By

Harpreet, Daljit, Gurpreet, Deshaun, Gerald, & Nate?

Jehovah’s Witnesses Were Christian and Ethnically German like everyone else.

The Nazis Persecuted Jehovah’s Witnesses for two basic reasons: Prejudice and Dissidence.

As always those who are different are the ones who are persecuted.

Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Bible Students began their missionary work all over Eastern and Western Europe in the 1890’s.

Matthew 24: 13,14

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses were an international organization whose German affiliates refused to support the Nazi agenda.

An estimated 30,000 Witnesses were active by 1933.

Immediately after the Nazi Takeover, The Watchtower society was targeted, especially by Gestapo.

Watchtower Organization was declared subversive and their distribution of contraband was seen as smuggling.

• Being apolitical and nonconformity was seen as opposition.

• Watchtower Organization was declared subversive and their distribution of contraband was seen as smuggling.

• An estimated 30,000 Witnesses were active by 1933.

After being dissolved in Bavaria and Prussia in April 1935, 20,000 remained underground and active.

About ½, were imprisoned: 18 months

2500 sent to concentration camps

Military Tribunals executed around 250 German Witnesses and untold non-German others.

Non German Witnesses suffered the most including those sent to the concentration camps:

250 Dutch 200 Austrian100 Polish50 Belgian, French, Czech, and Hungarian

people.

Faced harassment by German Officers Joseph F. Rutherford: President of

Watchtower Society mounted a campaign to convince/ inform Hitler that they weren’t a threat to Germany

US State department pressured GermanyBut, persecution still increased.

At the Wilmersdorfer Tennushalken conference of 7,000 bible students a statement was released declaring:

“It is impossible for our literature and our work to be a menace to the peace and safety of the nation.”

They continued printing in underground bunkers preaching in disguise and meeting at night.

Jehovah’s Witnesses were forced to wear purple triangles.

They were segregated, harassed, imprisoned and killed in concentration camp.

Were given a unique choice to sign a statement, renounce their beliefs, hail Hitler, and walk away.

Many chose to stay…

Integrity Under PressureFour years ago in CHS, Valedictorian posed a

question to a group of young graduates.He said “If someone put a gun to your head and

asked you for you keys and asked for you wallet, you would readily give it since your life is more important than anything. But if someone put a gun to your head and asked to give up your beliefs, would you?”

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nazi Germany, answered with a resounding YESH BABY!!!!

• A booklet published by the U S Holocaust Memorial museum in Washington D.C. states “Jehovah’s Witnesses endured intense persecution under the Nazi regime… the courage the vast majority displayed inn refusing [to renounce their religion], in the face of torture, maltreatment in concentration camps and sometimes execution, won them the respect of many contemporaries

• Then it adds; “during the liberation of the camps, Jehovah’s Witnesses continued their work, moving among the survivors, making converts.”

TheEnd!!!!

Jehovah's Witnesses, Organization Behind The Name pgs 478-504Watch Tower society Of Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses and the Holocaust:Jehovah's Witnesses Unitedhttp://jehovah.to/gen/holocaust/index.htm JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES Stand Fasthttp://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?

lang=en&ModuleId=10005394 Five Million Often Forgottenhttp://www.holocaustforgotten.com/Jehovah.htm