<P> Bruno is a 9 - year - old boy growing up during World War II in Berlin . He lives with his parents, his 12 - year - old sister Gretel and maids, one of whom is called Maria . After a visit by Adolf Hitler, Bruno's father is promoted to Commandant, and the family has to move to' Out - With' because of the orders of "The Fury" (Bruno's naïve interpretation of the word' Führer'). Bruno is initially upset about moving to Out - With (never identified, but cf . Auschwitz) and leaving his friends, Daniel, Karl, and Martin . From the house at Out - With, Bruno sees a camp . One day, Bruno decides to explore the strange wire fence . As he walks along the fence, he meets a Jewish boy named Shmuel, who he learns shares his birthday . Shmuel says that his father, grandfather, and brother are with him on this side of the fence, but he is separated from his mother . Bruno and Shmuel talk and become very good friends, although Bruno still does not understand very much about Shmuel and his side of the fence . Nearly every day, unless it's raining Bruno goes to see Shmuel and sneaks him food . As the meetings go on, and Shmuel gets more and more skinny, Bruno's naïveté means he never realizes he is living beside a death camp . </P> <P> When lice eggs are discovered in Bruno's hair he is forced to get all of his hair shaved off . Bruno comments that he looks like Shmuel, and Shmuel agrees, except that Bruno is fatter . Bruno's mother eventually persuades his father to take them back to Berlin and stay at Out - With without them . </P> <P> The next day Bruno concocts a plan with Shmuel to sneak into the camp to look for Shmuel's father . Shmuel brings a set of prison clothes (which look to Bruno like striped pyjamas), and Bruno leaves his own clothes outside the fence . As they search the camp, both children are rounded up along with a group of prisoners on a "march". In the gas chamber, Bruno apologizes to Shmuel for not finding his father and tells Shmuel that he is Bruno's best friend for life . Shmuel does not answer, as at that moment the door of the gas chamber is closed, it becomes dark, and all is chaos . </P> <P> Bruno's mother and sister return to Berlin, where they hope to find Bruno sitting on the doorstep, but do not . His father stays at Out - With, where he finally works out what had happened . When soldiers come to take him away from Out - With, he is happy to be leaving . </P>

Who died in the boy in the striped pajamas