You Can Go Now…But Leave The Butter is a powerful account of the life of Elzbeth Hoeger, a woman whose experiences spanned some of the most turbulent decades in German history. Born in 1907, she witnessed 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 astonishing resourcefulness, and an unwavering commitment to her family.

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 Hoeger’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. 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.

THE AUTHOR

Barbara Schultz grew up in East Germany and escaped with her mother and twin brother to England when she was eleven. She moved to the United States at fifty; got a degree at fifty-seven; was ordained a year later as a deacon in the Methodist Church, specialising in spiritual formation. She started writing seriously when almost seventy. She now lives in Hastings.

You Can Go Now … But Leave The Butter launch is on Saturday, 20 June, from 1pm to 3pm, at Crown House, 57 Marina, St Leonards. It is published by ByTheBook Press at £10.99 bythebook.press


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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ARTSSchultzbook.pnghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ARTSSchultzbook-150x150.pngHIPArtsReviewsElzbeth Hoeger,Second World WarYou Can Go Now…But Leave The Butter is a powerful account of the life of Elzbeth Hoeger, a woman whose experiences spanned some of the most turbulent decades in German history. Born in 1907, she witnessed the collapse of the old German order, the rise of Nazism, the devastation...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper