In the mid-19th century, a small but devout group of German Protestants, known as the Templars, felt a calling. They believed that to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ, they needed to live in the Holy Land, close to the sacred sites of their faith. Led by Christoph Hoffmann and others, they left their homeland, carrying with them hopes and dreams of establishing a new, pious life in Palestine.
Their journey led them to the rolling plains near the ancient port city of Jaffa, where they founded the settlement of Sarona in 1871. Over the years, Sarona blossomed. The Templars were industrious and innovative, introducing advanced agricultural techniques and modern machinery that turned the arid land into a thriving agricultural community. Their neat, red-roofed houses and well-tended gardens stood as a testament to their dedication and hard work.
Sarona wasn't the only Templar settlement; they also established colonies in Haifa, Jaffa, and Jerusalem. These communities were marked by their unique blend of German efficiency and Christian faith, and they significantly contributed to the development of the region. Life in Sarona was peaceful and productive. The Templars, though living far from their homeland, created a slice of Germany in the heart of Palestine, complete with schools, churches, and communal halls.
As decades passed, the Templars maintained their simple, industrious lifestyle. However, the winds of change were blowing across Europe, and soon, they would feel its chilling effects. By the late 1930s, as the world edged closer to war, the Templars found themselves in a precarious position. Their German nationality now cast a shadow over their communities.
In the 1930s, the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany began to influence the Templars in Palestine. Some members of the Templar community developed affiliations with the Nazi Party, displaying swastikas and engaging in activities that aligned with Nazi ideology. This connection increased the scrutiny and suspicion they faced from the British authorities.
When World War II erupted, the British, who controlled Palestine under a mandate, viewed the German Templars with even greater suspicion. The peaceful, hardworking settlers of Sarona were suddenly seen as potential threats, their loyalty questioned because of their nationality and political affiliations. In 1940, the British authorities made a drastic decision. They converted Sarona into an internment camp, rounding up the Templars and other German nationals. The letter shown below was sent from Berlin in late 1939, not long after the breakout of World War II and was sent to Mrs Lotte Fischer of the Germany Colony in Haifa. It was sent via the CID or Criminal Investigation Department and they forwarded it to the "Sarona Concentration Camp near Jaffa". The letter was actually opened by both the German and British censors (the back is not shown here).
The transformation of Sarona from a peaceful agricultural settlement into a barbed-wire internment camp was swift and harsh. Families who had lived there for generations found themselves behind fences, watched over by guards. Life in the camp was a stark contrast to the freedom and prosperity they had enjoyed. The internment disrupted their lives, bringing hardship and uncertainty.
As the war dragged on, the situation for the Templars worsened. In 1941, the British authorities decided to deport many of the Templars to Australia. They were put on ships and sent across the vast ocean, far from the land they had tilled and nurtured for decades. The deportation was a traumatic experience, separating families and uprooting lives.
After the war ended in 1945, the British authorities continued to deport Templars who had not yet been expelled. The Templar properties in Palestine were confiscated, and the once-thriving community of Sarona was scattered to the winds. The Templars who were sent to Australia faced the challenge of rebuilding their lives in a new and unfamiliar land.
Yet, the legacy of the German Templars endures. The buildings they constructed, with their distinctive architecture, still stand in modern-day Tel Aviv, reminders of a unique chapter in the region's history. The story of Sarona and the Templars is a tale of faith, resilience, and the inexorable tides of history that swept over a devoted community, leaving an indelible mark on the land they once called home.
Based on material and study by Dr. Josef Wallach - Rehovot, Israel. The cover displayed belongs to him.
Interesting article Lawrence. I always learn something new from your writing.
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