ABSTRACT
Eberhard Arnold returned to Germany on 10 May 1931, having been clearly unsuccessful in obtaining funds, and this was very disappointing. His journey to forty Hutterite settlements had provided very little financial support for the Bruderhof, who had incurred heavy debts while trying to build their settlement during a period of high inflation, and they realized they would have to shoulder the burden alone. During 1931 and 1932, the Bruderhof expanded more than at any other time and the members considered them to be the community’s best years, despite the fact that they were quite poor financially. The strictness of the Hutterite way of life served to counteract youth movement spontaneity and proved extremely valuable in preserving the community’s framework after Eberhard’s death. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Bruderhof community numbered 140 members to whom Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor came as a great shock as they knew that from on things would be difficult.
