Hello everyone,
As it is possible that visitors to JWD are still ignorant about certain events here is
some material concerning the : " Declaration of Facts "
PART 1***
JWs & Jews & Adolf Hitler - Forty Years of JW Yearbooks ======================================================= "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."
The Watchtower Society, 1934 submission to Hitler Part I - The Declaration of Facts --------------------------------- Hitler had just come to power, and the Nazi part was flexing its muscles against all other groups. The Watchtower Society had made large investments in Germany, which were threatened by Nazi suspicions of them as communists. In an attempt to salvage the situation, and avoid the seizure of property, the President of the WTS made a trip to Germany, and arranged for a statement to be produced, adopted at a convention of German JWs in Berlin, and distributed to senior Nazis. Portions of this "Declaration of Facts" were reproduced in the JW English language YearBook of 1934, and are reproduced below. In reading them bear in mind the climate in which they were written, in which the Nazis were winning power by using the greivances of many Germans over war reparations, combined with nebulous claims about an international Zionist conspiracy, acting by means of England and the USA to attack Germany.
The 1934 Yearbook of JWs beginning on page 130 said: "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. Knowing that the enemy has misrepresented the facts to the government, 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 unanimously adopted the resolution, millions of which were printed and distributed throughout Germany. That resolution is as follows, to wit: " " Declaration of Facts" ...
page 134 ... "The greatest and the 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.' We have no fight with any of these persons mentioned, but, as the witnesses for Jehovah and in obedience to his commandment set forth in the Scriptures, we are compelled to call attention to the truth concerning the same in order that the people may be enlightened concerning God and his purpose." ...
page 135 ... "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; and we further state in our literature the reason for the existence of oppressive Big Business and the wrongful political religious influence..." ...
page 136 ... "To know Jehovah God and his gracious provision for humankind is of most vital importance to all persons, because God has declared in His Word that where there is no vision or understanding of his Word the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) We have devoted our lives and our material substance to the work of enabling the people to gain a vision or understanding of God's Word, and therefore it is impossible for our literature and our work to be a menace to the peace and safety of the nation. Instead of being against the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely for such principles, and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus will bring about the full realization of these principles and will give to the people peace and prosperity and the greatest desire of every honest heart."
Part II - Another Revisionist History of the Nazi Era ----------------------------------------------------- In response to the above post re the attempt by JWs in Germany to curry favour with the Nazis and join in jew-bashing in a desperate attempt to hold onto their property, the following quotes are presented from the JW yearbook for 1974, which not surprisingly puts a revisionist spin on matters; however, what remains is still fascinating.
The passage is reproduced, unaltered, in full, with comments:- "Brother Rutherford, who, together with Bro Knorr, had come to Germany just a few days before in order to see what could be done to ensure the safety of the Society's property, had prepared a declaration" ^^^^^^^^^ nice to see that priorities have never changed! "with Bro Balzereit to be presented to the convention delegates for adoption." Later on it's evident that Rutherford wrote the declaration and Balzereit translated (it's not the only time Rutherford made anti-semitic rants).
Now let's see what the 1970s version of the document's contents is... "It was a protest against the meddling of the Hitler government into the preaching work we were doing." Sure didn't read like it; perhaps that's why the momentous Declaration of Facts itself is curiously not quoted in the yb74. "All high government officials, from the Reich's president on down, were to receive a copy of the declaration, if possible by registered mail." Must have been a cheery breakfast for Adolf & co to read that God's Only Channel was 'squarely behind' him and agreed him with him that 'it was the commercial jews' who had 'built up and carried on Big Business as a means of exploiting the and oppressing the peoples of many nations.' "Several days before the convention started Rutherford returned to America." Rather than stay amongst the peace-loving Germans, brave Rutherford returns to face the 'oppressive Anglo-American empire'. "Many in attendance were disappointed in the 'declaration', since in many points it failed to be as strong as the brothers had hoped. Bro Muetze from Dresden, who had worked closely with Bro Balzereit up until that time, accused him later of having weakened the original text. It was not the first time that Bro Balzereit had watered down the clear and unmistakable language of the Society's publications so as to avoid difficulties with governmental agencies." One can only wonder at what the original English text of Rutherford was like before being 'weakened' and 'watered down' by Balzereit. Perhaps he had non-Aryan blood in his veins. "A large number of brothers refused to adopt it just for this reason. In fact, a former pilgrim brother by the name of Kipper refused to offer it for adoption and another brother substituted. It could not be rightfully said that the declaration was unanimously adopted, even though Bro Balzereit later notified Bro Rutherford that it had been." Just perhaps the real reason for the brethen's reluctance to be associated with this brown-nosing to the brown-shirts was revulsion at the anti-semitism and pandering to the fascists. "The conventioners returned home tired and many were disappointed. They took 2,100,000 copies of the 'declaration' home with them, however, and made fast work of distributing them and sending them to numerous persons in positions of responsibility. The copy sent to Hitler was accompanied by a letter that, in part, read:" "'The Brooklyn presidency of the Watch Tower Society is and always has been *exceedingly friendly to Germany.*
In 1918 the president of the Society and seven members of the Board of Directors in America were sentenced to 80 years' imprisonment for the reason that the *president refused to let two magazines* in America, which he edited, *be used in war propaganda against Germany*." [Original Italics] I guess that calling for prayers for Allied victory in it's pages, and encouragement to buy War Bonds, doesn't count as 'war propaganda against Germany'. And my, has anyone ever milked so much out of a term in gaol as Rutherford and co; not only does it fulfil several dozen prophecies, but it's invaluable for ingratiating oneself with dictators. The section ends:- "Even though the declaration had been weakened and many of the brothers could not wholeheartedly agree to its adoption, yet the government was enraged and started a wave of persecution against those who distributed it" which should, more candidly, read: "Even despite our best efforts to curry favour with the Nazi party and its leaders, and our endorsement of their plans to fight the International Zionist Conspiracy, we were unable to stop them from their action. We were not helped in this by the pusilanimous display from many of our so-called brothers, who doubtless sympathising at heart with Jewry and the oppressive Anglo-American empire, refused to endorse even the weakened version of the document." This whole affair is strongly reminiscent of the way the old USSR exploited it's invasion and near-destruction by Hitler, and how -like the JW experience in concentration camps - this became part of the mythic structure of the nation, and the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was quietly forgotten. For like Rutherford, Stalin was a victim of the Nazis, not for the want of trying to appease them. It should also be noted that the action the Party took against the Society was part of a larger picture in which all independent societies were curtailed, including seemingly innocent vegetarian and scout groups, and even the ultra-right-wing Bruederbund student societies. Appropriately the next page of the 1974 yearbook has this topic: "FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD" "Christendom's clergy were not ashamed at openly showing their support of Hitler..." and another long, and hypocritical, tirade begins. You know the rest ... Internet References -------------------
Scanned facsimiles of the letter to Adolf Hitler (with English translation), and the Yearbook of 1934, may be found at:
- http://www.informatik.uni-leipzig.de/~zerbst/jw/hitler/hitler.html
http://www.informatik.uni-leipzig.de/~zerbst/jw/hitler/yb1934w.html
2***
This one is taken from: May/Jun 1994 Free Minds Journal
Sleeping with the EnemyWatchtower Style
written by Colette Brooks
Contributing researcher: Linda Hull
A photograph in the Watchtower book,True Peace and Security, How Can You Find It?, depicts several officials of the Roman Catholic clergy rendering a Heil Hitler salute. 1 This is indicative of the Watchtower's neverending condemnation of the church, whom they allege "compromised woefully" 2 during the second world war. Yet, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Or, as Jesus so eloquently put it, "How can you take the speck out of your brother's eye when you've got a plank hanging out of your own?" Whether the Church endorsed or denounced the tenants of Nazism is not the thrust of this study. What is germane, however, is the fact that Watchtower leadership themselves attempted to compromise "woefully" with the German Reich!
The books, Jehovah's Witnesses In The Divine Purpose and Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimer's of God's Kingdom, report that the Nazi government confiscated Watchtower property after raiding their Magdeburg Germany headquarter's twice during 1933. 3 In response to the first raid, a "Declaration of Facts" was drafted by J.F Rutherford (2nd WT President), which they claim denounced Hitler, his government and Nazism. 4 However, this Declaration, which was reprinted in The 1934 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, represents the proverbial "skeleton" in the Watchtower's closet.
M. James Penton, author of the explosive book, Apocalypse Delayed, exposed the Watchtower's hypocrisy in an article written for the Christian Quest Journal. 5According to Penton, the Watchtower took a definitive stance against the Nazi government only after Hitler rejected their Declaration. 6 In a personal letter which accompanied the Declaration, Watchtower leaders endeavored to convince the Fuhrer that they supported the "principles" of his government--No doubt, an effort to continue their book selling activities in Germany. 7 Hitler, however, was not impressed. In the declaration of facts, Rutherford wrote:
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:...Instead of being against the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely for such principles and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus will bring about the full realization of these principles... [emphasis ours] 8
What principles did Germany advocate under Hitler's rule? The Watchtower reported the following in their publication, God's Kingdom of A Thousand Years:
Shortly after the United States was plunged into World War II, information on this Nazi plan was gleaned from seized Nazi documents....This plan aimed at a Nazi world order that Hitler, if successful in World War II, would mercilessly enforce upon the world and mankind...[He] evidently had in mind the Germanic Holy Roman Empire...At any rate, there was no reestablishment...as many people of Hitler's religion had hoped. 9
While it is quite evident that the Society didn't believe in Nazism, the Declaration reveals that they are just as guilty as they claim Christendom is for "Sleeping With The Enemy." Consequently, one must also ask, what or whom was Rutherford referring to as the so called "Big Business oppressors?" 10 He answers: "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 is so manifest in America that there is a proverb concerning the city of New York....'the Jews own it, the Irish Catholics rule it, and the Americans pay the bills.'" 11
During WWI and II the Society criticized ALL governments, including Germany, for being manipulated by the Catholic Church whom they identified as the "Great Whore Of Babylon." 12 Yet the Declaration invariably exposes their own hypocrisy.
[The] Bible Students are fighting for the SAME high, ethical goals and ideals that the national German Reich proclaimed regarding the relationship of man to God....there are no opposing views....but that, to the contrary, respecting the purely religious and apolitical goals....these are in complete harmony with....the National Government of the German Reich." 13 [emphasis ours]
As previously seen, the Watchtower publication, God's Kingdom of A Thousand Years reported that the "people of Hitler's religion" were disappointed when his plan ultimately failed. 14 How then are we to view the above quote since the Watchtower claimed to be "in complete harmony" with the apolitical and religious views of the Third Reich? 15 Consequently, anyone with the smallest historical inkling is familiar with the German Reich's "apolitical goals." 16 Only a demented man such as Hitler could orchestrate the systematic annihilation of six million Jews while calling these deeds an act of divine will! The Society even acknowledged Germany's wickedness in later Watchtower editions, accusing them of complying with "Satan's attempt to turn all men away from God and His Kingdom." 17 Moreover, in the personal letter to Hitler, they even falsely claimed the U.S. government persecuted them for refusing to publish anti-German propaganda during WWI. 18
Of course this claim totally contradicts their stand during the summer of 1918, when the Watchtower urged faithful Bible Students to purchase War Bonds. 19 In fact, they even went so far as to support a National Day Of Prayer for Germany's swift defeat. 20 Yet, the Society bashed Christendom for praying for the end of WWI in a 1985 Watchtower article. "...in 1914 when German troops marched into Belgium wearing belts inscribed with the word 'Gott mit uns' (God with us). On both sides the church was prolific in prayers for victory and vitriolic abuse of the enemy." 21 The Organization has never been lax about pointing an accusing finger at others, while ignoring their own blatant inconsistencies.
What does the Society say of this Declaration and the events surrounding it? As should be expected, they shifted the blame. In their 1974 Yearbook they claimed a German Witness "accused" another, Paul Balzereit, of altering it. 22 They even went so far as to assert that Balzereit penned the letter to Hitler, which was supposedly done behind Rutherford's back. 23 However, Penton challenged this claim:
Regardless of who wrote, edited, or 'weakened' the Declaration, the fact is that it was published as an official document of The Watch Tower Society. Thus the American leaders...and Judge Rutherford in particular--were directly responsible for what was outright anti-Semitism and a willingness to compromise their loudly trumpeted principles of 'Christian neutrality' in order to continue their publishing and preaching work in Germany... 24
Moreover, Penton also uncovered an eyewitness account of shocking proportion. Konrad Franke, a German Jehovah's Witness added this to the Nazi scandal:
...I had the privilege of traveling with Brother Albert Wandres from Wiesbaden to Berlin...But we were shocked when we arrived at the Tennis Hall (the Watchtower's Magdeburg Headquarters) the next morning...When we entered, we found the Hall bedecked with Swastika flags!...when the meeting started, it was preluded by a song which we had not sung for years...the notes were (taken from) the melody of 'Deutschland, Deutschland, uber alles'! 25 These notes were the melody for the German National Anthem! 26
Since Witnesses today are forbidden to salute national flags, were the German Bible Students under a different standard?----Apparently so, since the Society continued to cover up historical facts with revisionistic slights of hand. In their book, Paradise Restored To Mankind By Theocracy, the Watchtower again demonstrated their propensity for double-standards. "[Jehovah's Witnesses] discerned their commission...They stuck to this course even amid WWII. They stuck to an absolute Christian neutrality toward international controversies." 27
Since Rutherford previously authored two books advocating the Jews prophetic preeminence, 28 one would think an "about face" of this nature impossible. However, this "new light" was a prelude to the "Spiritual Israel/Great Crowd" doctrine. To this end, how could the Watchtower support the Jews since their very existence undermined this newest divine revelation? The Watchtower spiritualized many biblical promises made to the Jew---claiming they now applied to their "anointed class." 29 How then could the Society continue to support them? Theoretically speaking, could an anti-semite possibly be "faithful and wise," considering the fact that the King of Kings is a Jew? Do not the words "anti-semitic Christian" create a logical absurdity? Although the organization under 1st Watchtower President (Charles Taze Russell) strongly supported Zionism, Rutherford abolished this position some 16 years after Russell's death. He wrote:
...during the World War the Jews received recognition of the heathen nations. In 1917 the Balfour Declaration, sponsored by the heathen governments of Satan's organization, came forth, recognized the Jews, and bestowed upon them great favors....The Jews have received more attention at their hands than they really deserved. 30 [emphasis ours]
This represented a tremendous change from his previous writings. In his book Life, Rutherford claimed the Balfour Declaration was part of God's divine plan for bringing fleshly Israel back into His favor. 31 The Balfour Declaration paved the way for Israel's claim to Palestine, which Jehovah gave them thousands of years ago. However, Rutherford no longer believed the Jew had any part in God's plan, as evidenced by the following quote from his book Enemies: "...The Protestant clergy...with the rabbis of the Jewish religious organization, follow the lead of the Roman Catholic organization...all such practice religion, of which the Devil is the author." 32 Although their literature betrays them, they continue to distort and deny what has already been printed by their own presses. They wrote: "[Jehovah's Witnesses] have never meddled in or even taken part in the politics of any nation with which there is mudslinging and the stirring up of so many hostilities and divisive hatreds." 33 Considering Rutherford's immense hypocrisy, is it possible the following statements could provoke "hostilities and divisive hatreds" amongst the Jewish community? "Today the so called 'Protestants' and the Yiddish clergy openly co-operate with and play into the hand of the Roman Catholic Hierarch like foolish simpletons..." 34 He even went so far as to say: "Amongst her (The Whore of Babylon) instruments that she uses are the ultra-selfish men called 'Jews' who look only for personal gain." 35
One must wonder whether Rutherford ever read Romans ch.11, where Paul cautioned believers against pride over natural Israel's present state of unbelief:
You will reply, "The branches have been broken off so that I may be grafted in." Well said!...Be not haughty...For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you...if they do not persist in their unbelief...God is able to graft them in again. And if you have been cut from a naturally wild olive tree and were grafted contrary to nature...how much more readily will these natural branches be grafted into their own original tree!
The facts show that Rutherford was VERY familiar with this scripture since he expounded on it at length in his book Deliverance--commenting that there was still hope for fleshly Israel. 36 Apparently "new light" adjusted his thinking.
To add insult to injury, the Watchtower also claimed the German government organized mandatory flag salutes in the schools but Witness children refused to participate due to "conscience." 37 While we do not doubt their strict dedication to the Society's precepts, we must question the honor and integrity of Watchtower leadership. Why didn't they practice what they forced others to preach? Why did they allow hundreds of Witnesses to die in concentration camps after they themselves attempted to court the fuhrer? To this end they wrote:
The rulers, and particularly the clergy are not now proud of the record they made during the World War, and when Jehovah's Witnesses call attention to the unfaithful and wicked deeds committed then and continuously since then the clergy and their allies feel a stinging shame because they are exposed, and hence they endeavor to prevent the publication of the truth...concerning their acts during the war, their unfaithfulness to God, and their connection with the Devil. They find no glory in the record they have made and are making." 38
Consequently, we must again re-emphasize the fact that people in glass houses should never print books, literature, tracts or anything else that will aid others in finding them out.
Footnotes:
1 True Peace and Security, How Can You Find It?, (The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1986) p.25
2 The Watchtower, 1/1/89, p. 21
3 Jehovah's Witnesses In The Divine Purpose (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1959) p. 130; Jehovah's Witnesses-Proclaimer's Of God's Kingdom (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1993) p. 693-94
4 ibid.
5 M.J. Penton, "A Story Of Attempted Compromise: Jehovah's Witnesses, Anti-Semitism, And The Third Reich," Christian Quest Journal, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring 1990, ed. M. James Penton, (Pub. Robert S. Righetti, Idyllwild, CA)
6 Ibid, p. 39
7 Ibid, p. 37-38, 42
8 1934 Yearbook Of Jehovah's Witnesses, 'Declaration of Facts', (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1933) p. 135-36
9 God's Kingdom Of A Thousand Years, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1973) p. 8, 9
10 1934 Yearbook, (above)
11 Ibid, p. 134 (Although this quote has been shortened for space consideration, it has not been taken out of context. We invite readers to read the quote in its entirety in the 1934 Yearbook)
12 Charles Taze Russell, Posthumous Work Of, The Finished Mystery (International Bible Students Association, 1917) p. 259
13 M.J. Penton, p. 79
14 God's Kingdom Of A Thousand Years, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1973) p. 9
15 M.J. Penton, p. 79
16 Ibid.
17 The Watchtower, 6/1/35, p. 166
18 M.J. Penton, . p.78
19 Watchtower Reprints, 1918, p. 6257 & 6268
20 Watchtower Reprints, 1918, p. 6271
21 The Watchtower, 8/1/85, p. 6
22 1974 Yearbook Of Jehovah's Witnesses, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1973) p. 110-11
23 Ibid.
24 M.J. Penton, p. 42
25 Ibid, [Konrad Franke's Testimony] p. 50 (Penton reported that Franke died as a Witness in good standing. See The Watchtower, 11/1/83, p.31)
26 Ibid.
27 Paradise Restored To Mankind-By Theocracy, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1972) p. 334
28 J.F. Rutherford, Life, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1929); J.F. Rutherford, Comfort For The Jews, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1925)
29 J.F. Rutherford, Vindication, Vol 2, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1932) p. 257-58; The Watchtower, 4/1/35, p. 99-108
30 J.F. Rutherford, Vindication, Vol. 2, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1932) p. 258
31 J.F. Rutherford, Life, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1929) p. 125-144
32 J.F. Rutherford, Enemies, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1937) p. 212
33 Man's Salvation Out Of World Distress At Hand!, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1975) p. 178
34 J.F. Rutherford, Enemies, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1937) p. 222
35 Ibid, p. 281
36 J.F. Rutherford, Deliverance, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1926) p. 329-31
37 Jehovah's Witnesses In The Divine Purpose, (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, 1959) p. 143
38 The Watchtower, 6/1/35, p. 167
(follows)