The "Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt"

I read today about a man who has always fascinated me — Martin Niemöller (anglicized spelling Niemoeller), a Lutheran pastor born in Germany on today's date (January 14, 1892).  He has a fascinating story.  He was a distinguished commander of a German submarine in the first World War, awarded the Iron Cross for his victories and valor.  But later in life, he often told the story of having torpedoed an enemy boat; he commanded his crew not to rescue the sailors of that ship but to let them drown.  The incident haunted him.  When the war ended, it was among the things that motivated him to become a minister.

As Germany rebuilt in the years that followed, Niemöller opposed the Communists and initially supported Hitler and the Nazis; but soon became an outspoken opponent because of the Nazis' policies of Aryan supremacy and control of churches.  He was eventually imprisoned for his opposition, barely escaping execution but instead spending 8 years in concentration camps, to be liberated by Allied forces at the end of the war in May 1945.  He is probably best known for this statement about the events leading up to his imprisonment:

Niemöller used this example a number of times in his speeches after the war, often listing other groups who were persecuted by the Nazis, including Communists, those with incurable diseases, Jehovah's Witnesses, and civilians in countries occupied by Nazi Germany.

I learned this morning about a fascinating document known as the Stuttgarter Schuldbekenntnis ("Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt"), that was issued on October 19, 1945 by the "Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany."  This initially attracted my attention because Stuttgart was a city my Mother spent time in as a youth growing up in Germany.  As I learned more about the declaration, I was deeply impressed.

In the pre-war years, Martin Niemöller had echoed some of the anti-Semitic rhetoric that was common and accepted among Protestant churches in Germany.  But he stated that his experience in the Nazi camps changed him in profound ways.  As a representative of his church, he participated in ecumenical councils that followed the war, but was among those who were frustrated by the unwillingness to talk clearly about the role the churches might have played in events before and during the war — a "lack of contrition."  Niemöller led the development of this declaration along with other clergy (11 religious leaders signed the document), confessing guilt for inadequate opposition to the Nazis and the Third Reich.  Part of the document states:

Through us, infinite wrong was brought over many peoples and countries. That which we often testified to in our communities, we express now in the name of the whole church: We did fight for long years in the name of Jesus Christ against the mentality that found its awful expression in the National Socialist regime of violence; but we accuse ourselves for not standing to our beliefs more courageously, for not praying more faithfully, for not believing more joyously, and for not loving more ardently.

This is profound.  It's interesting that Niemöller felt so strongly about this, even though he himself spent most of the war in concentration camps because of his outspoken opposition to the Nazis.  But had he done enough?  Not everyone agreed with the document; many felt it should reflect more culpability of the whole German people.  Others felt it ignored the injustices received by the Germans at the hands of their enemies, including "inhuman" treatment by the Russian armies.  Of those who had signed, only Niemöller proclaimed its message boldly for years after the war.

I see wonderful messages and lessons in the life and teachings of Martin Niemöller.

• He profoundly reminds us to have courage to stand up against oppression and evil, while there is still a chance to speak up.  It might be well for us today to ask ourselves, what might be the equivalent philosophies or opinions or groups that are being persecuted and oppressed in our time, for which I might stand as a voice for justice or truth?  Will I recognize the need when it comes?  Will I have the courage to "speak out"?
• He was not afraid to admit responsibility, and to take blame for areas where he fell short and could have tried harder.  That kind of attitude is most effective as it motivates us to be more careful in future instances, that we might not only avoid the need to repent for inaction, but also do as much good as possible.

Niemöller went on to become an outspoken peace advocate and pacifist.  He vigorously opposed nuclear arms and the Vietnam War.  He became president of the World Council of Churches in 1961, and was given the Lenin Peace Prize in 1966.  He died in 1984 at age 92.  I pay tribute and offer gratitude to a remarkable and courageous man.