As member of the Cambridge University chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (pacifist association), I heard Niemöller recite a version of this poem at a meeting, held in late 1963 or early 1964, not far from the Catholic church on Lensfield Road. I remember him mentioning at least communists, social democrats, trade unionists and Jews. [About other groups Niemöller is reported to have mentioned on various occasions] |
Als
die Nazis die Kommunisten holten, Als
sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten, Als
sie die Gewerkschafter holten, |
When
the Nazis came for the communists, When
they locked up the social democrats, When
they came for the trade unionists, |
Als
sie die Juden holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Jude. |
When
they came for the Jews, I didn’t speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. |
[No original found] |
When they came for the sick, the so-called incurables, I didn't speak up, because I wasn’t mentally ill. When they came for the Catholics, I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. |
Als
sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte. |
When
they came for me, there was no-one left to speak out. |
More about this poem and about Martin Niemöller |