What Happened at Broadway 80 Years Ago?

(Photo credit: Library of Congress / Bundesarchiv / Getty Images)

Several weeks ago we received a letter in the office from Heidelberg, Germany. It was a very official looking letter, but it was in German. I asked my son-in-law to take a look at it and give us a brief translation. It was concerning a property in Heidelberg that had Broadway Church of Christ as the Deed holders. To say we were surprised was an understatement. We had no idea what the property was or how it was being used.

I started trying to find out information and Tracey Horne did as well. Tracey, with the assistance of Becki Schwarz, was able to contact the current minister in the building on the property. By the way, it is a very active and thriving church, but, I started to go deeper and deeper into the idea of why Broadway owned property and why we were listed on the deeds. This took me on a very interesting and powerful journey into the heart of Christians in America during and following WWII.

I discovered that the Elders of Broadway were in touch with many other churches around the country as early as 1943 to create a plan of action for when the war would end. Otis Gatewood was a missionary in Utah who was supported by Broadway, and he was encouraged to be the spokesman and go around the country talking about the future and recruiting young people to be trained to go into Europe when the war ended as well as recruiting congregations and individuals to support them.

Broadway became the lead congregation, or better yet, the clearing house for information and preparations for the end of the war. Once it was known that plans were underway to send missionaries to Europe, many believers from across the country started sending names, addresses and information of family and friends who were in war-torn Europe. These were used to help build contact information for when missionaries were allowed to enter.

When the war ended in 1945, M. Norvel Young, the Pulpit Miniter at Broadway, began contacting senators and government officials to get approval for a survey trip into Europe, and especially Germany. At this point no one was allowed to just travel into Germany, only individuals with very high military clearance were allowed.

It was decided that Brother Paul Sherrod (a deacon at Broadway) and Otis Gatewood would go. Paul Sherrod would take off work for 2 months and pay all his own expenses. They were ready to leave on June 17, 1946, but did not have permission to enter Germany at that time. It was decided to go ahead with the trip, and let M. Norvel Young continue to petition for clearance. The two visited churches, individuals, and communities in Ireland, England, France, Holland and Switzerland while they checked at the embassy in each country for the long awaited pass to enter Germany. There is so much I could tell about their visits and the contacts they made in each of these war-torn countries, how they were welcomed with open arms and a hunger for the Gospel, but there is not enough space for that story now.

Back in the states, M. Norvel Young was very persistent, letting those in power know that the Churches of Christ across the country were ready to send 30-40 missionaries and teachers into Europe as soon as they were allowed. In the end, General Dwight Eisenhower stepped in and contacted the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get permission for them to enter the American controlled part of Germany.

On July 12, 1946, a telegram was sent to Paul Sherrod stating they had permission to enter Germany. The next day they were on a troop train, as there were no civilian trains or even transport in or out of the country at this time. The two men were allowed to travel from Frankfurt to Heidelberg, and eventually to Berlin. They met with as many of the contacts as they could. They took names and addresses, knowing that there were Christians back home who wanted to help in any way they could, by sending food, clothing and the Gospel to as many as possible.

Paul said that there was devastation everywhere, that so much had been destroyed, but there were still pockets of Christians worshiping in barns, bombed out churches and homes. There was no starvation in the American sector, but the same was not true for the French, British, and Russian sectors.

In the end, Otis Gatewood and his family were the first to be given permission to enter Germany as missionaries in 1947. He was followed by many of the young men and women he had encouraged to prepare for mission work in Germany and all of Europe. In 1977 The Federal Republic of Germany, presented the Distinguished Service Cross, First Class of the Order of Merit to Dr. Gatewood. This was in appreciation of the leadership he provided in securing extensive aid of food, clothing, medicine and social services for Germany.

I have included some of the letters that Broadway started receiving after the trip. As I said, names and addresses were collected and gifts started flowing across the Atlantic immediately from individuals and churches across America.

***LETTER 1***

October 5, 1946

Dear Brother Sherrod:

The Bibles and Testaments which have been given have given much joy and all the brethren have heartily asked me to thank you sincerely. Some wrote a few lines (of thanks) and I enclose them in this letter.

As concerning the parcel of gifts to Berlin, by inquiry, I have found out that only one completely safe way of sending from there exists and it must result from the C.A.R.E. The provisions become stored up in Germany by the Armed Forces (provisions in packages weighing up to 40 pounds including the wrapper) under the escort of the Army to Berlin, where they are given to such Berliners whose friends in America have paid $10 for such a package.

With the hearty greetings of those joined in Christ’s love and in the name of my wife and children, I remain with the Godly words of I Cor. 13:13.

Yours,

Hans Ludwig
Singener Weg 22
Berlin – Zehlendorf, Germany

***LETTER 2***

Stuttgart, Germany
January 3, 1947

Dear Sirs:

Some days ago we received a small parcel containing a towel. By a letter accompanying it we learned it was part of an American parcel that had been sent to Germany by your church in order to be distributed there. Your parcel had been sent to Mrs. Marie Geiss, Heppenheim.

You may imagine how surprised and astonished we were at getting it. We think it our duty to write to you and thank you for your kindness. May the amount of the gift be little, because the contents of the parcel will necessarily by distributed among a great many people, we feel the spirit by which the gifts were given to us, and that is essential. Being on the verge of annihilation we feel the breath of Christian charity, of Christian fraternity being effective in spite of all distances of space and crossing the chasm which mutual destruction, the terrors of war and destroying hate have rent between nations. We who have fallen to the deepest abyss of distress in consequence of proud arrogance and eagerness of power think it soothing for our sore souls that there are men and institutions among our former enemies that will follow Christ’s law. His words may be heard by all people and when love is ruling all our actions, the whole world may find peace it is longing for. We may doubt whether we ourselves had done the same thing as you do now and we are ashamed of it. But it is a ray of light in a dark night of wrath and hate surrounding us to know there are men and nations willing to help us to overcome the difficulties threatening our very life.

I think you know much about the conditions of life in Germany. You know that it is distinguished by being short of almost everything of daily life. We want fuel as well as clothes, shoes, as well as furniture, utensils of all kind as well as food. But great efforts are made to improve the standard of life and we thankfully feel the help that is granted to us by the American Military Government and by private initiative. There are few people who would not acknowledge the efforts of the churches in America. All that gives us hope if despair and hopelessness overwhelm us.

Now I will give you a short record on the family that was endowed by you. I am a teacher in Secondary Schools or High Schools as you call it in America and thirty years old. We have two children who are now one year old. You may guess that they are twins. They are boys. To get all things that babies require is almost impossible now and you my imagine how difficult it has been to get all twice. But with God’s help we succeeded in doing so and hope that in the future we will equally succeed. They are sound and merry and when they are washed in their tub they are now dried up with your towel, and therefore the children smile and may be the best thanks for you and the members of your church who helped to assist unknown people in a foreign country and we would be glad if someone could write some lines to us that to a little extent former enmity will turn to friendship between men and nations.

Yours truly,

Erwin Zeh
Doctor of Philosophy

***LETTER 3***

September 23, 1946

Dear Friend:

It was a great joy to me to receive your letter from America. I hasten to answer it immediately. Let me first express how thankful I am to have made your acquaintance. It was a great joy to me to be joined with you in believing on our Lord and Savior and to be allowed to learn of the brotherhood in the Lord. Is there anything more beautiful than to know that members of the Church of Christ stand together beyond all differences and separation, which may come from people among us? Let us hold fast to this bond in the brotherhood of Christ. We, Germans need it today more than ever.

So I thank you heartily for your willingness to help us in our need. My God bless the alms of the church and let the alms which all of you send to us shine forth showing the testimony of His love.

In the bond of belief, yours,

Otto Fricke
Franz Ruecher Allee 10
Frankfurt, Germany
American Occupied Zone

***LETTER 4***

Dear Friend:

“We have been very thankful receiving your gift box which reached us for Christmas. We enjoyed very much to get acquainted here in France with some soldier belonging to your church and with Gatewood and Sherrod. 

We appreciate so much to be cared and prayed for by brethren in Christ far away. “Blest be the tie that binds.” Thanks again to the members of your church who took part in sending that box. 

Yours in Christ, 

Deschamps.

***LETTER 5***

Friedrichsdorf, Germany
March 4, 1947

Dear Mrs. Gatewood:

Knowing not surely if you are a lady or not, I call you like above. I beg your pardon when I have made a mistake. 

Today our family received 2 CARE-packages, which you have send us. That was a very happy day for the quite family! First of all I thank you with all our hearts!

A year ago, I, myself returned from Russian captivity. My wife having no knowledge about her husband was very happy when I knocked at the door and got in the home. For my part it was like a miracle to be at home again.  I can only say, the Lord has opened to me the door of the Russian camp for freedom and home. We praise the Lord that this dreadful war has ended. My wife and the children have experienced more than one thousand air-raids. Can you imagine what that does mean? But now we can sleep without trouble and are very grateful for it. 

On the other hand, life is exceedingly hard in Germany today. The winter has become very cold and long, and there are no coals. The worst is want of food. For parents who love their kids it is painful if the kids ask for bread and they cannot give it. Now we glad to be able (by your gift-package) to satisfy them. Therefore we say once more, many thanks to you and your family. Surely you have pinched yourself for sending us such a fine CARE-Package, the Lord bless you all for your kindness. My wife and our children greet you very heartily! Please excuse my incorrect English. Hoping you will feel the joy and thankfulness among the blunders. I close this letter with many kind regards and best wishes. 

Sincerely, 

P Orlamunder

***LETTER 6***

Frankfurt, Germany

You can’t imagine how very glad we are about the useful, warm, and beautiful clothes we received through Fraulein Luters. We thank you every so much for all your kindness and helpfulness. We are very sorry that it is not possible to send a gift to your church in America for your kind helpfulness. 

It is already two year ago, that my husband and I with our two little grandchildren left Gleiwitz. My husband was there as director in an iron-work. Suddenly the Russian army came near to our town in a great hurry we must leave our home. We had only with us the clothes we have worn on the body, a few things in a little hand basket, food for several days and the money we had at home. All save-banks were closed. It was a lucky chance that we still got a train. Nevertheless, it was a very troublesome, cold, and long journey. But our Heavenly Father was with us, kept us by his hand and gave us peace and strength. After three days and three nights we reached a little mountain village, where some of our friends had prepared us a nice little dwelling. Ordinarily the journey only takes 8 hours. We could only stay for a few weeks in this calm village. The Russians approached and we went away by train to our daughter, who lives in Frankfurt. It was a most dangerous, long journey with very many great difficulties. But what a great consolation to know that Jesus is with us at any time and careth for us. In Frankfurt we got the permission for buying several things, be we could only get two pair of stockings for the grandchildren. In autumn 1945 my husband found a position near Frankfurt in Offenbach in an iron work. We are very thankful that our Lord has opened up this door. 

Fraulein Luters told us that you intend to come to Frankfurt again in a short time. We should be very glad if we could see you for thanking you once more for all your kind helpfulness. 

Frau Hanna Sassman