Did you know Jehovah's Witnesses were also persecuted in the Holocaust?

Question

Read this example of Christian Faith under severe trial...
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_01.htm

Sustained Through
Terrible Trials
AS TOLD BY ÉVA JOSEFSSON

A small group of us had gathered in the Újpest district of Budapest, Hungary, for a brief meeting before going out in the Christian ministry. It was 1939, shortly before the beginning of World War II, and the preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses was under ban in Hungary. Those who shared in teaching the Bible publicly in those days were often arrested.

More...http://www.watchtower.org/e/19980601/article_01.htm

Answer 1

During the Holocaust this was one group of people who were in the concentration camps beginning in 1935, which was three years before the general roundup of the Jews in 1938. One of the differences between them and other groups is that they were the only group of people who could have left the camps at any time simply by signing a piece of paper, but very few of them chose to do so. They refused to co-operate with the hate campaign of the Nazi regime or to take the lives of their fellow man, but they were willing to die for their stand.

Answer 2

To answer your question: They were persecuted because they made the conscious choice not to submit to the Nazi thinking of supporting Hitler. They were the only group interned in the concentration camps that could leave anytime they wanted, if they simply signed a form stating they renounce Jehovah and support Hitler. Now to briefly address your "claims." Not having read the letter and having no desire to visit sites that are clearly designed at tearing down the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses (and why a "brother" would be visiting these sites is beyond me), I will use what you posted. You posted the organizations own yearbook info from 1934. The public Hitler in 1934 was very, very different than the public Hitler of 1938. Secular historians have made that point for decades. At first he appeared genuinely concerned for the German people, and people fell in love with him. Once he revealed his true nature, many groups stood opposed to him, with Jehovah's Witnesses standing staunchly with them. So if someone tells you what you want to hear and you, being a sincere and honest person, believe him, should we condemn you when this person reveals their true intentions? Do you feel that would be fair to you? And 1934. That was 76 years ago. Before television, before jet aircraft, before WW2, before the atom bomb, before rock n' roll... do you get where I'm headed? It was a different world then, with a completely different set of beliefs and social mores. I see nothing wrong with their initial support of Hitler, because were I in their shoes I most likely would have done the same. But when that man decided it was his duty to wipe out a nation of people because he blamed them for Germany's financial issues, I would have loudly condemned him, at the risk of my own death. If you are indeed one of Jehovah's Witnesses, stay away from those sites. Your post tells you very clearly what they've done to your thinking.

Answer 3

Yes. Our Hall had a speaker last year that was in a camp then. I hung on every word, couldn't even take notes cause I would miss something he said. My son was 16 then and he was glued to the man. What a wonderful Witness he gave.

There is a museum in Europe, can't remember where, that has a small place in it for pictures of Witnesses back then and clothes and the purple triangle. If any of you have seen "Knocking", there is a man that was there also and was Jewish and was so impressed with Jehovah's Witnesses in the camp that he became one.

Answer 4

Whatever Catholics were in the concentration camps it wasn't because they were Catholics, since all the churches of Germany supported Hitler, except for Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses were the only group who had a choice and could have left the camps at any time by signing a piece of paper. Very few choose to do so.

The links that Bambootiger gave don't work for some reason, but here they are again.

Answer 5

The Jehovah's Witnesses were so many in Germany at the time of Hitler that the Catholic Germans were scared that it might become the country's majority religion. So along with the Jews, gays, and gypsies (Romans- in fact few of them muslims) the Jehovah's too suffered terribly under the Nazi rule.

Answer 6

To hear the answers here it seems like it was mostly the Jew's and the JW'S. So there was other religious groups along with them but not persecuted like the other two. I know the major history of WW2 but I have not learned all the background details. I know from documentaries on television that Hitler was a man built to destroy. A man of extreme hate. He had major psychological disorders that needed attention and he got none. I think the reason why he wanted the Jew's and the JW's killed and gone is because Satan himself overpowered him. Satan lived in him and wanted them all killed because Satan hates the follower's of God and Jesus. He was possessed. No witchcraft, voodoo, or conjuring spell. Satan just went in Him to destroy God's people. I know this is a touchy subject and a scary one, but its reality and now the closure time is almost on top of us we have to know that it just don't happen in horror movies! Devote a lot of your time on God (Jehovah) and Jesus that you will be in the Holy Spirit refuge. I'm just saying this and I don't even know if you need to belong to a church or what, but I am devoting most of my time to learn. Picking up very good advice and teachings from well loved Christians here in R&S. Remember touchy, scary subject but put on your armor everyday and stay ALERT.

Answer 7

Yes. So were Catholics, gypsies, the mentally ill and the handicapped. Gay people were thrown into concentration camps and forced to wear a pink triangle sewn to their shirt, just as the Jews were forced to wear the yellow Star of David.

Answer 8

Yeah I knew that. Many were also beheaded By the Nazi, and Sent to firing Squads.

Answer 9

Wouldn't surprise me. The Nazis went after almost anyone that wasn't a Nazi.

Answer 10

They were persecuted because they knocked on the door at 7am and wouldn't take nine for an answer.