You Can Go Now… But Leave The Butter

A powerful account of the life of Elzbeth Hoeger, a woman whose experiences spanned some of the most turbulent decades in German history: the collapse of the old German order, the rise of Nazism, the devastation of the Second World War, and the challenges of post-war life in East Germany. Through years marked by political upheaval, hardship and uncertainty, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her family and an astonishing resourcefulness. With her husband a prisoner of war, Elzbeth was left to raise her children alone. Hunger and oppression were daily realities. As restrictions tightened in East Germany, the possibility of a life in the West became an increasingly compelling dream. Faced with difficult choices and significant risks, she began planning a journey that would ultimately take her toward freedom and a new future in England. Reimagined by Elzbeth's daughter, from family memories and historical records, You Can Go Now- But Leave The Butter conjures up an intimate portrait of an ordinary woman confronting extraordinary circumstances. Both deeply personal and historically illuminating, the memoir provides a vivid account of daily life before, during and after the Nazi era, while exploring themes of resilience, courage, love and survival.