Imagine if the world you grew up in ceased to exist. In Under a Leafl ess Tree: Th e Story of a Mormon Girl from East Prussia, Helga Meyer tells of the disintegration of her hometown of Tilsit, East Prussia. From an idyllic childhood to persecution for her curious new faith and the challenge of saluting Nazi troops while quietly befriending Jews, Helga shares poignant memories of coming of age in a world quickly falling apart. Helga suffered physically from the ravages of war when she was wounded in one of many daily bombing raids. Too soon, her teenaged friends, brothers, and cousin faced death in the bitter fields of France and Russia. Amidst fellow refugees, Helga found her natural optimism challenged by increasing and very personal heartbreak. Alone in a foreign land, she struggled to fi nd refuge and, braver still, a chance at romance. Led by a prophetic dream, she devised a daring escape to begin a new life in America. Revealing previously unknown details of the lives of women during World War II and the experiences of Mormons in East Prussia and East Germany, Under a Leafl ess Tree adds a unique perspective to the growing collection of World War II memoirs. Featuring over 150 original photographs, Under a Leafl ess Tree paints a vivid pictorial history-an unforgettable true story that lifts the reader.