On the 11 and 12 November 1942, the whole of France was occupied by the invading armies and the Gestapo, the Nazi police, came twice to search the house, looking for the people Brother Roger was hiding. At that moment, he was in Switzerland, helping someone who didn't have the necessary papers to cross the border to freedom, so he was forced to remain in Switzerland from late 1942 till the end of 1944. When he returned to Taiz in 1944, Brother Roger was accompanied by his first brothers, whom he had met in the meantime. As the years passed, the brothers increased in number. While the first brothers were Protestant, little by little, Catholic brothers were able to join too.
Today there are brothers from some twenty-five different countries and from every continent.
By its very existence, the community is a sign of reconciliation among divided Christians and among separated peoples. If reconciliation between Christians is at the heart of Taiz 's vocation, this has never seen as an end in itself, but so that Christians be a leaven of reconciliation between people, of trust among nations, and of peace on earth. The community accepts no gifts or donations for itself. The brothers do not even accept family inheritances. They support themselves and are able to share with others solely by their own work.