This is one of my favorite books!!! I have read it 4 or 5 times!!! ( )

Franz Hasel, a 40-year-old pacifist, was drafted and assigned to pioneer companies 699, Hitler's elite troops who built bridges at the front lines. His religious scruples didn't not endear him to his superiors.Sarcastically dubbed "carrot eater" and "Bible reader," he finally gained the respect of his unit. Just before he was sent deep into Russia – – were all but seven of his 1200–man unit would die – – he secretly discarded his gun, feeling that, as the company sharpshooter, he might be tempted to kill. In Russia he faced a new problem: how to warn the local Jews before the SS got to them.Meanwhile, back at home, fronts his wife, Helene, and therefore children were fighting their own battles. Pressured to join the Nazi party, she announced, "I belong to the party of Jesus Christ.""Tomorrow night your children will be taken from you unless you join the party," Herr Doering screamed.And she had another secret. One day the Gestapo knocked on her door. "Are you hiding a Jew?" They demanded.Their chances of survival? Dim. Their only ally? God.In a few short years they lived several lifetimes of danger. As thousands around them fell victim to the horrors of war, they were born up on Angel's wings – – sometimes quite literally. This is the true, soul-soaring story of one desperate family who chose to be faithful whatever the cost, and found refuge in the shadow of the Almighty.

"Then the family knelt together while Franz prayed. "Lord, all through the war you protected us and, in the end, brought us back together safely. Now Gerd has decided to be faithful in Sabbathkeeping rather that. get a higher education. I pray that you will not let this be a disadvantage to him as he prepares to work for You."
Great for literature connections during Bible and Social Studies. I could play corners asking students to share their opinions about historical, current and spiritual matters based on content being studied. ( )

A great read that portrays faith in the midst of World War II. Can be used in either religion or history classes to give students something real to relate to these topics. ( )

This book is the powerful and amazing story of a Christian Soldier in Nazi Germany. It shows how God's hand provides when people are willing to fully trust and surrender all. It is easy to read and even though the horrors of war are described, it is never graphic enough that a child cannot read. I highly recommend this book. (and it should be made into a movie!) ( )