Bullers in The Mennonite 5

The previous post in this series focused on Bea and her introduction to the U.S. Mennonite community, an introduction that took place over a series of church talks but most concretely in an autobiographical article, or testimony, published in the 25 April 1944 issue of The Mennonite. 

Of course, Henry was not so much a stranger to the Mennonite churches, but he also had a remarkable story to tell, which is exactly what he did roughly a month later in the 23 May 1944 (pages 9–11 here) issue of The Mennonite. His full article is presented below.

Three Years in Europe 

(Brother Buller returned recently from Europe abroad [sic] the Gripsholm. He with his wife and Lois Gunden were interned for over a year at Baden-Baden, Germany.)

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40.

“When you return to America and see your people, we want you to tell them how much we have appreciated what you are doing for us and for our dear little ones!” Many a time have we, who were in the work in France, been thus asked to express the appreciation and gratitude of the people with whom and for whom we worked in the various projects of the Secour Mennonite Aux Enfants. Not infrequently the feelings of the people had been deeply stirred and it was with tears in their eyes that they expressed their happiness to find that there were still those who felt for their sufferings and that there were those who cared enough to do something about it.

Among those whom we contacted in our work, and whose thanks we wish to convey to you who have supported the Mennonite relief program with money contributions and prayer, I would like to mention many of the authorities with whom we had to arrange for the distributions of powdered milk and dried vegetables. This includes many of the school directors of the Lyon and St. Etienne areas and the local city and state officials. Further, I should like to mention the workers in our children’s home and the children themselves. Also the refugees who called at our office and who were most appreciative of the least little thing that we were able to do for them. Often it was nothing more than to listen to their problems and try to help them find a solution. I know that writing about these warm and sincere expressions of thanks does not and cannot bring the warmth that we felt at the moment but it is our desire, at least, that all of you know how your efforts have been received.

When I landed at Pier F, at Jersey City on March 15, 1944, from the Swedish motorship Gripsholm it was three years and a month since leaving for the field. Three years of varied experiences, including a little over a year in German internment at Baden-Baden, Germany. Three years during which time there were many occasions when I could say with the Apostle Paul, “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33) There were times when one did not know what the morrow would hold in store. Times when we could not communicate with the office or our families at home. But His ways led us all back to America, and we are thankful that the Lord has brought us safely home. We ask nothing more than that we may continue to work and testify for Him.

Activities in France

When I arrived on the field of work late February, 1941, Dr. Henry Wiens was then the director of the Mennonite activities in France. Both Brother Wiens and I were at Lyon for the most part until July of that year when Brother Wiens returned to America. For three weeks in April, however, I had stayed at the Convalescent Home at Canet-Plage, helping Brother Jesse Hoover, who came to France one month after me, and Sister Charlotte Gerber, from Switzerland, arrange and organize the opening of that Home. During the months of August, September, and October, 1941, the projects were under the direction of Brother Hoover. He remained in Marseilles at the American Friends Service Committee headquarters and during these three months I was alone at the Lyon office. Beginning with November, 1941, until November 6, 1942, all our activities were under the direction of Brother Joseph Byler, who stayed at Lyon, too.

I am sure that many of you have followed the progress and development of our work as it has been reported by the delegates returning before me, so I will not go into any details of what preceded November 8, 1942—the day of the Allied landing on North Africa. Brother Byler left France, at Cerbere, on November 6, 1942. His joy in going home was a great comfort to us in the days that followed. We were happy that he escaped the trying days following the breaking of diplomatic relations between the United States and France and the subsequent internment at Baden-Baden.

Preparing to Leave the Work

With the break in diplomatic relations on November 11, 1942, came changes that affected our work and made it necessary to change all the plans we had had up to that moment. In the first place, it meant that funds were completely stopped and all contact with the Mennonite Central Committee office were cut off. Also, it meant that there was a great possibility that we as Americans might not be allowed to continue our activities, regardless of the nature of our work. There was also the possibility that the German authorities, after the complete occupation of France beginning November 11, 1942, might ask that we be interned by the French or might intern us themselves.

At the time of the break of diplomatic relations we were carrying on the following projects: the canteen for Spanish children at Cerbere; a bi-monthly distribution of food to Spanish families at Banyuls and nearby Port Vendres, the Convalescent Home at Canet-Plage for sick children from concentration camps, a Home for underfed boys near Lyon, and the central office at Lyon. In the office, besides having our administration centered there we were able to give some aid to refugees. With our funds cut off from America we immediately had to think in terms of liquidating our activities in such a manner so as not to bring difficulties to the people that we had been helping, in some cases, for almost three years.

Cerbere and Banyuls

The canteen at Cerbere was closed at the end of January, 1943, when it became evident that the need for which it had been set up no longer existed. For the bi-monthly food distributions at Banyuls we set aside sufficient funds in the “liquidating budget” for them to continue for a period of nine months ending about October, 1943. In our budget we provided for a minimum of one year’s support for the Convalescent Home of Canet-Plage and possibly for a year and a half, depending upon the amount needed meanwhile for unforeseen expenditures. The Home, i.e., the children and equipment, had to be moved into the interior of France when the Germans began to fortify the beach upon which it had been before.

Work at Lyon

The Lyon Boys’ Home we decided to terminate at the end of April, 1943, since that was the longest time the city of Lyon could assure us the use of their property. The Lyon office we tentatively decided to keep open until October, 1943. Plans to open a second Home, near Canet-Plage, for children on November 15, as well as another Home in the French Alps a few weeks later, we thought best to abandon. In place of these two Homes we supported for a period of nine months a project which had been organized by a French lady for needy French girls. This project was pointed out to us as worthy of our support by Mr. Samuel Ybargoyen, former Consul of Uruguay at Lyon, known to every Mennonite delegate who came to France. We have no definite news that all has continued as planned in January, 1943, but for the most part we believe it has.

Disposition of Funds

A problem in connection with our funds was that of where to deposit them. The American Friends Service Committee had acted as our bankers previously. However, when they turned their activities over to a French committee the French organization did not care to take over the responsibility for keeping the Mennonite funds. We were able to find trustworthy persons who helped us without danger of having funds “frozen” through a general governmental regulation. A large part of the funds we deposited with the Swiss authorities who took over the American interests and the funds were later released for use in the projects which continued.

The possibility that we might not be allowed to continue to work came shortly after the complete occupation by the Germans. That is, we were not allowed to travel as we had before but were restricted to the Rhone Department. Since so many of the problems in connection with the Convalescent Home and the other projects had to be investigated and arranged for on the spot we had to find some one who could go and do this for us. Also, knowing that we probably would be interned, we had to have some one to take over the responsibility for all the work. Here again, Mr. Ybargoyen proved a great help to us by introducing us to a French person, Mr. Roger Georges. Mr. Georges was greatly interested in our work and had a deep concern for the needy children. It was to him that we left the responsibility of carrying on as long as possible and we have had word that he has carried on very well.

Interned in Baden-Baden

On the 13th of January we received word from the Swiss Consulate that we were admitted to the North American diplomatic group then at Lourdes, in southern France. Before we could join them the Germans had taken the entire group to Baden-Baden, Germany. We were asked on January 25, 1943, by the French authorities to go to Mont Dore, a skiing resort near Clermont-Ferrand, where the diplomatic groups of a number of the South American republics were kept awaiting their turn to be taken to Germany. We arrived at Baden-Baden on February, 16, 1943, and remained there until February 19, 1944, waiting for our repatriation.

At Baden-Baden we were kept in a comfortable hotel and were given sufficient and good food. Espeally with Red Cross parcels every fourteen days, we got along very nicely. For our own benefit and as pastime we organized classes, under the auspices our own “Badheim University,” sharing any special training with our fellow internees.

In the way of sports we had the opportunity of using a nearby sportsfield for softball and football games, there were also some tennis courts available for those who had tennis equipment, and swimming was possible early in the morning during the summer. We could also take walks in the surrounding region in the Black Forest. These walks as well as any activity which took us out of the small hotel garden, were under the supervision of one or two agents of the Gestapo (Geheime Staats Polizei—Secret State Police). They also accompanied us to dentists, doctors, and stores whenever we were fortunate enough to get permission to buy something that was on the rationed lists. The Gestapo’s business was to see that we would return to our hotel but more important than that, to see that we did not make contacts with any of the German people.

The time spent at Baden-Baden was one filled with numerous activities but for the most part they were things that we did merely to be doing something. It was a very trying period inasmuch as contacts with our families were irregular and took long. Also the uncertainty of our stay—many of us did not expect to get out until after the war would be over—made for all sorts of ups and downs in the general morale of the group. But the most difficult for many of us, and especially the younger members of the group, was the impossibility of doing anything constructive of a more permanent nature. No doubt it is some times good to learn to be patient and above all to trust in God that His way for one’s future is the best. In the end we can say that we are very happy to be home again and above all thankful that God has kept us every step of the way.

There is a lot to unpack in that long account, and we will have occasion to return to it periodically in the posts to come. For the present, we conclude by noting one minor mention of Henry in The Mennonite that is quite intriguing. In the 17 July 1945 issue, on page 15 (here, left column, halfway down) we read:

The sale of the following pamphlets is being promoted by the Bethel Church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota: He Was, He Is, He Will Be by P. A. Penner; The Nazis Interned Me by Henry Buller; Internment Echoes by Wilhelmina Kuyf; Champa Hospital in the Making by Dr. Ella G. Bauman; A New Macedonian Call by Gerald Stucky; Puerto Rico—Island of Sunshine and Need by William H. Stauffer. This church is also promoting the sending of “Christmas Parcels” to the church people of war-torn Europe.

This is the first I have heard of a pamphlet recounting Henry’s Nazi encounter. Perhaps it offers no more information than we already have, but I certainly would like to see it with my own eyes to find out. If any reader has further information about the pamphlet, please let me know. In the meantime, we will continue to mine issues of The Mennonite for more information about our family.