Because of Gestapo pressure against any who refused to join “Hitler Youth,” my parents told us to go to the meetings only occasionally, warning us not to get involved. My older brother came under heavy pressure from the Hitler Youth leader. He was suspicious that Dad opposed the group and wanted my brother to agree, which might have meant death or imprisonment for my father.
Around 1940 several “brethren groups” as well as others gave in to pressure from the government to join a formal religious confederation called the “Bund.” It had one national head and several regional heads. This shameful compromise allowed them to legally meet. But what a price had been paid! Those who joined had to agree not to use the blessed name of Jesus publicly. When someone wanted to be received into fellowship, the brethren had to first get permission from the Gestapo! If anyone withdrew from one of the religious fellowships in the “Bund,” they were reported to the Gestapo. When my grandfather found out the details of the confederation that brethren had joined, he and some others left the assembly and began to meet secretly for prayer and Bible study. Had the Gestapo learned what they were doing, he and the others with him would have been in great danger.
Many Christians were drafted into the military and many Christian families lost one or more sons in the horrible conflict. The government did not allow “conscientious objector” status, and refusal to serve often meant death or forced labor camps.
In early April 1945 (when I turned fifteen), we received a mail notice that I was to be at the railroad station on a certain day. Supposedly we were to be taken to the Alps for a ski camp. A Christian friend of our family who had a son my age learned that the invitation was just a cover to take young boys, give them rifles and send them to the Rhine River to fight against the advancing American Army. My dad quickly buried my uniform and I didn’t go.
An Allied bombing raid, which partially destroyed our house, was used of the Lord to keep my father from being sent to fight in a similar situation just before the war ended.
H. Brinkmann (adapted)