The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Chapter 20 - The Last Chapter

Disappearance of Bruno

• Bruno vanishes without a trace; no information is ever found about his whereabouts.
• Soldiers search extensively, including the house and nearby towns, but only find his clothes and boots near the fence.
• Bruno's father, the commander, is bewildered by his son's disappearance.

Family Reactions

• Mother: Stays at Outwith for several months, hoping for news. She eventually returns to Berlin, thinking Bruno might have gone home.
• Gretel: Moves back to Berlin with her mother, deeply misses Bruno and spends time in solitude.
• Father: Stays at Outwith for a year, becomes unpopular among soldiers, constantly thinks about Bruno.

Father's Discovery

• A year later, Bruno’s father investigates the fence where Bruno’s clothes were found.
• Discovers the fence was not properly attached, allowing space for a small boy to crawl under.
• Comes to a realization about what might have happened to Bruno, leading to a physical collapse.

Conclusion

• Months later, the father is taken away by other soldiers, goes willingly as he seems indifferent to his fate.

Reflection

• The story ends with a reflection that these events took place a long time ago and suggests that such occurrences couldn't happen in the modern world.