London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
; died 1974, London) was a British educator and author, known for her book, ''Darkness over Germany'' (1943). She wrote about how Nazi policies ideologically manipulated young Germans.
Early life
Amy Buller grew up in a
Baptist
Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
family in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. In 1911, she returned to
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
but visited
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
several times before the outbreak of the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. She studied German at
Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London (formally Birkbeck College, University of London), is a public research university located in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. Established in 1823 as the London Mechanics' ...
, receiving her degree in 1917.
She converted to
Anglo-Catholicism
Anglo-Catholicism comprises beliefs and practices that emphasise the Catholicism, Catholic heritage (especially pre-English Reformation, Reformation roots) and identity of the Church of England and various churches within Anglicanism. Anglo-Ca ...
and, after graduating, from 1921 worked as an employee for the
Student Christian Movement of Great Britain
Student Christian Movement of Great Britain (or SCM) is a British religious charity led by students, past and present. The movement is an ecumenical and inclusive community that recognises unity in diversity and explores faith through worship, dis ...
(SCM), first in
Manchester
Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
and from 1922 in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. Between 1929 and 1931 she was a member of the SCM executive committee.
''Darkness over Germany'' (1943)
She visited Germany regularly and organised visits by English clergy and teachers even after the rise of the
National Socialist
Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During Hitler's rise to power, it was frequen ...
party. She saw the enthusiasm for National Socialism as being a sort of replacement religion. Her groups travelled widely around Germany in the pre-war years, visiting, for example, a labour camp. The London Ambassador
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ulrich Friedrich-Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (; 30 April 1893 – 16 October 1946) was a German Nazi politician and diplomat who served as Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1945. ...
had hoped to harness the British groups of visitors for propaganda purposes but in 1937 found this was not possible and obstructed further visits.
In the introduction to her book ''Darkness over Germany'', Buller wrote: "I record these stories to emphasize the need for youth and those who plan the training of youth to consider carefully the full significance of the tragedy of a whole generation of German youth who, having no faith, made Nazism their religion."Buller, ''Darkness over Germany'' (1943), Prologue.
A new edition of the book, featuring a foreword by
Kurt Barling
J. Kurt Barling (born November 1961) is a British professor of journalism at Middlesex University.
After the war
Buller planned to found a college that taught from a Christian perspective. She planned to set this up in the Catherine Foundation buildings in
Regent's Park
Regent's Park (officially The Regent's Park) is one of the Royal Parks of London. It occupies in north-west Inner London, administratively split between the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, Borough of Camden (and historical ...
but this fell through. Eventually she was given the use of
Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge is a 17th-century Grade II listed country house in Windsor Great Park 3.5 miles south of Windsor Castle. Since 1947 it has been occupied by the charitable foundation known as Cumberland Lodge, an educational charity and social ...
in
Windsor Park
The National Football Stadium at Windsor Park (officially the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park for sponsorship reasons), or the National Football Stadium, also known as Windsor Park is a association football, football stadium in B ...
. In 1947, the foundation called "The Foundation of St. Catherine" was created. She held the office of Warden until 1966. Her book was placed on the reading list of Queen Elizabeth during the war and after reading it was so impressed she invited Amy to visit her and it was the Queen who secured Cumberland Lodge for her Girls college part of the royal estates.