The approval by the German parliament to construct a memorial for Jehovah’s Witnesses persecuted under the Nazis is a long-overdue recognition of their suffering.
With lawmakers backing the motion to support the memorial in Berlin’s central Tiergarten park, it is a step toward rectifying the historical oversight. The construction of this memorial will join others commemorating various groups targeted by the Nazis, such as Jews, gays, Sinti and Roma, and disabled individuals. The fact that a memorial for Polish victims of World War II is also mandated shows progress in acknowledging the atrocities committed during that dark period.
The foundation responsible for overseeing the existing memorials rightly points out the resistance displayed by Jehovah’s Witnesses from the outset of the Nazi regime. They refused to conform, rejected the Hitler salute, and refused to join state organizations like the Hitler Youth. These brave acts of defiance led to their persecution, imprisonment, and death. It is estimated that at least 1,700 Jehovah’s Witnesses lost their lives due to Nazi rule.
The planned memorial aims to ensure that their sacrifices and hardships will no longer be forgotten. It is a necessary step in confronting the dark chapters of Nazi history and giving voice to the silenced victims.
The approval of the memorial is a significant event, as it acknowledges a group that has long been overlooked. It is a small but crucial step towards acknowledging the suffering endured by Jehovah’s Witnesses under the Nazis.
