"Mine Angels Round About": West German Mission Evacuation 1939

by Terry Bohle Montague

In the summer of 1939, as Hitler's army was closing borders, eighty-five American missionaries were in Germany serving their church. Written from their personal journals, this book is a quiet testimony that God really does go before His servants, opens effectual doors and sends His angels round about to bear them up. The escape of these missionaries from Nazi Germany is one of the most dramatic events to occur in modern church history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Lds, History, Religion, World War II, Biography Memoir

175 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2022

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book after seeing the movie, Escape from Germany, which tells the same story. I read it in about 24 hours, neglecting other books I am reading, because I was so interested in it. The movie is better than the book but the book fills in some of the blanks about how all the Latter-day Saint missionaries managed to make it out of Germany in a few days before the Nazis invaded Poland and the Second World War started. I also wanted to know if there were major plot points in the movie that were created for dramatic effect (stealing a train?) but didn't really happen--and although a few events were assigned to different characters and enhanced a bit, they seem to have occurred as depicted. Both the book and the movie are based on the journals and letters of the people who were involved. The story of God's hand in preserving the lives of the missionaries--and how hard they worked to make those blessings possible--is very uplifting and interesting.

[Kay Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved hearing about these missionaries and German families were so faithful during the WWII. I was so frustrated with how the German government didn’t handle its citizens, and their evacuation out of Germany. They made sure that the people had very little money, and a through pass. But also they lived on very little food, and were treated unfairly compared to the Nazi troops. As to the missionaries, some of them got out alright, but one had reoccurring trips back to Germany when he was supposed to go the Netherlands. One of the reasons why that happened is the Nazi government wanted these elders to serve as Nazi soldiers, and they thought that they spies. Then the Netherlands wouldn’t accept the missionaries too, so they went to a different area, and got treated better there. Then they went back to the USA, but they always missed their mission because it ended up too early. One of the missionaries Elder Seibold always looked for lost missionaries in a crowd, and he never got over this feeling. I will never forget how good the Lord was to His missionaries, and how He placed faithful people to get the missionaries out of Germany. A great read!

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compiled largely from personal interviews, this is an interesting recounting of the August 1939 evacuation of LDS missionaries from Nazi Germany prior to the invasion of Poland. The narrative is divided into chapters representing each day of the evacuation. The details focus on the difficulty of contacting all the missionaries, the challenges of rail travel as Germany mobilized, and the complications encountered as borders were closed to refugees.

It is an interesting, quick read.

[Madelyn Miley Passmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an incredible true account! I read this book after watching “Escape from Germany”. There were a few miracles portrayed in the movie that I suspected were added with creative license. Nope, all true! I was blown away by how the story continued after the movie dropped off, the harrowing trip back to the USA through dangerous waters, and many of the missionaries experiences going on to fight in WW2 against their beloved Germany. A beautiful testimony of God’s hand in preserving his servants and the power that service can have on our hearts to see others with tolerance and love. Even our enemies.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing the “Escape from Germany” movie made me want to read this book that was more or less the source material. I was pleased to learn my local library had several copies.

I thought the book provided more rich details than the film (and minus a few Hollywood embellishments). However, it was often difficult to keep track of who was who amongst the missionaries, particularly because of how the book was organized by day rather than by group of missionaries.

Given those challenges in reading the book, I was even more surprised that the film didn’t take the opportunity of providing more helpful graphics showing who was where on the map at what time. Missed opportunity by the film IMO.

Overall, I thought the book was interesting and well written.

[Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book before I saw the movie twice. It was difficult to keep track of all that was happening. Reading the book carefully may have helped keep track later when watching the movie. As it is, I had to quite thoroughly revue to clarify that there were two separate groups that evacuated into Denmark -- one that "borrowed" a railroad steam engine and one that rode the train legally. Perhaps the movie combined these two groups into one. The author was very thorough with endnotes at the end of each chapter, but these endnotes were sometimes repetitive and lacked possible explanations. Nevertheless, both the book and the movie were inspiring -- building faith and testimony. What strong, devoted missionaries indeed!! The details about mission leadership and instruction were informative. It was very educational to learn about Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith and Sister Jesse Evans Smith as real people. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has to be true, or it would have been crumpled long ago.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the story; 3 for the book

I was dying for some more information on this story after seeing the movie, Escape From Germany which is based on this book. Did the mission president really steal a train? Yep. Did a single elder travel all through Germany alone trying to find the missionaries and help them evacuate? Yep. Was there a sister alone evacuating in these dangerous circumstances. Also yep. (Man missions were different then!!)
The movie is better but the book filled in more details and verified the accuracy of the story. Amazing story through and through.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story of the evacuation of eighty-five American missionaries in the summer of 1939, as Hitler's army was closing borders. Taken from journals and histories of the missionaries, it tells their stories, and the miracles that led to them escaping Germany just in time.

Although it may not be the best written story, it was so fascinating and amazing, that I couldn't put it down. Wow! What a story!

[Ranee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up. Just a little hard to keep track of who all went where when but that’s consistent with what actually happened. Served my mission northern Germany (Hamburg) right before the Berlin Wall came down. This story combined my love of Germany with love of faith filled true stories. Saw the movie ‘Escape from Germany’ so had to get the rest of the story. Sehr gut!!

[Karri Hoopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-documented book about the evacuation of LDS missionaries from Germany just before the German invasion of Poland. My uncle, Reed Oldroyd, was one of the missionaries. It was fascinating to read about the experiences the missionaries had. This was also made into a movie and I saw it a few months ago and it was good to read the account to flesh out the movie version.

[Bruce Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angels

I read this book after seeing the movie Escape from Germany. The book was fascinating as it detailed the hardships of the missionaries as they tried to get out of Germany before the war started. I enjoyed the book very much.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after seeing the movie "Escape from Germany." It was interesting to read about all the missionaries involved and the events that helped them get out before the start of World War II. I like that most of the information came from interviews. Interesting and inspiring read.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring! Stories taken from interviews and articles about how the missionaries evacuated from Germany right before the start of WWII. Grateful to read about by Great Uncle Ellis inside this book! Loved reading about the tender mercies and miracles that happened during that time.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget about the movie, which took obvious liberties. This book is amazing. Not a traditional history. More along the lines an oral history. A little clunky. But a great read with miracle after miracle to help your own faith.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became interested in this book after seeing the movie and realizing my father's cousin was one of the missionaries evacuated from Germany. The accounts from the actual missionaries were fascinating and I found them to be every bit as tense as what was portrayed in the movie.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting and a valuable historical record, but would be more enjoyable if the narrative focused on a small group instead of trying to get every story down. Some frustrating and confusing typos 🙂

[Candice Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different view on these terrifying events. The panic and the scramble to get out and then the perilous journey over mine infested oceans. I just felt these people were meant to get out and were meant to share their journey.

[Christina Skewes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

It was a good book but I suppose I thought there would be more that happened. Kinda anti climatic to me.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m grateful to have read this book and have some details filled in about the true story Escape From Germany. It was truly amazing and you can certainly see the Lords hand in helping them.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read after watching Escape from Germany. There are a lot of people in the story which makes it a little difficult to follow, but the true story is amazing. The movie is pretty accurate.

[Rebecca]

So good! I watched the movie about the same series of events, and made my mom get the book on kindle for me. Would recommend to anyone interested in Church history!

[Elizabeth Mcnair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not necessarily well written but I loved the content and the research that went into this. I loved the movie but this gave so much more depth!

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for absolutely fascinating and captivating stories. It was tough to follow going between so many different people and places.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read the book and then I watched the movie. Incredible story.