Party record books are a way for the Nazi regime to keep people in check. They're a particularly effective means of ensuring that young people like Helmut stay in line. If they misbehave in any way then they run the danger of receiving a black mark in their Party record books.

Every citizen in this totalitarian society, including children, must have one of these books. It is impossible to access a wide range of public services, such as education or healthcare, without one. It's also impossible for anyone to get a job without a Party record book. And even if a citizen does have one, they won't be able to get a job if they have too many black marks against them.

Herr Vinke, one of Helmut's teachers, comes very close to putting a black mark in the boy's Party record book after Helmut challenges him in class one day. The class is discussing a painting in which a young sailor bravely holds onto the flag even as his ship is sinking around him. Vinke gives his class the Party line that a good German must be willing to sacrifice himself for his country. In battle, that means never letting go of the flag, no matter what. Helmut responds by suggesting that it might have been better for the young sailor to have hung on to a piece of flotsam instead of clinging to a flag. That way, he could've lived to fight another day.

Vinke is furious at what he perceives as Helmut's impertinence. He promptly describes him as a troublemaker, and although he won't give Helmut a black mark in his Party record book he'll punish him and the rest of the class by giving them an extra homework assignment.