History of Sorts

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In fact, I recall an experience from a few years ago when I was taking a web development course. One evening, I gave some of my fellow students a ride home, and in that moment, my car became a microcosm of diverse faiths—there was a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, and an atheist, all connected through a shared pursuit of education.

However, the focus of this blog is Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Holocaust, and that is where I will turn my attention.

I have written about this topic before, but I find it necessary to revisit it. The more I read and research, the more I realize how little is known about the persecution Jehovah’s Witnesses faced during World War II.

Unlike Jewish and Roma victims, who were targeted and murdered solely because of their birth, Jehovah’s Witnesses had a way to escape persecution: they could save themselves by renouncing their faith. Yet, the vast majority refused to do so. Despite facing torture, brutal mistreatment in concentration camps, and even execution, they remained steadfast—earning the respect of many of their contemporaries.

Rather than delving into extensive details, I want to highlight just a few stories that illustrate their courage.

The Kusserow family, for example, was deeply committed to its faith. It actively distributed religious literature and hosted Bible study meetings in its home. As a result, it was under constant surveillance.

Their eldest son, Wilhelm Kusserow, was arrested for refusing to join the German army. In 1940, he stood before a judge and made his position clear—he obeyed God’s law, not Hitler’s. He took the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” literally and refused to bear arms. For this, he was executed by firing squad in Münster prison on April 27, 1940.

His younger brother, Karl Kusserow, also refused military service for the same reason. He was executed by guillotine in Brandenburg prison on March 28, 1942, at just 20 years old.

Another victim, Helene Gotthold, suffered a tragic fate as well. The Nazis first arrested her husband in 1936 for practicing his faith. When authorities searched their home and found Jehovah’s Witness literature, they arrested Helene in 1937. She endured severe beatings with rods, which caused her to lose her unborn child. The court sentenced her to 18 months in prison.

But the persecution did not end there. In February 1944, Helene and her husband were arrested again. After surviving an Allied bombing raid that destroyed the prison in Essen, they were transferred to Potsdam. On August 4, 1944, the People’s Court sentenced Helene and five other Jehovah’s Witnesses to death for holding illegal Bible meetings and “undermining national morale.”

Before her execution, Helene was granted the opportunity to write a final letter to her husband and children. On December 8, 1944, she was executed by guillotine in Berlin’s Plötzensee Prison. Her family, however, survived the war and continued their missionary work in Germany.

I believe the bravery of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the Holocaust is often underestimated—even today. Through researching and writing about their experiences, I have developed a newfound respect for this group of Christians.

Does this mean I agree with all of their beliefs? No. But I don’t expect anyone to agree with all of mine either. One thing I do know, however, is that if I were in their position—if my life could be spared by renouncing my faith—I cannot say with certainty that I would have had the strength to stand firm as they did.

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Sources

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/id-card/helene-gotthold

https://www.fold3.com/subject/286019312/jehovahs-witnesses-and-the-holocaust

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/photo/the-kusserow-family

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