Here's how the Watchtower society LIED about the "Declaration of Facts" letter from Rutherford to Hitler.
*** w55 8/1 461-2 Part 15: Foreign Activities Under Fascist-Nazi Persecution ***
With the advent of the Hitler dictatorship in January, 1933, the clouds of opposition immediately became pitch-black. Early in April, 1933, the police occupied the Society's large new factory and Bethel home in Magdeburg, Germany, placed its printing machines under seal and conducted an exhaustive search for evidence of subversive activity. None being found, the Society was allowed to resume control of its own premises on April 28. This enabled them to complete the compilation of their above record special-period report for April 8-16. Amidst this trouble Judge Rutherford decided to visit Germany, which he did in June, 1933. On June 25 in Berlin 7,000 witnesses attended a specially called assembly, unanimously passing a resolution entitled "Declaration of Facts." It was a strong protest to Hitler and his government against their highhanded interferences with the witness work of the Society. In quick retaliation three days later, on June 28, 1933, for the second time the Society's property was seized and occupied, and by government decree its printing plant was closed. The 180 members of the Bethel family at Magdeburg were compelled to leave the premises within the next few weeks. Said Hitler:
"These so-called 'Earnest Bible Students' [Jehovah's witnesses] are trouble-makers; they disturb the harmonious life amongst 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; I dissolve the 'Earnest Bible Students' in Germany; their property I dedicate to the people's welfare; I will have all their literature confiscated."
This flagrant violation of international property rights was carried out by the Hitler government even though the American Watch Tower Society had been recognized in Germany since 1921, where, according to international law, it was allowed to own and operate property. At behest of the Society's Brooklyn headquarters the United States Department of State did take action to register its protest with the Hitler government.
(The truth is that Rutherford was afraid Hitler was going to shut down his very profitable printing operation in Germany, and wrote the letter to appease Hitler. It was only after Hitler saw the transparancy of Rutherford's shameless appeasement and shut down the society operations anyway that Rutherford attacked Hitler publicly.)
Here is an excellent link to Kent's site if you want to read more about this:
http://watchtower.observer.org/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=JWANDHITLER3
Farkel
"I didn't mean what I meant."
