Somewhat dry account of the Trocmes and their courageous story of helping Jewish children and adults during World War II France. In spite of almost insurmountable odds, this caring couple helped more than 3000 people to evade the Nazi regime. An uplifting book, but as I said, a little on the dry side, lacking character development, rather relying on genealogical fact. Only my opinion.

Introduction
Love in a Time of Hate is the fascinating story of Andre and Magda Trocme. It is divided into six chronological parts, starting with the childhood of Magda (Part I), the childhood of Andre (Part II), young adulthood/marriage/early ministry of the Trocmes (Part III), the early days of the Trocme's ministry in Le Chambon before the Nazi invasion (Part IV), their ministry, pacifism, and involvement with the underground resistance during the Vichy government (Part V), and their final days as France was liberated and their ministry spread across the globe (Part VI).

The story
Although I was eager to get to the meat of the Trocme's work during World War II, I was pleasantly surprised by Parts I-III. As is true for most of us, the individual upbringing of Magda and Andre was crucial to shaping their personal beliefs later in life. Magda's childhood was strict, motherless, and fraught with inner spiritual turmoil all played out in northern Italy. In contrast, Andre's childhood was one of privilege and strict Protestantism in northern France, although his mother also died when he was ten. By the time they met in the U.S., Andre had been called into ministry as a Reformed Pastor, and Magda dreamed of becoming a social worker.

These roles complimented each other later as they ministered to the farming communities and desperate refugees in Southern France. Their ministry began in northern France, but family health issues took them to southern France, despite the distrust of the French Reformed church. Andre frequently butted heads with the church leadership due to his pacifist beliefs, which he had developed while serving in the military. He was passionate about pacifism and tried to influence his congregations, to the annoyance of the underground resistance movement during the War. Even after the war, both Magda and Andre traveled the world spreading the message of peace and pacifism. Andre died after complications from a surgery, but Magda continued his work until her death a decade later.

The most fascinating parts of the book detail the Trocme's courageous work hiding and moving Jewish refugees during World War II. Jewish children in particular found refuge on the high plateau of Le Chambon. Thousands of children and sometimes entire families filtered through, receiving care and education at the school founded by the Trocmes - Ecole Nouvelle Cevenole - which was the only school of its kind in the entire region. Andre and his ministerial staff were imprisoned for their work, but were released mere days before the prison at which they were interred was closed and the prisoners sent to their deaths in Poland. Andre eventually had to go into hiding as the Germans had put a bounty on his head. He narrowly escaped being caught at one point, and credited his escape to an incident with his son and God's timing. Le Chambon was ultimately liberated and Andre was able to return to his family, but not before they suffered several tragic losses.

Literary analysis
This book was well written and thoroughly researched. I did find numerous grammatical and typographical errors that may have been due to its translation (the author is German). I believe, however, that these would be easily corrected with one more quick editorial review. In no way did any of the errors detract from the story.

The language is concise but engaging. I was just as interested reading the early biographical information as I was engrossed by the details of their work during World War II. I felt that the tempo of the book was just right, easily following the chronology of their lives and not drawing out any particular period for longer than the reader could endure.

The only criticisms I have are that I would love to see photos (which, to be fair, may be included in the print copies; I only had a Kindle copy), and I wish that specific data was available as to the extent of the Trocme's impact during World War II. How many children did they help? How many families? How many lives were saved, families reunited? How many children attended the Ecole Nouvelle Cevenole by the time it closed in 2014? Perhaps specific data is not available, or the author determined it would not add value to the story itself. Still, it would be interesting to know the full extent of the global impact of these two extraordinary people.

Conclusion
I had never heard of the Trocme family before requesting this book through Netgalley. Now I will share their story as often as possible! I love reading the courageous stories that come out of times of extreme oppression. This is one such story, and it is truly amazing. The integrity and passion with which the Trocmes lived life is rare and convicting. I would definitely recommend this book!

Love in a Time of Hate is an intriguing look at the fascinating story of a pastor and his wife during World War II and how they portoecred persecuted Jews in their small French village. Husband and wife had both written their memoirs which the author drew heavily from. Readers get the full picture, the early life of the couple, and their backgrounds, and what happened after the war.

Magda and Andre Trocme led the French town of Chambon-sur-Lignon in hiding more than 3,000 Jews from the Nazi's. This book outlines their history and what led them to Chambon. Although this was a fast read, I felt that it included very few details about what they actually did during the war. That time frame seemed to be vague and only included the terrifying encounters they had with German soldiers. Overall, it was well written, I just wanted more.

A beautifully written book sharing the strength and dedication of Magda and Andre to the survival of those in danger of death due to nothing more than where, when and to whom they were born. A heart wrenching read, which fully depicts the depravity that is brought on by war and those that blindly follow misguided leadership.

Love in a Time of Hate

The Story of Magda and André Trocmé and the Village That Said No to the Nazis
by Hanna Schott

Herald Press

Biographies & Memoirs , History

Pub Date 13 Jun 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Love in A Time of Hate Tthrough Herald Press and Netgalley:

Magda and Andre Trocme are married, Andre a preacher and Magda stays home to raise there children.

Magda's Father had not been a man to openly display his affections. Her Stepmother looks at Magda only as a reminder of her husband's previous life, but her Stepmother is pleased when Magda takes interest in her stepmothers Catholic Faith.

Magda attended a catholic boarding school for three years, a time when her Father rarely visited. In 1918 the year of The Spanish Influenza.

Andre Trocme was born only a few meters from the Champs-Elysees, despite the families status and wealth Andre's childhood was not a happy one. He only got to spend a few hours a week with his Mother, Time that he cherished, for the most part he and his siblings were in the care of Nannies. When he was only ten Andre's Mother died.

In 1918 his family moves to Paris, a move that he hopes will lead to a more normal life. After announcing to his Father who is pleased that he wants to be a Pastor, he begins studying theology in 1919. In 1921 Andrew interrupts his study in order to begin a period of compulsory Military studies.

In 1926 Andre and Magda are both living in New York, Andre studying to be a Pastor and Magda looking into social work. On April.18,1926 Andre proposes to Magda.

Magda's family warned her against marrying Andre, they feared a Italian Catholic woman would not make a good match. It wasn't only Magda's family that opposed to the union but Andre's Father as well. Despite these setbacks they were married and in the Summer of 1927 their first child was born, a daughter. They named the little girl Helena, Nelly for short and she was named after Magda's Mother who had died when Magda was an infant.

For six years the Trocme's lived in Sin-le-Noble where Andre served as a Pastor, while there they had three sons in 1930 Jean-Pierre in 1931 Jacques was born and Daniel in 1933. By 1933 the Children's health are suffering and Andre requests to be move to a church in a place where the children could get proper care. Nelly theoldest has suffered Bronchitis from her infancy. In 1934 the family is finally moved to Le Chambon.

On June 14,1940 German troops marched into Paris, two days later the western advance came to an end.

Before the war shows up on their doorstep Magda and Andre already find themselves becoming a champion for their Jewish Brothers and Sisters. Andre teaches his congregation to lie to the authorities about the presence of Jews in their cities, not an easy task for the Pastor, but a necessary one.

Andre houses some of those trying to escape the Nazi's in the Parsonage, some were unaccompanied Refugees as young as four years old and the oldest of the unaccompanied refugees were nearly adults.

Even those who did not belong to the church found themselves defending it. In the summer of 1942,in Paris all the Jews were driven together to a sports stadium close to the Eiffel tower called the Veldrome d'Hiver, for five days in the middle of July they were held there without food or water, without beds, or wash facilities and with toilets that soon overflowed. The sinister operation was named Spring Breeze.

By 1943 the Trocme's find themselves in more danger and Andre is urged to go into hiding, and for ten months he is separated from his family, while Magda works as a Bicycle Courier, but by 194; there Middle son Jacques misses his Father terribly and is sent to Be with him.

This is the story of a remarkable family who refused to be a part of the horrendous mistreatment of their Jewish brothers and Sisters at a time when standing up could mean they were signing up for a death sentence.

I give Love in A Time of Hate five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Herald Press in exchange for my honest review.

When I started reading this book it was not what I expected. I thought it would pick up in the heat of the Holocaust and go from there. However, I enjoyed learning about the childhood Magda and Andre and how they ended up in "The Village That Said No To The Nazis". It pointed out how their faith truly lead them to help everyone that was in need, despite their religious difference. I could not put this book down and read it in a day. By the end of the book I was in tears and I can't remember the last time a book as made me cry.

Religion did play a heavy part in the book but it wasn't overbearing. Andre believed that God would care for him if he did as God wanted him to according to the scriptures. Mostly not to bear false witness, not to harm another person and to help those that are in need. However, he believed that if is was killed. he would go down with his beliefs and that fear would not change him.

There are so many historical connections in the book that support this story and yet it is hard to believe that this happened. There are so many times that Andre could have been killed and he is able to get out of the situation by being honest and holding fast to his beliefs. This is truly an encouraging story about sticking to your beliefs and helping those even if they are not the same as you.

I really feel that this is a book that we all need to read right now with the state of the world. We need to be reminded of what has happened in the past and what will happen again if we allow it. I am also ashamed that I have never heard of Magda and Andre Trocme prior to the book. It has made me want to seek out more information about them and others like them.

This is a very good brief biography about two amazing people. Schott introduces them to us by telling about their childhoods, both Magda’s lonely one, and Andre’s rather austere and traumatic one, then their courtship, early married life, and eventual move to Le Chambon. Telling their life stories worked very well. It set the background for their heroic stance during WW2. You could see how the events of WW1, their upbringing, and religious studies helped shape their response.
The style is very engaging almost conversational but avoided sounding like fiction. Nor does it try to delve too deeply into their private thoughts and motives. It’s just a very well written biography. I appreciated the large sections quoted directly from their letters and speeches.
It would have been nice if more time had been spent on their doctrinal beliefs. That was the only point that left me confused. Early in the book, Andre states that the only truly important thing is the Gospel; but in the last part of the book, it seems his focus was more on non-violence and various peace movements than Biblical preaching or teaching. For a biography of a Pastor, it leaves a lot of questions about his beliefs. Were they saved? Did Magda believe in the Biblical God?
I would still recommend it as a very good biography.
I received this as a free ARC from NetGalley and Herald Press. No review was required, but it was my pleasure to write it.

If you have any doubts about the huge difference just a few dedicated people can make, please read this well-researched, well-written book. Many stood up for truth, morality and human rights during WWII--when making a stand could (and often did) lead to torture and death. I was moved by the story of André Trocmé (he was a parson in the French village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon) and his wife Martha who enlisted the help of parishioners (mostly farmers and small-town merchants) to make room in their homes and their hearts for German Jews and displaced children. Feeding them. Hiding them. Schooling the children. It is an amazing testament of hope over fear. I highly recommend this book. Thank you, Hanna Schott.