Savannah Jane McCrary's Blog

Warning: this review contains spoilers!

Truth & Treason is based on the true story of a teenage boy in Nazi Germany who dared to write the truth–and paid the ultimate price for it.

I went to see this movie in the theater with my parents and younger siblings–something I’ve been looking forward to for months, ever since I first saw the movie teaser trailer back in the spring! Few things get me more excited than going to see a well-made World War II movie. Some movies you watch and you enjoy them, but then you forget about them. This is not one of those movies. This is a movie that will leave you with a lot to think about, which is just the kind of story I love most. It’s not all fun and enjoyable to watch, but it’s impactful.

It tells the story of Helmuth Hübener, a sixteen-year-old boy living in Hamburg, Germany, in 1941. After his Jewish friend is taken away, Helmuth begins listening to the real news on illegal radio broadcasts from England–and starts writing the truth. But telling the truth in Nazi Germany comes at a very high cost. And for Helmuth Hübener, it would cost his life.

While the Nazis murdered well over a million Jewish children and hundreds of thousands of other children, including those with disabilities and special needs, Helmuth Hübener was the youngest person to be officially tried and sentenced to death by the infamous People’s Court. He was barely seventeen when he was executed–simply for writing and distributing leaflets that told the truth about Hitler and the Nazis’ crimes.

Helmuth was part of the Mormon church (also called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS). I’m not, and I believe that the Mormon church teaches some very unbiblical doctrines. But one of the things that I loved about this movie was that Helmuth did what he believed was right, even when it went against what his bishop and church were teaching. (Although it’s not shown in the movie, Helmuth was actually excommunicated for his stand against the Nazis and only posthumously reinstated after the war.)

And when Helmuth speaks of Jesus, he shares what the Scriptures say about Him. “Jesus was a revolutionary,” Helmuth says in the movie. “We like to think of Him as always being kind and loving and filled with grace, and He was. But the Scriptures say He was full of grace and truth. He said what needed to be said. He stood up, but He did it peacefully. Where Barabbas fought with swords, He fought with words. He was rejected by the Romans and the rabbis, the Pharisees and Saducees, even by most of those who knew Him. But He did what was right, and let the consequence follow. May we be filled with grace and truth. When the moment comes for us to stand up, may we stand.”

As a writer, I loved the theme of “fighting with words,” and the reminder that words are powerful.

“The Reich doesn’t fear your little papers,” the judge tells Helmuth at his trial.

“Then why are we here?” Helmuth asks.

If words aren’t powerful, then why did the Nazis try so hard to silence them?

It brought to mind the story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, two other young Germans who were also executed by the Nazis for the words they wrote.

When the Nazis first arrested Helmuth, they couldn’t believe that he was the one who had written those leaflets. They were looking for a university professor, someone older, someone intellectual. They were shocked that a sixteen-year-old could have written those words.

You know, people can be quick to underestimate teenagers! I started writing seriously as a young teen and published my first book at the age of seventeen, back in 2017. It was nonfiction about issues such as modern-day slavery, abortion, and orphans. I, in my own way, tried to write the truth. Not that anything I have done has required anywhere near the amount of courage it took for Helmuth to do what he did! Here in America, we are so blessed. We have the First Amendment. We have freedom of speech. I think it’s important to be reminded of what a gift our freedoms are.

And I am so excited to see, over the past couple of years, and especially in the last couple of months, so many young people writing the truth. I truly believe there is revival happening in this country, and it makes me so excited! I don’t mean to say that I think every teenager needs to be publicly speaking or writing, or that those who don’t are less than those who do. God gives us all different gifts, different callings. Our job is simply to be faithful with what we are given. And Helmuth Hübener certainly had a gift with words, which we see him use in this movie.

It makes me furious when people here in America today compare a leader to Hitler or call their opponents Nazis. I think it’s extremely disrespectful to everyone who suffered under the Nazi regime and also shows a lot of ignorance as to just how evil Hitler and the Nazis truly were.

Which is why I believe the stories of World War II and the Holocaust must be told. And one reason why I think movies like this are important.

It won’t be for everyone to watch. It’s rated PG-13, mainly for violence, which there is a fair amount of. There are several scenes where people are beaten up, sometimes pretty badly. We see Helmuth and other prisoners being brutally interrogated. And the movie ends with Helmuth’s execution by beheading. Thankfully, the camera goes dark before the blade comes down, but we see the preparations being made. It’s disturbing, and I think it should be. There’s no foul language other than one use of “bloody.” There is a little romance; Helmuth goes on a date with a girl he works with, and they kiss a couple of times (if I were directing the movie, I’d have left out the kisses, of course😀). While it’s overall a very serious movie, there were parts that made me smile and even laugh, too. And the acting, the costumes, every aspect of the cinematography! It was excellently done.

As a side note: I thought it was neat that this movie is called Truth & Treason, and my new book is called Trains and Tulips! Very similar titles, but I did come up with mine several years ago, long before I heard of this movie! (In case you happen to be new here and don’t know about my book, it’s historical fiction set in the Netherlands during World War II, inspired by true stories of the Dutch Resistance. You can learn more about it here.)

While working on this review, I discovered that there is also an extended edition of the movie, which will be available to stream on the Angel app as a four-part series. So now I need to go watch that!

In summary, while I would never promote Mormon theology, the message of this movie, that truth is powerful and it’s worth fighting for, is a message I will wholeheartedly promote. Our greatest weapon against evil, darkness, and lies is the truth.

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“Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;”
Zechariah 8:16

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth… grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:14, 17

Hello friends! Today, I’d like to share with you a bit of the heart behind my book, Trains and Tulips: A Novel of the World War II Dutch Resistance.

There are several reasons I chose to write about this time period, but I will share two of the main reasons I am so passionate about sharing the stories of World War II and the Holocaust and a bit of the heart behind this story.

I want to remind people that God is good and give them hope.

As I’ve read the stories of real heroes from World War II, one of the things that has stood out to me the most is how they kept hoping, kept believing in the goodness of God, in even the very darkest of circumstances. They found beauty and light in even the worst places and never stopped hoping. I personally have experienced the goodness of God and the incredible hope and joy and peace that comes from trusting Him, and I want to share that with my readers.

I want to remind people that life is valuable.

Another of my biggest takeaways from my World War II heroes is that every life is precious.

During World War II, the Nazis sought to exterminate Jews, the disabled, and anyone else they deemed “unfit.” Two-thirds of the Jewish population as a whole in Europe were killed by the Nazis, and approximately 90% of Jewish children in Europe were murdered. Thousands of disabled children and adults, Russians, Romani people, and others were also systematically killed. This is a horrific tragedy that should not be forgotten.

While there were many Christians in Europe who did nothing in the face of such evil, there were also many Christians such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and others who worked to rescue those persecuted by the Nazis and spread the truth that God values life.

While today, we thankfully don’t have concentration camps and gas chambers, there is a disturbing disregard for human life, evidenced in the wide acceptance of abortion, human euthanasia, and doctor-assisted suicide. And in the past few years, antisemitism and crimes against Jews have risen alarmingly.

All of this convinces me that these stories must be told. We must remember and learn from our history. While the practicals will look different for us than they did for the Dutch Resistance during World War II, as we’re not living in an enemy-occupied country in wartime, we can still work to rescue the needy and vulnerable as they did. I desire to use my writing to be a voice for those who have no voice–the unborn, the sick, the elderly, the orphan, the persecuted, the enslaved, those with special needs. I want to share the truth that every life is created by God in His image, and therefore has great value.

Lest you think this story is all seriousness, though, let me assure you that there is humor interspersed in it as well! I like to describe my writing as “infused with a hearty dose of hope, truth, and beauty, plus a dash of humor.” I love to laugh and think serious subjects should be lightened up with a bit of fun!

You can learn more about the real stories that inspired this book and the lessons from my World War II heroes by reading these blog posts:

The Story of Corrie ten Boom

The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Story of Hans Poley

The Story of Diet Eman

Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part One: God Still Does Miracles

Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part Two: Find Beauty in the Dark

Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part Three: Give Thanks

Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part Four: Every Life is Precious

Trains and Tulips is available for pre-order through Kickstarter until September 20th! Click here to learn more and order your book!

Always remember, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it,” (1 Thess. 5:24).

All for Him,

Savannah Jane

Hello friends! Today, I’m thrilled to welcome to the blog author Phoebe Hinkle! My family is currently reading her World War II historical fiction book, We Gave Our Tomorrows and loving it! Here is my interview with Phoebe:

1. When did you start writing?

I've been coming up with stories pretty much my whole life, but didn't start writing really seriously until I was about 12. I finished my first book at age 15 (but we don't talk about that one, shh ) and have kept going ever since!

2. Why do you love writing?

I love writing for a lot of reasons: I like being able to control outcomes, live adventures vicariously, and spend time with some pretty awesome (but occasionally annoying) people in my head. But I think one of my biggest reasons, and the one that really keeps me going, is the fact that I can use writing to point people to God and glorify Him.

3. What are some of your favorite books?

Oh man, I have so many! But my favorites include Lord of the Rings, Ben-Hur by General Lew Wallace, and Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott.

4. What are a few of your favorite movies and/or TV shows?

For movies, that would include Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and the movies by the homeschool family Little Crew Studios. We don't own a TV, but I enjoy watching older shows, especially Combat! (1962-1967), Jonny Quest (1964), and A&E's Wind in the Willows (1983-1990).

5. Who are some of your heroes from history?

You know, every time I get asked this question, the answer changes, lol. But Stonewall Jackson is one of my heroes, as is Jeb Stuart (both Confederate generals) and Darlene Deibler (author of Evidence Not Seen). Stonewall and Stuart are both heroes because they were brave leaders who were unapologetically Christian and often passed that on to their men. I admire Darlene Deibler for her faith and courage as a POW of the Japanese in WWII.

6. What inspired you to write  We Gave Our Tomorrows ?

We Gave Our Tomorrows was inspired by a board game I played with my dad and brother, in which we took a squad of American soldiers through the whole of WWII in Europe, from June 1944 to V-E Day. After the very first battle we played out, I knew this had the potential to make a great story, so I started taking notes about everything that happened in the game. That was the easy part - taking all those notes and turning it into a full, fleshed-out story was quite a challenge sometimes!

7. Do you have any current works-in-progress you'd like to tell us about?

I have a few WIPs I'm working on right now, though none of them are anywhere near being done. Currently I'm working on Motto of Glory, a story about the Italian Folgore paratrooper division in WWII. It's hard to find research materials for that! I also have a few stories in mind that are connected to We Gave Our Tomorrows - one about a WGOT character's time in North Africa (I'm not giving names to avoid spoilers ), and then another one about said character's son in Vietnam.

8. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Don't stop writing, even if you think it sounds terrible - and don't be afraid to jump ahead and write scenes out of order. You can always edit the awful things you write, but you can never edit the things you didn't write. Read a LOT - read authors that you like, and try to determine what makes them such good writers. Read authors you don't like; be willing to admit what they do well, and figure out what it is that you don't like about their writing. Most importantly, don't forget to pray over your writing! Be willing to surrender it to God and let Him take the story where it needs to go - after all, He's the greatest Author of all time.

9. Besides writing, what are some of your other hobbies and interests?

I love reading (of course, haha), crochet, playing games with my family, and going flea market shopping with my mom. I'm always on the lookout for 1940s stuff, especially militaria, since I'm trying to put together a war correspondent impression for historical reenacting.

10. Where can readers find your books and connect with you?

The best place to find me and my books is on my website (Home - Black Otter Books). That has my blog, links to all my books on Amazon, stop-motion Lego trailers for the books, and a Contact page. My Goodreads profile (Phoebe Hinkle| Goodreads) is another good source.

Thank you for having me on the blog, Savannah! I really enjoyed it!

I hope you all enjoyed reading this interview as much as I enjoyed doing it! I hope you’ll check out Phoebe Hinkle’s books!

Also, she interviewed me on her blog! Check out that interview here.

Always remember, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it,” (1 Thess. 5:24).
All for Him,
Savannah Jane

Hello friends! TODAY is the day! You can pre-order Trains and Tulips through Kickstarter today (August 21st) through September 20th!

There are several different editions available for you to choose from (e-book, audiobook, black and white paperback, full color paperback, deluxe full color hardcover).

Today is my 26th birthday, and I’m going to be like a hobbit and give you gifts on my birthday! While Trains and Tulips will be available to pre-order until September 20th, there is an early bird special available today only! For $26 (plus shipping), you can get a full color paperback of Trains and Tulips plus a paperback copy of my nonfiction book Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly. And there are digital thank you gifts for everyone who pre-orders Trains and Tulips: an illustrated short story about one of the side characters in the book and an mp3 download of my sister Sophia McCrary’s song “Running Through a Field of Tulips.”

Head over to the Kickstarter page here to learn more and grab your book(s)!

Or if you want more information first, scroll down! 

Trains and Tulips is Christian Young Adult historical fiction set in the Netherlands during World War II and follows five young people who each become involved in the Resistance against the Nazis.

If you enjoy…

🚂 Historical fiction focused on action, not romance

🌷Stories of hope in dark places

🚂 Heroes who are ordinary people, yet exhibit extraordinary courage, self-sacrifice, and faith

🌷Books with strong family relationships

🚂 WWII historical fiction such as Journey Through the Night by Anne DeVries, The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg, Hunger Winter by Rob Currie, and The Resistance by Douglas Bond.

🌷Stories of real WWII heroes such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and Johanna Ruth Dobschiner

…then Trains and Tulips is just the sort of book you’re looking for!

My goal with this book was to write a thought-provoking, suspenseful story that ultimately reminds readers that God is good, light is greater than darkness, and every life is valuable.

It’s a historically accurate picture of what life was like for the people of the Netherlands during World War II, infused with a hearty dose of hope, truth, and beauty, plus a dash of humor, because I believe we should find joy and laughter even in serious situations!

The book also features over fifty hand-drawn full page scene illustrations by yours truly!

“Trains and Tulips is a fictional mosaic, wonderfully bringing into one great picture many of the different historical events which took place during the Dutch resistance in World War II… It is an easy read yet will have you deeply pondering what you might do in the face of the difficult circumstances the characters find themselves in. Hope in God and shining His light, are resounding themes and makes this story shine. For a wholesome historical fiction, I highly recommend Trains and Tulips.”

-Jessica Marinos, author of The Trimont Trilogy

“Trains and Tulips is an extremely well-researched novel with deep themes and a cast of delightful characters. In this stirring tale, Savannah Jane McCrary allows the reader to experience both the tragedies and the triumphs of life in the Netherlands during WWII. She tackles difficult topics sensitively, creating an educational story that the whole family can enjoy!”

-Amy Ullrich, author of the Heroes of Wessex series and founder of Christian Wordsmiths

“Wow, what a story of courage, adventure, sacrifice, and faith wrapped up in such a dark time of history. I so enjoyed your characters, cried at times, laughed at others, and went away from specific parts with much to ponder and think through. It's easy to see the historical accuracy from incredible amounts of research, and I appreciate having received a detailed, personal account of WWII in light of God's goodness. That might be my favorite part--how you displayed that God is good... period.”

-Hosanna Emily, author of The Torch Keepers and The Way of the King

“This is such a good book; so full of research, cool historical tidbits, lots of action, and solid spiritual messages… Many of the events were inspired by things that actually happened during the war… the historical notes at the end were GOLD! I really love Savannah's heart in this book; she does honor to the heroes of the Resistance and pleads for the value of human life. Oh, and did I mention encouragement?? SO much light even in the worst places! There's a cast of five solid characters, but they're all distinct and never get confusing. I love their courage, self-sacrifice, and devotion…

I both grinned and teared up while reading. Multiple times.

I had to ask myself, how would I respond if I were in these characters' situation? What would I have done? And honestly, I don't know, because I've never faced anything like what they did. But I do know this; the same good God who guided them, gave them light in their darkness, and upheld them in distress, would be with me as well, because He never changes.”
-Phoebe Hinkle, author of We Gave Our Tomorrows

Backing the Kickstarter campaign is your opportunity to pre-order the book before it releases this December. You have the chance to buy special editions of the book that won’t always be available and get some exclusive rewards and behind-the-scenes peeks.

If you’re new to Kickstarter, here’s a brief explanation of how it works.

You make a pledge, and then you get to choose a reward. When you make a pledge, that makes you a backer. Different pledge amounts earn you different rewards. The rewards are different editions of the book (e-book, audiobook, black and white paperback, full color paperback, deluxe full color hardcover) + some other fun goodies.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey of bringing this story to life!

If you have any questions, feel free to hit “reply” if you’re reading this in your email or leave a comment if you’re reading it on the web!

Always remember, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it,” (1 Thess. 5:24).

All for Him,

Savannah Jane

P. S. To make it easy for you, here’s the link again to pre-order the book on Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/savannahjaneauthor/trains-and-tulips-a-christian-ya-wwii-historical-fiction

Hi friends! I have an exciting bit of news to share with you today! My World War II historical fiction book, Trains and Tulips, will be available for pre-order in one week! On August 21st, I’ll be launching a Kickstarter campaign! You’ll have the opportunity to order special editions of the book that won’t always be available, plus get some other fun goodies and exclusive behind-the-scenes peeks!

You can head over to the Kickstarter page here to learn more and sign up to get notified as soon as the campaign launches!

Always remember, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it,” (1 Thess. 5:24).
All for Him,
Savannah Jane

 Hi friends! Those of you who have been following my writing journey for some time know that I like to do a blog post every summer with the best history-related movies I watched for the first time over the last school year. Even though I’m not technically in school, I like to start a new planner every year in July. For this post I look over my previous planner where I record all the movies I’ve watched and books I’ve read. There were some truly excellent movies last year I’m looking forward to sharing with you! 

Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.
“It takes courage to face the dark.” So says German pastor Martin Niemöller in the movie Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. This movie is about one of those rare men who showed incredible courage in the face of great evil in Nazi Germany, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who became involved in the Resistance against Hitler. Not only was this my favorite movie from last year, it just might be my favorite movie of any year. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my favorite heroes from history, and this movie does an amazing job telling his story. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie with so many powerful quotes and rich themes naturally woven in. The timing and details of a few events were altered a bit, but for the most part it’s kept accurate to the true story. Overall, I thought this was an excellent movie about what it looks like to follow Christ and show real faith and courage in a time of great darkness. You can read my full review of it, including a content description, here. 

Valkyrie
“We have to show the world that not all of us were like Hitler.” Another movie set in Nazi Germany, this one is about Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and some of the other Germans who risked everything in an attempt to save their country from the madness of Hitler. It’s very accurate to the true story, down to even some of the smallest details, which is largely why I thought it was so good. While this is a mainstream film (released in 2008), many of the real men featured in the movie were Christians, and their faith and principles do come through in the movie.
Note: there is a little bit of language in this movie, but this can be filtered through the Enjoy Movies Your Way app. Also, there are two suicides; the camera turns away without actually showing it, but it’s obvious what’s going to happen. You can read the PluggedIn review here for a full content description. 

Waiting for Anya
This movie is set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The story follows a shepherd boy, his family, and others in his village who risk their lives to help Jewish children get to safety. We also learn the heart-wrenching story of a Jewish man and his little daughter and are introduced to a German corporal who is questioning what he is doing and why. I thought it was a very well-done movie with beautiful scenery, an excellent screenplay, and a compelling cast of characters. While not an explicitly Christian film, there are some Christian messages (such as loving your neighbor and valuing life) in it. We see characters attend Mass, and they seem to have at least a basic biblical worldview. And while there are a couple of very sad parts (including an innocent boy getting shot), for the most part, it’s a family-friendly movie. 

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
One more movie set in Nazi Germany (I’ve been doing a lot of research on this time period lately for my writing!). This one is about German university student Sophie Scholl and her brother Hans who were arrested after writing and distributing leaflets that told the truth about the war and the crimes of the Nazis. I loved Sophie’s courage and boldness as she told her Nazi interrogator why she had done what she did, and her faith and convictions that motivated her. One of the themes that stood out to me was that Sophie and Hans were, as she put it, “fighting with words.” As a writer, I loved the reminder that words are powerful. If you don’t mind watching a movie in German with English subtitles and are ready to handle the mature subject matter (it’s mostly just talked about and implied, not actually shown), I definitely recommend it. 

Sight
This excellent movie tells the true story of Dr. Ming Wang who fled Communist China and became a renowned eye surgeon in the U. S. I don’t cry often in movies, but I was moved to tears by this one! There are some very sad and disturbing parts, but no graphic violence or other inappropriate content. (You can read the PluggedIn review here for a full content description.) I loved the themes of learning to see and helping others see–not just physically, but spiritually–and trusting God even when things do not go as we had hoped. And there were also some funny parts interspersed which I enjoyed. Overall, I thought this movie was a beautifully told story of light overcoming darkness. 

Between Borders
This movie tells the true story of an Armenian family who sought refuge first in Russia and then in America during the collapse of the Soviet Union. At one point in the movie, a prejudiced Russian police officer says to an Armenian man, “You’re not white. You’re not black. You’re not so brown either. What are you?” And my six-year-old niece, sitting next to me watching it, said, “I’m a person.” And I thought, How much sorrow and misery our world would have been spared if throughout history more people saw others as my six-year-old niece does–simply as a person. “For in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Gentile, Russian or Armenian, black, brown, or white, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.” (My paraphrase of Galatians 3:28). I thought this was a great movie. There were several powerful themes, but the two that stood out to me the most were (1.) true hope and peace are only found in Jesus and (2.) to live in a free country is something to be grateful for and never take for granted. For the most part, this was a very family-friendly movie–the only content warnings to be aware of are some very brief violence (not graphic at all) and prejudice shown through derogatory statements/threats/insults/verbal abuse, etc. 

Cabrini
“Rats have it better than the children of Five Points. And no one cares.” Those words are spoken by a woman who lives among the impoverished Italian immigrants in Five Points, New York, in the late 1800s/early 1900s. This movie is about someone who did care, a nun known by the name Mother Cabrini. She came over to America from Italy and worked tirelessly to help orphaned Italian children. This movie is excellently done in every regard. While I’m not Catholic, the message of this movie, that everyone is created equal by God and Jesus calls us to love the poor, is one that I will wholeheartedly promote. As far as any content warnings to be aware of, there is a little bit of violence and a lot of prejudice/derogatory name-calling, etc. 

Documentaries: 

The Mosaic Church
This was a very interesting documentary about the discovery of the oldest Christian church found to date, unearthed beneath an Israeli prison. I love learning about the early church (I’ve written a historical fiction series about the first-century Christians), so I greatly enjoyed this documentary. I was freshly reminded of how Christianity truly transformed the world. 

Lunatic Farmer
I’ve enjoyed reading Joel Salatin’s writing for a while now and very much enjoyed this documentary about how he got started farming and his philosophy on farming for the glory of God. 

What about you? Have you seen any of these movies? What are some good movies you watched recently? Leave a comment below! 

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The movie Sophie Scholl: The Final Days portrays the final few days of the life of Sophie Scholl, a young German woman who was arrested after she and her brother Hans distributed leaflets telling the truth about the war and the Nazis’ crimes. 

At one point in the movie, Sophie’s Nazi interrogator refers to mentally disabled children as “unworthy lives.” 

Sophie responds, “Every life is precious.” 

And that’s another of the themes I see again and again in the lives of my World War II heroes, people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, Diet Eman, Hans Poley, and others. Unlike the Nazis, who sought to exterminate anyone who did not conform to their image of the “ideal Aryan,” these heroes believed that every life was valuable. 

Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch watchmaker who was imprisoned for helping Jews, told the German officer questioning her, “God’s viewpoint is sometimes different from ours—so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things… In the Bible I learn that God values us not for our strength or our brains, but simply because He has made us.” 

That’s why life is valuable–because God made us. He made us in His image (Genesis 1:27). 

The Nazis saw Jews, Poles, Romani people, Russians, the disabled, and others as lesser forms of life, comparable to animals. But the Bible clearly teaches that there is one race–the human race (Acts 17:26). Every man, woman, boy, and girl is made in the image of God. We’re not just a slightly more evolved animal, but something intrinsically different. 

Adolf Hitler had these people systematically murdered. Two-thirds of the Jewish population of Europe was killed during World War II, as well as countless millions of other innocent people. 

I think it is extremely disrespectful to everyone who suffered during the Holocaust to compare a current leader to Adolf Hitler and also shows a lot of ignorance of just how evil Hitler and the Nazis were. Just to clarify, I do not believe we are at the point in America today that Germany was in the 1930s, and I am not advocating the kind of resistance today that was necessary then.    

But I do see a disturbing disregard for human life today. It’s cloaked in words and phrases like “reproductive rights,” “healthcare,” and “choice.” But it is a lack of respect for human life. 

Respect for human life begins in the womb. We live in a world that tells women facing unplanned pregnancies that ending the life of their baby is their best option. Yet Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, And that my soul knows very well.” And Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you.” 

Another extremely disturbing trend in our world today is the rise of euthanasia, especially in Europe and Canada, and the number of people who see no problem with it. 

Tim Challies writes, “Canada has become infamous for its high rates of euthanasia (deceptively termed MAiD or Medical Assistance in Dying) and it is now common for ill or elderly people to opt to end their own lives. Meanwhile, of course, they are sometimes pressured to do so.”

And in the past couple of years, anti-semitism and crimes against Jews have risen alarmingly. 

All of this convinces me that these stories must be told. That is why I am writing about World War II and the Holocaust. We must remember and learn from our history.

Even though the practicals of how we will stand for life will look different today, we can follow the example of my World War II heroes in valuing life–all human life. 

We can share the truth that God values every life, and be part of changing our culture to one that values life like God does. We can be a voice for those who have no voice (Proverbs 31:8). 

And we can offer practical help to those in need–the disabled and those with special needs, the elderly, the women with unplanned pregnancies. 

We can be a light in the darkness. 

Notes:   

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tim Challies quote taken from the following article: 

https://www.challies.com/articles/these-are-strange-days-in-canada/

Sources for World War II stories: 

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill 

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days movie 

P. S. Subscribe for free by email to get new posts delivered to your inbox, plus an exclusive monthly newsletter, and writing news, including the latest updates for my World War II historical fiction book!

As I’ve read about the Dutch Resistance and the stories of other World War II heroes, something that has stood out to me is how thankful they were for the things we often take for granted. 

These were ordinary people who chose to take a stand against evil and help those in need, no matter the cost to themselves. They often ended up in prison and concentration camps for their stand. But something I notice again and again as I read these stories is that, even in the most terrible of places, they found things to be thankful for. 

In concentration camps where daily life consisted of hunger, sickness, forced labor, filth, cruelty, and confinement, they found things to be thankful for. 

And those who lived to see freedom were simply overwhelmed with gratitude for the simplest pleasures of life. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (whom you can learn more about here) was a German pastor who became involved in the Resistance against Hitler and was eventually arrested, imprisoned, and executed. But a fellow prisoner, British Intelligence Officer Payne Best, described him this way, “he always seemed to me to diffuse an atmosphere of happiness, of joy in every smallest event in life, and of deep gratitude for the mere fact that he was alive…” 

Corrie ten Boom (whom you can learn more about here) was a Dutch watchmaker. She and her family opened their home to shelter Jews. Corrie and her sister Betsie spent several months in concentration camps. Yet in the camps, they continually found things to be thankful for. They wrote of how wonderful it was to enjoy the beauty of nature and continually marveled at clouds and color. They even gave thanks for the fleas in their dirty, overcrowded barracks. (You can read that story here.) 

And when Corrie was at last released, she tells of arriving at a hospital. She followed the nurse “down gleaming corridors in a kind of happy dream,” to take a bath. She said, “Nothing in my life ever felt as good as that bath.” Then she was tucked into bed. “White sheets top and bottom. I could not get enough of running my hands over them… I struggled to stay awake: to lie here clean and cared for was such joy that I did not want to sleep through a minute of it.” 

Diet Eman (whom you can learn more about here) was another Dutch woman who ended up in a concentration camp after helping the Jews.  One evening, Diet was talking to the other women prisoners and one of them asked her, “If you could choose what day you would go out and be free, what day of the week would you choose?” 

Diet thought of Sundays with her family and how they would get all squeaky clean on Saturday and said, “If I had the opportunity to choose, I would want it to be a radiant sunshiny day. I’d love it to be a Saturday morning. I’d go home and take a bath and soak and shampoo and put on clean underwear and clean clothes. And then Sunday morning I want to go to church and thank God for freedom–with capital letters.” She added, “Of course, if it’s Monday morning, I’ll go too–even if it’s pouring.” Saturday, August 19th, a radiant sunshiny day, Diet was released from Vught concentration camp. 

Sometimes we don’t realize what a gift something is until we lose it. But what if we could open our eyes and recognize the gifts we have been given, now, today? What if, instead of taking things for granted, we could take joy in the simple pleasures of life? 

How easy it is to ask God to meet our needs but then forget to thank Him when He does. We are like the nine lepers who asked Jesus to heal them but failed to thank Him when He did. If only we could be like the one who remembered to come back and give thanks (Luke 17:11-19). 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 

I truly believe the way to be happy is to be thankful. (Like they say in Veggie Tales, “A thankful heart is a happy heart!”) 

And to quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

Let us follow the example of my World War II heroes and remember to be thankful, thankful for the things we’re quick to take for granted. 

Thankful simply to be alive. 

To be with family and friends. 

To be free. 

To be healthy. 

To have enough food to eat. 

To be able to take a hot bath or shower. 

To have clean clothes and clean sheets. 

To be out in nature, enjoying the sky and sun and birds and flowers. 

And above all, thankful for Jesus. For what He has done for us. For the hope we have in Him that nothing can take away. 

***

Well, always remember, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it,” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). 

All for Him, 

Savannah Jane

P. S. If you'd like to get new History Redeemed blog posts delivered to your inbox plus get updates about my other writing projects (including my World War II historical fiction book) you can subscribe to my monthly email newsletter here. 

Notes: 

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sources for World War II stories: 

Things We Couldn’t Say by Diet Eman with James Schaap
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

A Prisoner and Yet by Corrie ten Boom 

April 9th, 1945

Flossenbürg Concentration Camp, Germany

   Between 5 and 6 o’clock in the morning, several prisoners were taken from their cells and had their sentences read to them. They were sentenced to death. One of the men knelt and prayed fervently before being led to the place of execution. At the gallows, he said another short prayer, then climbed the steps, calmly and courageously. A doctor who witnessed his death said, “In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a person die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” 

   The man’s name was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 

   He was a thirty-nine-year-old German pastor and had been sentenced to death for his role in the German Resistance against the Nazis and the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. 

   The day before was Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter. It was Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s last full day on earth. He and a number of others were imprisoned in a school building. A fellow prisoner asked Dietrich to hold a service. Dietrich prayed, read the verses, Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 1:3, and explained them to his fellow prisoners. 

   He’d barely finished the service when the door opened, and two men ordered Dietrich to “Get ready to come with us.” Everyone knew what those words meant. 

Dietrich's family had received no news of him for a couple of months. So he took a book his family had given him for a birthday present, wrote his name and address in it, and left it behind for them.

   Before leaving, Dietrich told a fellow prisoner, “This is the end. For me, the beginning of life.” 

   Dietrich was taken to Flossenbürg concentration camp, given a speedy trial, and promptly sentenced to death. By this time, it was only a few hours before dawn–and his execution. 

   Two weeks later, the Allies liberated Flossenbürg. Three weeks later, Adolf Hitler committed suicide. 

   While it seems like a senseless tragedy that he died a mere few weeks before the end of the war, Dietrich himself would not have seen it that way. He believed his life was in God’s hands and was unafraid of death. He said, 

   “Death is only dreadful for those who live in fear of it. Death is not wild and terrible, if only we can be still and hold fast to God’s Word.” 

   He was the sixth of eight children. One of his brothers died in World War I; another brother was also executed for his role in the Resistance against Hitler. Two brothers-in-law also lost their lives for the same reason. 

   Dietrich left behind loving parents, a twin sister he was very close to, other siblings, many friends, and the girl he was going to marry. 

   When Dietrich’s father heard the news of the deaths of his two sons and two sons-in-law, he said, “We are sad, but also proud.” 

   Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life was short, but it was full. He was a pastor, a theologian, and a writer. And when he saw his country overtaken by a great evil, he believed God was calling him to stand against it–even if it cost his life. 

   And his story and his writings are still impacting people today. 

   ***

   I’m one of many people who have been encouraged to follow Christ more fully through reading the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. And I included his story in my book which just released today! The revised and expanded edition of Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly is published! I chose today as the release day because today marks 80 years since the death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and it also marks 8 years since I published the first edition of this, my very first book. This new edition includes new stories and new and updated informational and inspirational sections. 

Here’s the description for it:

There are more slaves today than any other time in history, babies’ lives are ended while still in their mother’s womb, orphans are left alone and uncared for, human life is disregarded, and souls are dying without knowing Jesus.If you’ve ever looked around at the needs in the world today, and thought, “I wish I could do something, but what?”–this book is for you.In this book, you’ll find information about issues like human trafficking, abortion, and orphans, inspiration to take action, real-life stories of people from history and people today, and a list of 102 ideas of how you can begin to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God in your everyday life.This book is not about doing things that necessarily look big and glamorous, rather it’s about how God can use the small everyday acts of justice and mercy and love. A single spark can light a wildfire. A single candle can light ten thousand. A tiny seed can become a great tree.God is calling us to shine His light in this world, to be a voice for life and freedom, to share a message of hope. And no matter who you are, there is something you can do. You, dear friend, in a small way, can change the world. Includes the stories of these Christian heroes from history:Dietrich BonhoefferCorrie ten BoomDiet EmanHans PoleyWilliam WilberforceAmy CarmichaelGeorge MüllerGladys AylwardLouis ZamperiniPerpetuaMargaret WilsonPeggy Covelland more!

You can order a signed copy of the book directly from me here or find it on Amazon here.

As always, remember, "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it," (1 Thess. 5:24).

All for Him

Savannah Jane

Footnote:

My source for Dietrich Bonhoeffer's story is the book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

“In the beginning, God created…” (Genesis 1:1). 

And it was good. It was beautiful. 

As God looked over the stars and sun and moon and trees and flowers and animals and seas He had made, again and again, “He saw that it was good.” 

Then sin came, and everything changed. There were thorns and pain and sickness and death. 

Yes, the world is broken and dying. But still there is beauty amid the decay. 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Creation groans, waiting for the day when Jesus returns and makes all things new. Yet still there are glimpses of beauty. Jesus is still King of Creation. And there is still so much beauty to be found when we look for it. 

God paints the sky every morning. And every evening, He does it again. And there are the clouds–puffy white ones, gray, wispy ones… 

God could have created plants only to be useful–to be used for food and medicine and building and production. But instead, He made plants that are not just useful, but beautiful. And such variety! He made towering pine and oak trees, plants with leaves of all shapes and sizes, flowers in every color imaginable. 

God is still delighting in the beauty He has made. If He delights in it, shouldn’t we delight in it, too? 

For the past few years, I’ve been researching the World War II Dutch Resistance for a historical fiction book I am writing, and I have been struck by how these brave men and women found and appreciated beauty in even the darkest of places. 

Hans Poley was a university student when the Germans conquered the Netherlands. They demanded all students sign an oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party or be deported to forced labor in Germany. Hans refused, went into hiding, and joined the Resistance. Eventually, he was caught and imprisoned in a concentration camp. Yet, he tells this story of his time in the camp: 

“In sharp contrast to the scenes of misery, I remember one clear spring morning as we stood motionless for roll call. We heard no sound except for the movement of the SS guards, counting under their breath. Then, suddenly, a caroling lark took off from the surrounding woods into the sky, and its unrestrained cheer swept over the two thousand prisoners in the square. No one dared to look for it, let alone follow it on its freedom ride. But we all heard it and took it as a symbol of liberation and light.”

Johanna Ader-Appels didn’t end up imprisoned in a concentration camp herself, but she and her husband risked their lives to shelter Jews in their home. At any moment, there was the risk the Germans would come and search the house and find the Jews, and they would all be hauled off to prison and death. Yet in the midst of all that, she wrote, 

“It was so wonderful to enjoy the spring, the sun, the birds, and the flowers, which knew nothing of war and were just as exuberant as each new spring arrived… one must take the time to enjoy such loveliness, even amidst a busy life… ja, especially then, otherwise there is the risk of our feeling jaded and dull. And those who receive nothing from such gifts will soon have nothing more to give.” 

Diet Eman was a young woman living in the Netherlands during World War II. When the Germans took over, and began persecuting the Jews, she and her fiancé, Hein, risked their lives to rescue Jews. Like Hans Poley, Diet was also eventually caught and imprisoned in a concentration camp. She tells this story: 

“Outside the four corners of the building stood four soldiers with rifles. The windows were all open, and outside the windows the clouds looked so beautiful that I would stand there for a moment just to admire them. They were just clouds, but they were God’s consolation to me, so beautiful in the sky. Below the clouds, the countryside was full of flowers, lots of purple shooting up to the sun. I would stand there at times and remember how beautiful God created this world, and then I would be reassured that he would certainly take care of me and all my loved ones.” 

The beauty of creation is God’s gift to us. It reminds us He cares for us. If He created and provides for the birds and the flowers, He’ll care for us, too. In the words of Jesus, 

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:26-30 

Because, after all, we are the crown of His creation. After He created everything else and called it “good,” then He created man and woman. And He called them “very good,” (Genesis 1:31). 

He delights in His beautiful creation, but He delights even more in His children living out their faith in Him, trusting in the care of their Heavenly Father. 

“The colored sunsets and starry heavens, the beautiful mountains and the shining seas, the fragrant woods and painted flowers, are not half so beautiful as a soul that is serving Jesus out of love, in the wear and tear of common, unpoetic life.”

— Streams in the Desert

We don’t worship the creation. We don’t value trees above children or plants above people. But we do thank God for the good gifts He gives us. We admire, enjoy, and delight in the glories of creation because in them we see God’s glory. 

“We see the glory of God when we delight in, reflect upon, and enjoy the world He has created.” -Thomas Shreiner

Look up in the sky at night and gaze at the stars. I once read that scientists estimate there are 100 billion stars in every galaxy. And how many galaxies are there? We don’t know. Some scientists estimate two trillion. It’s possibly far more. 

And yet, 

“He counts the number of the stars;

He calls them all by name.”

Psalm 147:4 

But what’s even more amazing is that the God who counts the stars also knows the number of hairs on your head. 

“The very hairs of your head are all numbered…”

Luke 12:7 

That’s how intimately He knows and cares for you. 

If those members of the Dutch Resistance could find beauty even in wartime and in concentration camps, surely we can find beauty in our daily lives, too. 

So, go, admire the beauty of sunrises and sunsets, fields and flowers, clouds, oceans, the song of a bird, the stars in the sky, a tiny butterfly, a massive, rugged mountain peak…and let it stir your heart to worship. 

“Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

Psalm 29:2 

***

P. S. If you'd like to get new History Redeemed blog posts delivered to your inbox plus get updates about my other writing projects (including my World War II historical fiction book) you can subscribe to my monthly email newsletter here.

***

Footnotes: 

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

Hans Poley’s story taken from  Return to the Hiding Place  Copyright © 1993 by Hans Poley, LifeJourney Books™, page 172

Johanna Ader-Appels’ story taken from House of Defiance Copyright 1947 © by J. Ader-Appels, English Translation Copyright © Andrew Healey, page 232

Diet Eman’s story taken from Things We Couldn’t Say by Diet Eman with James Schapp, Copyright © 1994 by Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Co., page 230

Thomas Shreiner quote taken from The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), page 4 as quoted in Crown Him King: A Study on the Kingdom of God for Well-Watered Women written by Gretchen Saffles with Maggie Combs and Lauren Weir, Copyright © 2022, Life Lived Beautifully, LLC.