During the early 1930’s, the situation in politically disturbed Germany was getting progressively worse for Jehovah’s people. As a result, eventually twelve German pioneers came to serve in Spain. One group got a really hot reception, as their train arrived at the Barcelona station right in the middle of a revolt against the government. While going to meet them, Ernest Eden found that the whole area had been converted into a battlefield. For cover he dived into the Post Office building and had to wait there for two hours until the shooting died down. Eventually he got to the station, where the German brothers were waiting stoically. Then the real trouble started. They did not speak English or Spanish and he did not speak German! Despite this, however, with three months of training these German pioneers were prepared for preaching in Spanish.

On the other hand, Ernest Eden continued to preach in the towns of Barcelona province.