Debator may have a point, but it is a weak technicality. From the reference material I have on hand, an official policy or teaching that Armageddon would definitely happen in the fall of 1975 is not evident. That should not be unexpected. What should be expected is that the Association leadership would have learned the lessons of its past prophetic disappointments and hedge its bets. Denial has always been, and always will be, the last resort of those in power who have erred. There is no denying, however, that the Association leadership made no effort to reign in rampant speculation and expectation about Armageddon in 1975. All of the WTBTS literature and the testimonies of thousands of people who were there support the fact that the vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses held a hope and expectation that the wicked system of things prevailing in the world at the time would come to an end. Read what the August 15, 1968 issue of the Watchtower says on pages 499-501.
"Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ. If these two periods run parallel with each other as to the calendar year, it will not be by mere chance or accident but will be according to Jehovah's loving and timely purposes. Our chronology, however, which is reasonably accurate (but admittedly not infallible), at the best only points to the autumn of 1975 as the end of 6,000 years of man's existence on earth. It does not necessarily mean that 1975 marks the end of the first 6,000 years of Jehovah's seventh creative 'day.' Why not? Because after his creation Adam lived some time during the 'sixth day,' which unknown amount of time would need to be subtracted from Adam's 930 years, to determine when the sixth seven-thousand-year period or 'day' ended, and how long Adam lived into the 'seventh day.' And yet the end of that sixth creative 'day' could end within the same Gregorian calendar year of Adam's creation. It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years.. This time between Adam's creation and the beginning of the seventh day, the day of rest, let it be noted, need not have been a long time. It could have been a rather short one. The naming of the animals by Adam, and his discovery that there was no complement for himself, required no great length of time.. One thing is absolutely certain, Bible chronology reinforced with fulfilled Bible prophecy shows that six thousand years of man's existence will soon be up, yes, within this generation! (Matt. 24:34) This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that 'concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.' To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. Make no mistake, it is sufficient that the Father himself knows both the 'day and hour.' .. There was a ring of alarm and a cry of urgency in all their [the apostles] writings.... And rightly so. If they had delayed or dillydallied and had been complacent with the idea the end was was some thousands of years off they would never have finished running the race set before them."
(Emphasis mine.)
What is clear is that the official stance of the Society was one of exceptionally strong implication and expectation. Without doubt, the onset of Armageddon and the end of the first 6,000 years were repeatedly and inextricably linked together. To paraphrase, the Society is saying Yes, we can't say for sure it will be 1975, but all the numbers sure point to it as the year of Armageddon. And, even if it turns out not to be 1975, it will almost certainly happen very soon thereafter.
