No Lasting Home: A Year in the Paraguayan Wilderness

Bruderhof History Series

by Emmy Barth, Alfred Neufeld (Foreword)

It is summer, 1940. As Hitler’s armies turn mainland Europe into a mass graveyard, his feared Luftwaffe rain bombs on England. Meanwhile, amid the green hills of the Cotswolds, a nest of “enemy aliens” has been discovered: the Bruderhof, a Christian commune made up of German, Dutch, and Swiss refugees, and growing numbers of English pacifists.

Having fled Nazi Germany to escape persecution, the Bruderhof had at first been welcomed in England. Now, at the height of the Battle of Britain, it is feared. Curfews and travel restrictions are imposed; nasty newspaper articles appear, and local patriots initiate a boycott. Debates over whether the community should be allowed to exist go all the way to Parliament.

Determined to remain together as a witness for peace in a war-torn world, the little group of 300 – half of them babies and young children – looks for a new home. No country in Europe will allow them to stay, and Canada and the United States refuse to take them. Where should the refugees try to resettle next? This is their story.

Genres: History

213 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2009

Reviews

[Martinxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to a telling of the author's hazardous visit to Paraguay. I was wrong, the book is a historical account of a pacifist Christian sect, the Bruderhof, attempting to carve out a new life in the harsh Paraguayan Chaco after fleeing Nazi Germany. All in all it's a fascinating story.

Oh, and you can grab a free copy from the publisher's website:

http://www.plough.com/ebooks/NoLastin...

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not heard of the Bruderhof prior to reading this book. There was mention in the book of Canadian Mennonite's having moved to Paraguay prior to this Bruderhof community moving there. I was vaguely aware of this from reading "Pushing Trough the Invisible Barriers" which included a history of Mennonite people.

I found this book informative. It's difficult to imagine moving to a foreign land and starting over, and in this case a foreign land with diseases which are new to your body. But, I also have admiration for these folks for sticking to their beliefs even if it means moving to a foreign land.