value to the resistance becomes tied not only to her intelligence or courage but to her willingness to use her femininity as a tactical advantage.
Her suggestion of a “dating club” is both a creative resistance strategy and a revealing commentary on how women’s bodies become tools and battlegrounds in conflict. While this tactic yields results, it also isolates her from male peers and breeds mistrust among other women, particularly Joelle.
The resistance’s internal politics place women in positions where they must simultaneously lead, seduce, and survive. Aafke’s growing estrangement from Arno and the group’s increasingly harsh judgments reflect how women’s agency is often undercut by the very movements they fight for.
The personal violations she endures—emotional manipulation by Arno, near sexual violence, and accusations of betrayal—underscore the specific burdens placed upon women in wartime. In contrast, Otto’s interactions with Aafke, particularly his refusal to exploit a vulnerable moment, highlight the rare spaces where dignity is preserved.
Still, the narrative makes clear that in war, gender is not neutral—it defines risk, expectation, and consequence.
Identity, Betrayal, and the Search for Redemption
The war fractures the identities of both protagonists in A Time for Defiance, leaving them in constant search of moral and emotional redemption. Otto, though raised by a British mother and fighting for Germany, carries a dual heritage that fuels his inner conflict.
His journey is not just through the horrors of battle, but through the terrain of ideological disillusionment. Each act of defiance—refusing a desk job, striking an SS officer, sparing prisoners—pulls him further from his assigned role as a Nazi officer and closer to the man he hopes to be.
Aafke, likewise, is torn between familial duty, personal grief, and her resistance identity. Her choices often alienate her from those she loves, including Arno and the resistance network.
The betrayal she experiences from those who once stood beside her, and her eventual killing of Arno, mark her path as one carved by loss and painful decisions. Yet both characters find fragments of redemption in each other.
Otto’s refusal to exploit Aafke, and her rescue of him from Arno’s torture, symbolize not just mutual loyalty but a reclamation of self-worth. Their eventual union is not a fairytale resolution but a survival pact forged through scars, resilience, and a commitment to live with their past without being defined by it.
The Personal Cost of War and the Possibility of Renewal
Beneath the battles and resistance operations, A Time for Defiance is a deeply human story about how war damages and reshapes individuals. Aafke begins as a shopkeeper trying to protect her family legacy, only to be drawn into a life of danger, violence, and moral compromise.
Otto’s transformation from obedient soldier to quiet resister reflects a similar trajectory, one where disillusionment with national identity paves the way for personal conscience. Both lose more than possessions or comrades—they lose their sense of stability, trust, and, at times, purpose.
Yet they also find a strange form of hope. The birth of a child, their physical reunion, and their plans for a life outside Eindhoven are small yet powerful assertions of defiance against a world bent on destruction.
Their relationship is not framed as salvation but as a conscious decision to build something enduring from the rubble of their trauma. In choosing each other, Otto and Aafke commit to healing, not forgetting.
The story leaves readers with the idea that while war may define an era, it need not define a person’s future. Renewal is not guaranteed, but it is possible when built upon truth, courage, and shared humanity.