The experiences of Latter-day Saint members in Germany and Austria during World War II are the subject of a detailed historical study. The work focuses on the lives of everyday members rather than the relationship between the Church and the Nazi government.
According to the introduction of the work, the Church in Germany faced unique challenges under the totalitarian regime of the Hitler era. As the war progressed, many members were unable to emigrate, and thirteen thousand Latter-day Saints were left to face the conflict alongside the rest of the German population.
While many converts to the Church in Germany and Austria had immigrated to the United States, others remained in Europe. This left them as outsiders in their native countries, as they did not worship with Catholic or Protestant neighbors. During the war, the Church's presence in eastern German territories was significantly weakened, as those areas became part of post-war Poland and the Soviet Union.
The study utilizes interviews with surviving eyewitnesses and historical documents to reconstruct the lives of the faithful. Researchers sought to answer questions regarding the number of deaths among members, the loss of priesthood holders, and the destruction of meeting places and homes.
In 1939, the Church in Germany and Austria consisted of two missions: the East German Mission in Berlin and the West German Mission in Frankfurt am Main. At the onset of the war, the Church had established branches and districts rather than wards and stakes. Most members belonged to the lower middle class, working as skilled laborers, artisans, or small entrepreneurs.
The research also details the impact of air raids and the challenges of civilian life. As the war intensified, many members sought refuge in basements or public shelters. The study notes that as the conflict reached its final stages, the food distribution system broke down, and transportation was heavily disrupted by destruction to tracks and bridges.
The historical effort to document these experiences included an investigation of how members maintained their testimony and supported one another during air raids and periods of extreme scarcity. The findings from this research are intended to provide a detailed account of the lives of typical members during the conflict.
