1 Flourishing congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Bible Students) in Germany before 1933. Because of their intense preaching activity, they were well known among the populace.

2 As early as 1933, Jehovah’s Witnesses’ refusal to participate in elections and to give the Hitler salute, as well as their religious activities in spite of governmental bans, resulted in the first repressive measures for the Witnesses and even detention in concentration camps.

3 On October 7, 1934, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany and in 50 other countries sent about 20,000 letters and telegrams to the German government protesting the persecution. The telegrams from abroad read as follows: “Hitler government, Berlin, Germany. Your ill-treatment of Jehovah’s witnesses shocks all good people of earth and dishonors God’s name. Refrain from further persecuting Jehovah’s witnesses; otherwise God will destroy you and your national party. Signed, JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES [city or community].”