The August 22nd, 1995 issue of the "Awake!" magazine presented a special article marking the 50th anniversary of liberating the camps. It's title is prominently displayed, "The Holocaust, Who Spoke out?"

Following this direct question, the Watchtower Society of Jehovah's Witnesses would have the reader believe there was "One Voice in the Midst of Silence" (p.3). Following this outrageous statement, is the repeated claim that they, virtually alone, opposed the Nazi regime, headed up by Adolf Hitler. However, they trip themselves up repeatedly, never more so than when they made this interesting quote on page 12, from their September 26, 1945 "Consolation" magazine,

"Propagandists think the people have short memories. It is their intention to erase past history, presenting themselves in the modern disguise of benefactors, their incriminating record being covered up".

This article, and the documentation package offered, will prove that the Watchtower leaders are guilty of everything they have charged others with in the above statement! First off, cult researchers like to have long memories, not short ones. What they can't recall personally, they can research in the archives of the Watchtower's abundant publications.

"Erasing Past History"

The most recent "history" book "Jehovah's Witnesses --Proclaimers of God's Kingdom" published by the Society, has this favorable report on this time period on page 693,

"...By the summer of 1933, their work had been banned in the majority of German states. Therefore, on June 25th, 1933, a declaration regarding their ministry and its objectives was adopted by Jehovah's Witnesses at an assembly in Berlin. Copies were sent to all the high government officials, and millions more were distributed to the public. Nevertheless, in July 1933 the courts refused to grant a hearing for relief. Early the following year, a personal letter regarding the situation was written by J.F. Rutherford to Adolf Hitler and delivered to him by special messenger...".

Did you notice what is missing from this superficial account of history? The contents of the "declaration" and the "personal letter" to Hitler! We sensed a cover-up and began a hunt for the truth. The "Proclaimers" book has proved to be a white-washed cover-up on many other subjects we have investigated. Since the Society has chosen to "erase" their past history, we present the facts here.

Partial accounts have appeared down through the years, with the incriminating parts deleted. JW's prefer to quote the resolutions made in the USA, not Germany (see WT 1/1/89 p.21), neglecting the German resolution. However, those with access to the 1934 Year Book will find some fascinating reading on pages 130 through 143. We will now quote some of the more interesting statements.

WT statement "In June, the president of the Society visited Germany to take some action to get the Society's property restored to our possession and to carry on the work further...A Declaration of Facts was prepared, and on the 25th day of June, 1933, more than 7,000 of Jehovah's Witnesses assembled at Berlin and unanim-ously adopted the resolution, millions of which were printed and distributed throughout Germany...".

Our comment We couldn't help but be amazed again at the priorities of the WT Society. The President shows up when the PROPERTY of the Society was confiscated, not before. People always come second, the big bucks come first in the world of the cults! The 1934 Year Book then goes on to print the resolution.

After some paragraphs, the Watchtower Society proceeds to attack the Jews, the British, and the Americans in order to ingratiate themselves with Hitler.

"...The greatest and most oppressive empire on earth is the Anglo-American empire. By that is meant the British Empire, of which the United States of America forms a part. It has been the commercial Jews of the British-American empire that have built up and carried on Big Business as a means of exploiting and oppressing the peoples of many nations. This fact particularly applies to the cities of London and New York, the stronghold of Big Business. This fact is so manifest in America that there is a proverb concerning the city of New York which says "The Jews own it, the Irish Catholics rule it, and the Americans pay the bills...

...The present government of Germany has declared emphatically against Big Business oppressors and in opposition to the wrongful religious influence in the political affairs of the nation. Such is exactly our position ...the Holy Scriptures plainly declare that these oppressive instruments proceed from the Devil...It is therefore impossible for our literature or our work to in any wise be a danger or a menace to the peace and safety of the state...".

Our comment This intolerant, bigoted statement could only have come from the arrogant Watchtower Society. Of course they must badmouth the natural Jews, since they have declared that God is finished with the natural Jews, and they are now the "spiritual Jews". This statement of support for Hitler and the German state, and against the Jews, British, and the Americans speaks for itself. It is part of Watchtower history that cannot be erased and covered over.

The Watchtower Society then goes on to proclaim that they actually share ideals with Hitler's German state. Continuing on in the 1934 Year Book on page 137, 138, we read,

''A careful examination of our books and literature will disclose the fact that the very high ideals held and promulgated by the present national government are set forth in and endorsed and strongly emphasized in our publications and show that Jehovah God will see to it that these high ideals in due time will be attained by all persons...we are the strongest supporters of such high ideals....Now, because it appears that Ger-many may soon be free from oppression and that the people may be lifted up, Satan, the great enemy puts forth his endeavors to destroy that benevolent work in this land."

Our Comment Can you beat this one!?? Rutherford goes so far as to claim the ideals of Hitler and those of the Society are one and the same!! No matter how many statements the Watchtower makes as to its neutrality to governments and politics, the record is clear. The WT Society, at least once in its history endorsed at least one political regime, Hitler's!!

Lest there be any misunderstanding of the WT's sympathy for Hitler's regime, the resolution continues on page 141,

"The people of Germany have suffered great misery since 1914, and have been the victims of much injustice practiced upon them by others...".

Page 143 continues,

"Let all who love God work together to the honor and vindication of his name...".

Our Comment We think it is criminal that Jehovah's Witnesses now claim that they were the only voice raised against Hitler, and dare to put that fact in print! Only the very arrogant dare put such big lies in print!

In "True Peace and Security, How Can You Find It?", a 1986 WT publication, they show a clergyman shaking Hitler's hand, and other doing the "Heil Hitler" salute. (p.24,25). Their comment? "Yes, this world's religions bear a heavy blood guilt in relation to all the slaughter of world history! For this they will be called to account."

Our Comment. If the shoe fits, wear it!

By the time the 1974 Year Book had been written, so had WT history concerning the resolution. The resolution was described as follows, on page 110,

"It was a protest against the meddling of the Hitler government into the preaching work we were doing....".

"Many in attendance were disappointed in the "declaration", since in many points it failed to be as strong as the brothers had hoped".

Our comment Their description of the resolution is most misleading, and one can well understand the disappointment of the German brethren with Rutherford jumping into bed with Hitler, claiming the same ideals.

With typical WT arrogance, the 1974 Year Book proceeds to blame a local brother for not translating Rutherford's original text strongly enough. When leadership errs, the lowly sheep are always blamed. It was ever so.

The only admission made was that the President of the Society was "exceedingly friendly to Germany", so much so that Rutherford "refused to let two magazines...be used in war propaganda against Germany". In other words, Rutherford chose jail rather than cross Germany.

Of course, this view of matters was withheld from the Americans, and he was presented as a model of neutrality, even applying Bible prophecy to his prison time!

RUTHERFORD'S LETTER TO HITLER

This letter gets very little mention in Watchtower publications, so one immediately looks for a cover-up. Here is a partial listing of interesting statements taken from that letter.

"The Brooklyn headquarters of the Watchtower Society is pro German in an exemplary way and has been so for many years. For that reason, in 1918, the President of the Society and seven members of the board of directors were sentenced to 80 years in prison, because the president refused to use two of the magazines published in America under his direction for war propaganda against Germany. These two magazines...were the only magazines in America which refused to engage in anti-German propaganda...".

"...that the Bible Researchers of Germany are fighting for the very same high ethical goals and ideals which also the national Government of the German Reich proclaimed respecting the relationship of humans to God...

"...the contents of the books which were criticized only refers to the situation and actions within the Anglo-American world power--especially England--which is responsible for the League of Nations and it contracts and burdens imposed upon Germany. What is written in our literature--no matter whether from a financial or political point of view--is only directed towards the suppressors of the German people and their country, but by no means refers to Germany itself, which is trying hard to fight against the imposed burdens..."

The Watchtower letter goes one step further and quotes paragraph 24 of the program of the National Socialistic German Party of Workers, which reads

"We demand the freedom of all religious denominations within the state, as far as they do not endanger the state itself or violate the moral values of the German race. The party as such represents the viewpoint of positive Christianity without being attached to any particular denomination. It fights against the Jewish-materialistic spirit inside and outside of us and is convinced that any recovery of the German people can only take place from the inside out".

The letter goes on to appeal to the above statement, claiming that WT activities fall within government guidelines. The letter has the familiar generic signature of "The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Magdeburg".

This letter does not sound like a later recalling of that time period by the Awake! of August 22, 1995 which says,

"These Bible-based beliefs determined the steadfast stand of Jehovah's Witnesses against the Nazi ungodly demands. Thus they courageously spoke out and exposed Nazism as the evil that it was".

The facts set the matter straight. When all appealing and supporting of the German Reich by the Watchtower failed, then, and only then, did Rutherford begin to make angry and reckless statements against Hitler, even calling him the devil's representative.

In fact, it appears that his unleashed anger and outrageous statements against Hitler, coming soon after his supportive ones put his brethren in grave danger. They were rounded up and put in concentration camps and did suffer terribly. Many of them were brave and courageous and of great faith in the camps. We salute these long-suffering victims who paid the price for Rutherford's mistakes.

So, the Holocaust, Who Spoke Out? Jehovah's Witnesses were one small voice among many, but they spoke out of both sides of their mouth, both for and against the German Reich. They engaged in Jew-bashing and helped to fan the flames of hatred against the Jews, and their voices, along with other bigots resulted in the concentration camps.

Under their leader, Rutherford, they sought to placate and support Hitler and Germany. When Rutherford's methods failed, his unfortunate followers found themselves in the very camps with the very Jews they had denounced.

"Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose" book page 130 has this quote from "The German Way" dated May 29th 1938

"...Hitler said "These so-called "Earnest Bible Students" are trouble-makers; they disturb the harmonious life among the Germans; I consider them quacks; I do not tolerate that the German Catholics be besmirched in such a manner by this American "Judge" Rutherford...".

Yes, "Judge" Rutherford must bear the brunt of the blame for how events turned out, and the innocent shed blood of his victims. No doubt he knows this already in the hellfire he denied.

Modern Jehovah's Witnesses, you need to research your roots. We have photo-copy evidence of all statements concerning the events in Germany. A package is available. Please order from our price list or write to us for details.