ABSTRACT
In March, 1938 in the wake of the Anschluss in Austria, the Liechtenstein Bruderhof was closed down, all its members moved to the commune in England, and thus the curtain was rung down on the Bruderhof movement in continental Europe and the period of enforced divisions was ended. Among the new members from Britain was a group of seven people from Birmingham who, prior to joining the Bruderhof, had lived for some six months in an urban commune and had maintained social and ideological contacts with the Cotswold commune. The Bruderhof in Paraguay had sent their approval for the establishment of a new community in England. Encouraged by this news and an influx of new pacifist members, the members of the group decided to establish a new community in England, to be called “The Wheathill Bruderhof.” Arnold Mason held a senior position in the Cotswold community and had negotiated the acceptance of the Jewish trainees with the Hechalutz representatives.
