A Thousand Shall Fall: The Electrifying Story of a Soldier and His Family Who Dared to Practice Their Faith in Hitler's Germany [Paperback]

Susi Hasel Mundy (Author), Maylan Schurch (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0828015619 | ISBN-13: 978-0828015615 | Publication Date: June 2001

They saw God work miracle after miracle to save them from certain disaster. As thousands around them fell victim to the horrors of war, they were borne up on angels' wings--sometimes quite literally. This is the true story of one family who chose to be faithful whatever the cost, and found refuge in the shadow of the Almighty.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The lieutenant's face turned beet-red. "You must be mad, private!" he bellowed. "This is the German Army! This battalion's going to war, and you want Saturday off?" Under his breath he spat out, "It's just my luck to be saddled with a religious nut!"

Franz Hasel, a 40-year-old pacifist, was drafted and assigned to Pioneer Company 699, Hitler's elite troops who built bridges at the front lines. His religious scruples did not endear him to his superiors. Sarcastically dubbed "carrot eater" and "Bible reader, " he finally gained the respect of his unit.

Just before he was sent deep into Russia--where all but seven of his 1,200-man unit would die-- he secretly discarded his gun, fearing that, as the company sharpshooter, he might be tempted to kill. In Russia he faced a new problem: how to warn the local Jews before the SS got to them.

Meanwhile, back at home, Franz's wife, Helene, and their four children were fighting their own battles. Pressured to join the Nazi Party, she announced, "I belong to the party of Jesus Christ."

"Tomorrow night your children will be taken from you unless you join the party," Herr Doering screamed. And she had another secret. One day the Gestapo knocked on her door. "Are you hiding a Jew" they demanded. Their chances of survival? Dim. Their only ally? God.

In a few short years they lived several lifetimes of danger. As thousands around them fell victim to the horrors of war, they were borne up on angels' wings--sometimes quite literally. This is the true, soul-soaring story of one desperate family who chose to be faithful whatever the cost, and found refuge in the shadow of the Almighty.

About the Author

Maylan Schurch, a pastor in Bellevue, Washington, has authored or co-authored more than a dozen books, including: The Sword of Denis Anwyck, The Quest of Alinor Dagworth, The Great Graffiti Mystery, The Case of the Stolen Red Mary, The Desert Temple Mystery, and Beware of the Crystal Dragon.

Susi Hasel Mundy, the youngest daughter of Franz Hasel, she has taught German and behavioral science, and spent 10 years in private practice as a licensed marriage, family, and child therapist. Currently she is the registrar at Pacific Union College in Angwin, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Review & Herald Publishing (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0828015619
• ISBN-13: 978-0828015615
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-read for every Christian. You will not regret., November 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Thousand Shall Fall: The Electrifying Story of a Soldier and His Family Who Dared to Practice Their Faith in Hitler's Germany (Paperback)

If you are a Christian you HAVE to read this book.

Okay, lets imagine you have problems. No, I mean REAL problems. You're Christian, good.. But let's say you're a Christian in Germany at the beginning of WWII. HITLER's Germany!. Not too bad?? Well, how about if you are one of the first to get drafted into HITLER'S ARMY?? Not bad enough?? How about if your request to be a conciencious objector is DENIED. Bad enough yet? How about facing persecution for your beliefs? Most of us in Modern America can't understand what that is. But Franz Hazel knew well. Forced to be a soldier in the front lines of Hitler's army, he vowed to stay true to his beliefs and his God. What would you do if Hitler told you that you had to fight for him and his ambitions that you believe are evil, but your God says "Thou shalt not kill" What WOULD you do? How much would you risk to avoid going against your concience? Would you risk yourlife? Franz Hazel did when he threw away his gun so he wouldn't be tempted to kill in the heat of battle. And again when he went ahead of the Gestapo, warning the Jews of what was comming. He risked everything to stay faithfull to his God. But the awesome thing?? The more faithfull he was to his God, the more faithfull God was to him, protecting him, unarmed in the front lines of battle, and his family back at home as they face starvation and social persecution. This book will uplift your spirits and give you a greater faith in God. A book that you won't be able to put down once you pick it up, it is as exciting as any action flick while being 100% true. After reading this book, you'll understand what it really means to be a Christian. To risk it all and trust completely in God. Not to be missed!!

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If it wasn't true you would never believe it, September 11, 2003

By 

Marvin D. Brauer (Edinburg, Va USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Thousand Shall Fall: The Electrifying Story of a Soldier and His Family Who Dared to Practice Their Faith in Hitler's Germany (Paperback)

If the worth of a book is in how it effects you then A Thousand Shall Fall gets five stars. I read it three years ago, and it continues to affect my life. My children now 11 and 14 have each read this book through four or five times, and consider it one of their utmost favorites. It's impact in strengthening their resolve to do what is right continues. My wife reads a couple hundred books a year, but rates this has one of her all-time favorites.
Based on the true story of a young German drafted into the Nazi army, an army and a nation that are in the wrong, he must follow God faithfully.
If Schindler is valued for saving his population of Jews, Hasel deserves much more for the Jews he saved.
You will be amazed at how God continues to work in miraculous and true ways even in the midst of World War II.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating and inspiring story- proving a personal Jesus in the hell of Nazism, July 3, 2005

By 

A. Graham Bowles (Florham Park, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Thousand Shall Fall: The Electrifying Story of a Soldier and His Family Who Dared to Practice Their Faith in Hitler's Germany (Paperback)

A gripping story that moves at a steady pace. It is well written and the narrative switches in a synchronised way back and forth, between the wife and young children living in blitzed Frankfurt, and the father who had been drafted into Hitler's army and sent to the front.

Being a 'child of the blitz,' and having been raised on a diet of WW2 stories, I found this one to be different, in that it was about a Christ-centered family who were in the midst of the terror and violence of the war, but who defied the Nazi authorities believing that God would protect them. I stand in admiration of their decision to be faithful to Christ despite the threats and possible consequences. They were faithful to God and He proved His faithfulness to them. The divine interventions in time of crisis, were awesome. Read this book and be inspired never to compromise your faith for fear of men.