So far, we have traced Mama and Papa to the Cotswold Community. At last, they are in a safe, and compared to the German Community, a comfortable environment. However, and it always seems that after “comfortable” or “but” a “however” is inevitable. HITLER! His rise in power and iron fisted control over Germany, and the spread of Nazism over Europe, threatened the existence of freedoms of any country or people that stood in it’s way.
In 1939, the dire situation became even more pronounced , especially in England! Those in the Cotswold Community were being forced to make an extremely difficult decision. Either emigration to another country, or be placed in internment camps. Although the Bruderhof considered themselves as conscientious objectors , and only wanted to live in peace, the fact that there were so many Germans inter-married with other nationalities, made tensions between them and their neighbors untenable. Emigration tremendously difficult, but the thought of having to be interned, not knowing for how long, or even if families could be together, made it a relatively simple decision. Emigration!
Making the decision was the easy part, finding a country to accept them proved to be much harder. And the fact that the world was rapidly being drawn into WWII made any travel over the Atlantic a treacherous venture to say the least. There were approximately 350 people to be transported from England, 155 of which were children. But the decision to leave England, though very soul wrenching, was vigorously pursued.
Anyone that had any influence was encouraged to use it to enable the massive logistical endeavor to move ahead, and successfully complete the emigration process. To that end, Mama asked her father to write any of his friends, or acquaintances, to ask for help. My grandfather wrote, on their behalf, to Eleanor Roosevelt and to Louis Grieg. I have not yet received exact information on what the letters accomplished, but I do know that Louis Grieg was grandfather’s very close friend, and he, Louis Grieg, in turn, was a very close friend of King George VI. Louis Grieg was also the Fleet Admiral of the British Navy. Information that has been passed down from my mother suggests that the help received was instrumental in, not only finding a country that would allow them to emigrate, but also in cutting the legal red tape that inevitably would have slowed their departure.
Consequently, a Country, only one, was found that would allow the community to emigrate. Paraguay! There were already some Mennonite settlements in Paraguay and the dictator of Paraguay (Stressner) was aware of the many contributions the Mennonites had made to Paraguay. They were especially gifted at agriculture.
It was during this period of anxiety and desperation that my parents were married. On Nov. 22, 1940 in Swindon, England, they became husband and wife. (George and I were married in Cirencester, England about 20 miles away). Less than three months later on Feb. 8, 1941, The Avila Star sailed from England with Mama, Papa and 156 others on their way to South America.
Actually, there were several trips on different ships to get everyone to Paraguay. Mama and Papa were on the ship that had the most Community people, 158 men, women and children.
It was really miraculous that all the ships made the voyages safely and without incident. The reason the safe journeys are deemed miraculous is because of all the German U-boats that were prowling in the Atlantic waters. Many ships had been sunk, and in fact, the ship that transported Mama and Papa, “The Avila Star”, had been sunk traveling from South America back to Europe.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Mama in France
It is hard to imagine that two people with such vastly different backgrounds could ever be married to one another, but that is precisely what happened. A Clydesdale yoked together with a thoroughbred, is a more fitting picture than Mama and Papa as husband and wife. The differences between them were numerous.
Whereas Papa was born and raised under very harsh conditions in Munich, Germany, Mama was born in Paris, France with the proverbial silver spoon, not only in her mouth, but as a companion to her for most of her youth.
Papa’s parents were divorced early in his life, and since he was to be with his father, and since his father was a baker spending long hours working , Papa spent much of his time on the streets. Mama, on the other hand, had both of her parents with her. Her father was a doctor, and though he spent many hours with his practice, Her mother was right there for her.
The stark differences between Mama and Papa can go on and on, but I am sure that you can understand, there was little that they had in common. With that in mind, I will attempt to relate Mama’s life story and let you in on the circumstances that brought them to such an unlikely union.
Mama was born in Paris, France on Sept. 18, 1913. She was the youngest of four children the closest being Kaye, her brother, who was two years older. When she was six the two of them were sent to a boarding school by the seashore in France.
I guess the fact that both Mama and Papa were sent to boarding school, one could presume that their lives at that time were similar, but in all actuality, the similarities ended there. Their lives, in their respective boarding schools were very different. True, both schools were Catholic, and the teachers were very strict, but the atmosphere, the food, and even the gender of the teachers (Mama’s school had nuns while Papa’s had priests) made their respective experiences very different. Mama, also had Kaye for support when she needed him, and even had occasional visits from her father, which I am sure, made Mama’s life in the boarding school, more bearable, albeit lonely, compared to what Papa had to endure.
Mama was at the boarding school for only two years, but she said that she was very homesick and always looked forward to being home again with her mother and father. Happily, after those couple of years away, Mama did not have to return to the boarding school.
At about ten years of age Mama and her family moved to Cannes, France. My grandfather found out that he had a heart problem and felt that a change of climate would be of benefit for it. Mama tells about the mansion, three stories with many rooms. The third floor alone had eleven rooms. Mama said that it was perfect for playing “hide and seek”. It was there in Cannes that Mama excelled in school. So much so that she was moved up from grade to grade. In the end she was at least a head shorter than anyone else. Her class-mates nick-named her “bouchon” which means “cork.”
It was about this time that my grand-parents moved into a smaller house called the “Villa Serpolette” (I visited the “Villa Serpolette” with my German Grandfather and my uncle. The villa was located on the French Riviera about 50 or so yards from the beach). It was also at this time when Mama’s father started playing tennis with the entire family. He played, he said, “for reasons of his health“, but mainly because he envisioned Mama becoming an accomplished player, as was he. (I found out this past September that my grandfather, Archibald Adam Warden, was a bronze medalist, in Tennis, at the 1900 Olympics in Paris). During Mama’s early teen years they would travel every week to play in tennis tournaments, they toured all over Switzerland, and even Scotland, each week in a different town staying at luxurious hotels.
Then came the great depression! It hit Europe just as it hit America. Consequently, my grandfather, as did most other people, lost all of his money in the stock market. Mama said that they had to do without the maid, cook, and chauffer. But, in spite of having to live the “simple” life, my grandfather was still a very successful doctor. In fact, most of his patients were very rich and very famous. Among the patients that he treated were Eleanor Roosevelt, J.P.Morgan, Donald Campbell, Admiral Byrd et al.
Mama was very unsettled and was not at all satisfied with the way her life was going. So when she was eighteen she went to Germany to live with a Jewish family in order to learn German. Why, I do not know. But they helped Mama learn German while she taught their two girls to speak English and French. Then, at nineteen, she asked my grandfather to let her have 1,000 Francs along with permission to go to Paris to find a job. Her father was not too happy to let her go, but in the end he said alright. Grandfather arranged for her to ride in a Rolls Royce that belonged to the Pasha of Marakesh (prince of Morocco), who was also his patient. In Paris, she found a job as personal secretary to Rudyard Kipling’s wife. She also taught children to read. However, once again, she found herself unfulfilled, and again returned to Cannes. Mama had a difficult time finding out what direction she wanted her life to go. Then at 21 years of age, she thought that she wanted to be a nurse. Again, my grandfather was not happy with Mama’s desire to become a nurse, but again, he allowed her to try.
Mama went to London where arrangements had been made for her to stay with her mother’s cousin, Sir Henry Souttar. Sir Henry Sessions Souttar, was a very prominent physician in England, and the first surgeon to perform a successful open heart surgery. He did a heart valve operation on a young girl, which made it possible for the girl to live many years. It was not until 1948, 23 years later, that a similar operation was attempted. Dr. Souttar invented numerous surgical tools that are still being used today! In fact, medical students are still studying the heart valve surgery techniques that he performed. He was knighted for his surgical tool inventions.
(Just a side note: George and I were given our wedding reception at Dr Souttar’s home in London in 1964.)
Mama’s venture into nursing ended as all her other pursuits, being frustrated and unfulfilled. Actually, she felt that there had to be something more than the life of luxury that she had been living. Thus she found herself being drawn to more spiritual pursuits. In Paris, she was attracted to various religious groups, but it was a pamphlet she found that drew her to the place she would spend the rest of her life.
The article was about a community of Christians in England. In fact, from the explanation of the Bruderhof, and the pictures that accompanied it, it seemed like the answer to all the questions that had plagued her for so many years. Perhaps she would find some sense of accomplishment that all her other pursuits had been devoid of. And, not only could it be a good place for her, but could also be good for her brother as well. Her parents agreed. So it was that Mama and Uncle Kaye embarked on the journey to the Cotswold’s in England. Kaye’s visit was just that, a visit. He soon left England and returned to France. Mama, on the other hand had found what she had been looking for, and never returned home.
In the Bruderhof, the people wore the clothes that Hutterites (similar to the Amish)wore. Very conservative and very uniform in style. So, Mama packed all her clothes and sent them, along with trunks full of party dresses and other possessions, to her sister Charlotte, who, of course, expected Mama’s arrival at any moment. But, alas, she never came. Mama had forsaken all her earthly possessions , and gave up being able to see her family again, to join the Bruderhof.
Whereas Papa was born and raised under very harsh conditions in Munich, Germany, Mama was born in Paris, France with the proverbial silver spoon, not only in her mouth, but as a companion to her for most of her youth.
Papa’s parents were divorced early in his life, and since he was to be with his father, and since his father was a baker spending long hours working , Papa spent much of his time on the streets. Mama, on the other hand, had both of her parents with her. Her father was a doctor, and though he spent many hours with his practice, Her mother was right there for her.
The stark differences between Mama and Papa can go on and on, but I am sure that you can understand, there was little that they had in common. With that in mind, I will attempt to relate Mama’s life story and let you in on the circumstances that brought them to such an unlikely union.
Mama was born in Paris, France on Sept. 18, 1913. She was the youngest of four children the closest being Kaye, her brother, who was two years older. When she was six the two of them were sent to a boarding school by the seashore in France.
I guess the fact that both Mama and Papa were sent to boarding school, one could presume that their lives at that time were similar, but in all actuality, the similarities ended there. Their lives, in their respective boarding schools were very different. True, both schools were Catholic, and the teachers were very strict, but the atmosphere, the food, and even the gender of the teachers (Mama’s school had nuns while Papa’s had priests) made their respective experiences very different. Mama, also had Kaye for support when she needed him, and even had occasional visits from her father, which I am sure, made Mama’s life in the boarding school, more bearable, albeit lonely, compared to what Papa had to endure.
Mama was at the boarding school for only two years, but she said that she was very homesick and always looked forward to being home again with her mother and father. Happily, after those couple of years away, Mama did not have to return to the boarding school.
At about ten years of age Mama and her family moved to Cannes, France. My grandfather found out that he had a heart problem and felt that a change of climate would be of benefit for it. Mama tells about the mansion, three stories with many rooms. The third floor alone had eleven rooms. Mama said that it was perfect for playing “hide and seek”. It was there in Cannes that Mama excelled in school. So much so that she was moved up from grade to grade. In the end she was at least a head shorter than anyone else. Her class-mates nick-named her “bouchon” which means “cork.”
It was about this time that my grand-parents moved into a smaller house called the “Villa Serpolette” (I visited the “Villa Serpolette” with my German Grandfather and my uncle. The villa was located on the French Riviera about 50 or so yards from the beach). It was also at this time when Mama’s father started playing tennis with the entire family. He played, he said, “for reasons of his health“, but mainly because he envisioned Mama becoming an accomplished player, as was he. (I found out this past September that my grandfather, Archibald Adam Warden, was a bronze medalist, in Tennis, at the 1900 Olympics in Paris). During Mama’s early teen years they would travel every week to play in tennis tournaments, they toured all over Switzerland, and even Scotland, each week in a different town staying at luxurious hotels.
Then came the great depression! It hit Europe just as it hit America. Consequently, my grandfather, as did most other people, lost all of his money in the stock market. Mama said that they had to do without the maid, cook, and chauffer. But, in spite of having to live the “simple” life, my grandfather was still a very successful doctor. In fact, most of his patients were very rich and very famous. Among the patients that he treated were Eleanor Roosevelt, J.P.Morgan, Donald Campbell, Admiral Byrd et al.
Mama was very unsettled and was not at all satisfied with the way her life was going. So when she was eighteen she went to Germany to live with a Jewish family in order to learn German. Why, I do not know. But they helped Mama learn German while she taught their two girls to speak English and French. Then, at nineteen, she asked my grandfather to let her have 1,000 Francs along with permission to go to Paris to find a job. Her father was not too happy to let her go, but in the end he said alright. Grandfather arranged for her to ride in a Rolls Royce that belonged to the Pasha of Marakesh (prince of Morocco), who was also his patient. In Paris, she found a job as personal secretary to Rudyard Kipling’s wife. She also taught children to read. However, once again, she found herself unfulfilled, and again returned to Cannes. Mama had a difficult time finding out what direction she wanted her life to go. Then at 21 years of age, she thought that she wanted to be a nurse. Again, my grandfather was not happy with Mama’s desire to become a nurse, but again, he allowed her to try.
Mama went to London where arrangements had been made for her to stay with her mother’s cousin, Sir Henry Souttar. Sir Henry Sessions Souttar, was a very prominent physician in England, and the first surgeon to perform a successful open heart surgery. He did a heart valve operation on a young girl, which made it possible for the girl to live many years. It was not until 1948, 23 years later, that a similar operation was attempted. Dr. Souttar invented numerous surgical tools that are still being used today! In fact, medical students are still studying the heart valve surgery techniques that he performed. He was knighted for his surgical tool inventions.
(Just a side note: George and I were given our wedding reception at Dr Souttar’s home in London in 1964.)
Mama’s venture into nursing ended as all her other pursuits, being frustrated and unfulfilled. Actually, she felt that there had to be something more than the life of luxury that she had been living. Thus she found herself being drawn to more spiritual pursuits. In Paris, she was attracted to various religious groups, but it was a pamphlet she found that drew her to the place she would spend the rest of her life.
The article was about a community of Christians in England. In fact, from the explanation of the Bruderhof, and the pictures that accompanied it, it seemed like the answer to all the questions that had plagued her for so many years. Perhaps she would find some sense of accomplishment that all her other pursuits had been devoid of. And, not only could it be a good place for her, but could also be good for her brother as well. Her parents agreed. So it was that Mama and Uncle Kaye embarked on the journey to the Cotswold’s in England. Kaye’s visit was just that, a visit. He soon left England and returned to France. Mama, on the other hand had found what she had been looking for, and never returned home.
In the Bruderhof, the people wore the clothes that Hutterites (similar to the Amish)wore. Very conservative and very uniform in style. So, Mama packed all her clothes and sent them, along with trunks full of party dresses and other possessions, to her sister Charlotte, who, of course, expected Mama’s arrival at any moment. But, alas, she never came. Mama had forsaken all her earthly possessions , and gave up being able to see her family again, to join the Bruderhof.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
From Alm to the Cotswolds
Papa’s flight to the Alm Bruderhof afforded him some respite, but the safety that the Alm Bruderhoh afforded over the Rhoen Bruderhof, could not lessen the effects that the Nazi movement had over all of Europe. The control that Hitler exerted in Germany would spread over all of the European continent, and any opposition that presented itself to the Nazi way would be stifled, at best, but usually just crushed.
In April of 1937 the Rhoen community was informed by telephone that all their residents had twenty-four hours to leave the Bruderhof. The state had confiscated all books and keys and they were ordered out!
Before they left, the officials of the state wrote down names ages and any other pertinent information that could be useful to the Hitler regime. The community was forced from its home, and forced out without any of their household goods or anything connected with the community. Basically, with only the clothes on their backs.
It was obvious that it would not be long before the surrounding countries would be forced to succumb to the mounting pressure of the “Third Reich”.
Consequently, those that were in the Alm community in Liechtenstein knew that they had little time before they would be forced out of the country, and worse, that the military aged men would be forced to enter the German army. To refuse would most certainly be prison or, quite possibly, death.
Once again, Papa would have to flee. As his passport was getting close to expiration his escape would have to be soon. A friend had been chosen to escort him to the safety of England as there was a Bruderhof in the English area of the Cotswolds. Papa could only speak German and was able to travel by himself as far as Ostend, Belgium.
In order to obtain a visa to enter into England, it was necessary for Papa to have an invitation for work. His invitation, from a Mrs. Mason, was for the purpose of Papa helping her purchase horses (I suppose that the times he spent with the horses instead of being in kindergarten was preparing him for those times).
Ironically, the same agent that Papa met at customs was also the agent that received another man from the Bruderhof who also had an invitation from a Mrs. Mason, but his invitation was for the express purpose of assisting her in the purchase of “cattle“. Coincidence aside, Papa was able to enter England!
In April of 1937 the Rhoen community was informed by telephone that all their residents had twenty-four hours to leave the Bruderhof. The state had confiscated all books and keys and they were ordered out!
Before they left, the officials of the state wrote down names ages and any other pertinent information that could be useful to the Hitler regime. The community was forced from its home, and forced out without any of their household goods or anything connected with the community. Basically, with only the clothes on their backs.
It was obvious that it would not be long before the surrounding countries would be forced to succumb to the mounting pressure of the “Third Reich”.
Consequently, those that were in the Alm community in Liechtenstein knew that they had little time before they would be forced out of the country, and worse, that the military aged men would be forced to enter the German army. To refuse would most certainly be prison or, quite possibly, death.
Once again, Papa would have to flee. As his passport was getting close to expiration his escape would have to be soon. A friend had been chosen to escort him to the safety of England as there was a Bruderhof in the English area of the Cotswolds. Papa could only speak German and was able to travel by himself as far as Ostend, Belgium.
In order to obtain a visa to enter into England, it was necessary for Papa to have an invitation for work. His invitation, from a Mrs. Mason, was for the purpose of Papa helping her purchase horses (I suppose that the times he spent with the horses instead of being in kindergarten was preparing him for those times).
Ironically, the same agent that Papa met at customs was also the agent that received another man from the Bruderhof who also had an invitation from a Mrs. Mason, but his invitation was for the express purpose of assisting her in the purchase of “cattle“. Coincidence aside, Papa was able to enter England!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Papa's Plight
My children, as well as many friends, have asked me, “why were you in South America?” To answer that question, I will have to take you to Germany.
My father, ”Papa”, was born in Landau, Germany in 1911. His life, from the beginning, was quite harsh and frightening. He has told stories of airplanes shooting at their house and being afraid of going near the train station because the communists had taken it over and there was a lot of gunfire. The battles that were occurring and the general hardships of the time, made life difficult, especially for a five or six year old boy.
Papa’s parents had become divorced, and Papa was awarded to his father while his sister went with his mother. The situation was very difficult because of Papa’s father’s job. He was a baker and having to be at work at 2:30 A.M. left little time to watch after Papa.
Because Papa was not being attended to properly, he found himself on the streets of Munich rather that in kindergarten (he was very often found at the horse stables playing with the horses rather than attending school). I do not recall any stories Papa told about playing with other boys, or having toys, so perhaps the times he was with the horses were the only times that he could be happy as a child.
Papa tells us that when he was about eight years old, his father took him to a man at a train station, gave him a little bag with some cherries, and said good-bye. He had never seen the man before, but he was to become his guardian, as his father was not able to work and to take care of Papa. .
The man, his guardian, took Papa and two other boys, and placed them in a Catholic boarding school. Papa was not able to see his mother from that time for three or four years.
Life in the boarding school was very hard and very strict. The meals consisted of a half slice of bread, a potato and some barley coffee. The school lessons were also very strict and severe. Whenever Papa made mistakes, and they were more than a few, he would be whipped with a stick. When the whistle blew they were to respond quickly, and if they were not quick enough, they had to run up and down a rather long distance eight or ten times.
It was at that boarding house where his mother “rescued” him and took him in to her house. However, the stay with his mother was short lived, as his step-father was not in agreement with taking Papa into their home.
After leaving his mother’s home , Papa lived with other relatives, trying to find a vocation that suited him. He tried learning to be a tailor and he tried to learn to be a baker, but as a teen-ager of about sixteen years neither choice was easy. He ended up as a baker, and an excellent one at that.
For the next couple of years Papa wandered around the country working at whatever jobs he could find (mainly, Papa wanted to roam around Germany and was not really wanting to settle for a career). It was at that time, when Papa was eighteen, that he entered the Bruderhof. (The Bruderhof is a community of Christian believers very similar to Hutterians).
Papa thought that he had found, at last, what he had been searching for his entire life. Up to that time, the only “Christianity” he had ever witnessed was in the strict and severe Catholic boarding school. Papa was instantly drawn to the people that were to become his family for the rest of his life.
On January 14, 1930 Papa entered the Bruderhof In Rhoen, Germany, but it was not long before the political atmosphere in Germany became, not only difficult, but also dangerous for any person that did not follow the dictates of Adolph Hitler!
Pressures were being exerted on the small community to put Nazi teachers into their school. Of course, that could never be done by the community. On November 16, 1933, one hundred forty men all SS and Gestapo, surrounded the community, searched the entire compound, read many personal correspondences, and finally left, having taken many books, letters, and personal papers.
It became obvious that it would not be safe to stay in Germany, especially for the young men that were of military age. Also they became aware that if they were to have a school they would have to allow the Nazi’s to bring in their own teachers. The threat of that happening caused the Bruderhof to smuggle all their students out of Germany.
The Nazi teacher did come, but the students had all safely escaped to Switzerland.
As Hitler’s influence grew, the political situation in Germany became more serious, especially as the pressures grew toward the Bruderhof, it became evident that all the men of military age would have to flee the country.
Papa, along with two other men departed Germany riding bicycles. The three men began their flight at midnight, each with a loaf of bread and some sausage. They cycled all night hoping to find their way to Liechtenstein. In the morning they came to a village where the townspeople were all marching to a war memorial. Papa and his friends walked behind them several yards until the people turned a corner. Taking a deep breath the three men got back on their bicycles and continued their journey. The same thing occurred two more times. The fact that no one called out to them or bothered them at all was quite an amazing thing in the least.
The three men were very tired, but they were all determined to reach the safety of the Alm Bruderhof. After many more hours of “ how much farther” and “oh ,about twenty minutes” ,or “oh, about half an hour”, finally the light of Alm appeared in the valley! What a relief they felt! They coasted downhill to the railroad station and then on to their destination. Though they were exhausted from the arduous trek, and the many hours of strenuous pedaling, , they arrived . They were very tired, but they were safe.
My father, ”Papa”, was born in Landau, Germany in 1911. His life, from the beginning, was quite harsh and frightening. He has told stories of airplanes shooting at their house and being afraid of going near the train station because the communists had taken it over and there was a lot of gunfire. The battles that were occurring and the general hardships of the time, made life difficult, especially for a five or six year old boy.
Papa’s parents had become divorced, and Papa was awarded to his father while his sister went with his mother. The situation was very difficult because of Papa’s father’s job. He was a baker and having to be at work at 2:30 A.M. left little time to watch after Papa.
Because Papa was not being attended to properly, he found himself on the streets of Munich rather that in kindergarten (he was very often found at the horse stables playing with the horses rather than attending school). I do not recall any stories Papa told about playing with other boys, or having toys, so perhaps the times he was with the horses were the only times that he could be happy as a child.
Papa tells us that when he was about eight years old, his father took him to a man at a train station, gave him a little bag with some cherries, and said good-bye. He had never seen the man before, but he was to become his guardian, as his father was not able to work and to take care of Papa. .
The man, his guardian, took Papa and two other boys, and placed them in a Catholic boarding school. Papa was not able to see his mother from that time for three or four years.
Life in the boarding school was very hard and very strict. The meals consisted of a half slice of bread, a potato and some barley coffee. The school lessons were also very strict and severe. Whenever Papa made mistakes, and they were more than a few, he would be whipped with a stick. When the whistle blew they were to respond quickly, and if they were not quick enough, they had to run up and down a rather long distance eight or ten times.
It was at that boarding house where his mother “rescued” him and took him in to her house. However, the stay with his mother was short lived, as his step-father was not in agreement with taking Papa into their home.
After leaving his mother’s home , Papa lived with other relatives, trying to find a vocation that suited him. He tried learning to be a tailor and he tried to learn to be a baker, but as a teen-ager of about sixteen years neither choice was easy. He ended up as a baker, and an excellent one at that.
For the next couple of years Papa wandered around the country working at whatever jobs he could find (mainly, Papa wanted to roam around Germany and was not really wanting to settle for a career). It was at that time, when Papa was eighteen, that he entered the Bruderhof. (The Bruderhof is a community of Christian believers very similar to Hutterians).
Papa thought that he had found, at last, what he had been searching for his entire life. Up to that time, the only “Christianity” he had ever witnessed was in the strict and severe Catholic boarding school. Papa was instantly drawn to the people that were to become his family for the rest of his life.
On January 14, 1930 Papa entered the Bruderhof In Rhoen, Germany, but it was not long before the political atmosphere in Germany became, not only difficult, but also dangerous for any person that did not follow the dictates of Adolph Hitler!
Pressures were being exerted on the small community to put Nazi teachers into their school. Of course, that could never be done by the community. On November 16, 1933, one hundred forty men all SS and Gestapo, surrounded the community, searched the entire compound, read many personal correspondences, and finally left, having taken many books, letters, and personal papers.
It became obvious that it would not be safe to stay in Germany, especially for the young men that were of military age. Also they became aware that if they were to have a school they would have to allow the Nazi’s to bring in their own teachers. The threat of that happening caused the Bruderhof to smuggle all their students out of Germany.
The Nazi teacher did come, but the students had all safely escaped to Switzerland.
As Hitler’s influence grew, the political situation in Germany became more serious, especially as the pressures grew toward the Bruderhof, it became evident that all the men of military age would have to flee the country.
Papa, along with two other men departed Germany riding bicycles. The three men began their flight at midnight, each with a loaf of bread and some sausage. They cycled all night hoping to find their way to Liechtenstein. In the morning they came to a village where the townspeople were all marching to a war memorial. Papa and his friends walked behind them several yards until the people turned a corner. Taking a deep breath the three men got back on their bicycles and continued their journey. The same thing occurred two more times. The fact that no one called out to them or bothered them at all was quite an amazing thing in the least.
The three men were very tired, but they were all determined to reach the safety of the Alm Bruderhof. After many more hours of “ how much farther” and “oh ,about twenty minutes” ,or “oh, about half an hour”, finally the light of Alm appeared in the valley! What a relief they felt! They coasted downhill to the railroad station and then on to their destination. Though they were exhausted from the arduous trek, and the many hours of strenuous pedaling, , they arrived . They were very tired, but they were safe.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Rammin & jammin correction
Actually, the "billy-goat" in the story was, in fact, a ram. But, other than that, the story as written, repeated itself quite often.
I must admit, however, that we kids antagonized that ram whenever we had the chance.
Michael Vigar, on more than one occasion, would torment the animal to the point the ram would blindly charge Michael who, acting like a torreador, would jump to the side causing the poor ram to crash into a tree or any other unmovable object that was near.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Boys on the bow.
It is hard to imagine what its like to grow up in a place where there are very few of the things that are so common to what the rest of the world enjoys. Cars, appliances, air conditioning, or even windows with glass panes. Then, imagine leaving that place at age nineteen and being thrust into a modern booming society with all the hustle and bustle that we all take for granted. That , in fact, is what happened to me!
We were not even to our destination, but were still on the ship from South America, when my inexperience was made evident.
One day, my four brothers, Luke, Joe, Joel and Raphael (aged 12, 10, 8 and 6 respectively) wandered to an off-limits area on the bow of the ship. Of course, they did not realize the danger they put themselves in, they had only wanted to get the best view of the ocean they could find.
They were discovered by the captain from the bridge before anyone was hurt, and were scolded very sternly. All’s well that ends well, or so one would think. But, having climbed into an area that was not intended for the travelers, the boys inadvertently got into some grease and tar
Mom was very upset as there were not a lot of clothes for the boys. The responsibility of getting the tar out was given to me. I was the oldest. Big whoop! I was sent to a room and was shown a large square concrete sink. I spent what seemed like an eternity scrubbing and washing the clothes, by hand. In vain I might add! I then gave up.
Tired and frustrated by my efforts, and lack of success, I decided to return to my cabin.
Turning from my "chamber of horrors", the sink, I noticed the rows of white metal boxes.
It was later when I was told the “white boxes” were washers and dryers.
We were not even to our destination, but were still on the ship from South America, when my inexperience was made evident.
One day, my four brothers, Luke, Joe, Joel and Raphael (aged 12, 10, 8 and 6 respectively) wandered to an off-limits area on the bow of the ship. Of course, they did not realize the danger they put themselves in, they had only wanted to get the best view of the ocean they could find.
They were discovered by the captain from the bridge before anyone was hurt, and were scolded very sternly. All’s well that ends well, or so one would think. But, having climbed into an area that was not intended for the travelers, the boys inadvertently got into some grease and tar
Mom was very upset as there were not a lot of clothes for the boys. The responsibility of getting the tar out was given to me. I was the oldest. Big whoop! I was sent to a room and was shown a large square concrete sink. I spent what seemed like an eternity scrubbing and washing the clothes, by hand. In vain I might add! I then gave up.
Tired and frustrated by my efforts, and lack of success, I decided to return to my cabin.
Turning from my "chamber of horrors", the sink, I noticed the rows of white metal boxes.
It was later when I was told the “white boxes” were washers and dryers.
Rammin & jammin
These stories, “Jungle Gems”, are from my past and hopefully will be enjoyable for all that read them.
Growing up in the jungles of Paraguay left much to be desired as to the comforts of home. Many times the necessities of life, although seemingly serious at the time, offer some comic relief, though usually “that relief"comes at a later time...How do you spell “relief” ?
Our house had all the conveniences that a home in The Paraguayan jungle had. Three rooms and a "path" (the path was about 45 or 50 yards). When nature called it was imperative that the utmost haste be utilized. Not only for the obvious reason for the journey, but also for the perils that lie ahead for anyone that attempts such a venture to the outhouse. Our perils included an especially irreverent and cantancorous billy goat. Whenever I felt “the call”, I first had to look for the goat, and, depending on the urgency of “the call” , I would either postpone my "pilgrimage", or would run for all my life hoping that I would not only beat the goat, but find the outhouse unoccupied.
Run across the path! Throw open the door! Slam the door shut! And wait for the inevitable. BANG! The goat butting into the outhouse.
Ah, sweet success. .. If only I did not have to make the return trip.
Growing up in the jungles of Paraguay left much to be desired as to the comforts of home. Many times the necessities of life, although seemingly serious at the time, offer some comic relief, though usually “that relief"comes at a later time...How do you spell “relief” ?
Our house had all the conveniences that a home in The Paraguayan jungle had. Three rooms and a "path" (the path was about 45 or 50 yards). When nature called it was imperative that the utmost haste be utilized. Not only for the obvious reason for the journey, but also for the perils that lie ahead for anyone that attempts such a venture to the outhouse. Our perils included an especially irreverent and cantancorous billy goat. Whenever I felt “the call”, I first had to look for the goat, and, depending on the urgency of “the call” , I would either postpone my "pilgrimage", or would run for all my life hoping that I would not only beat the goat, but find the outhouse unoccupied.
Run across the path! Throw open the door! Slam the door shut! And wait for the inevitable. BANG! The goat butting into the outhouse.
Ah, sweet success. .. If only I did not have to make the return trip.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Gem #1
This is the beginning of my blog and the story of my life as I remember things. My granddaughter talked me into starting an "online diary" of sorts to tell my story. She thinks it's interesting as do others...and they are some pretty fascinating memories that I have and I cannot wait to share.
This is my life as I remember it.
This is my life as I remember it.
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