It is summer, 1940.As Hitlers armies turn mainland Europe into a mass graveyard, his feared Luftwaffe rain bombs on England. Meanwhile, amid the green hills of the Cotswolds, a nest of enemy aliens has been discovered: the Bruderhof, a Christian community made up of German, Dutch, and Swiss refugees, and growing numbers of English pacifists.
Having fled Nazi Germanyto escape persecution, the Bruderhof had at first been welcomed in England. Now, at the height of the Battle of Britain, it is feared. Curfews and travel restrictions are imposed; nasty newspaper articles appear, and local patriots initiate a boycott.
Determined to remain togetheras a witness for peace in a war-torn world, the little group of 300 half of them babies and young children looks for a new home. No country in Europe or North America will take them. And so they set off across the submarine-infested Atlantic for the jungles of Paraguay&
In this gripping tale of faithtested by adversity, Emmy Barth lets us hear directly from the mothers, fathers, and children involved through their letters and diaries. Especially eloquent are the voices of the women as they faced both adventure and tragedy.Foreword by Alfred Neufeld1 Voyage2 Up the River3 Mennonites in the Chaco4 Paraguayan Nazis?5 Chaco6 The Search for a Home7 Regrouping8 First Losses9 Primavera10 Christine11 Building Up12 Repentance13 Felix14 Christopher15 ChristmasAppendix 1: Transatlantic CrossingsAppendix 2: DeathsAppendix 3: Mennonite Peace DeclarationA fascinating history&Emmy Barth has done a wonderful job uncovering old documents and bringing to life an extraordinary story.A group of modern-day pilgrims seek refuge from Hitler in the South American jungle.