HistorianSpeaks emblemHistorianSpeaksSubscribe

First They Came (1946)

Martin Niemoeller
Martin Niemoeller

Pastor Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me.

#MartinNiemoller #FirstTheyCame

Share:
Cite this blog:
"First They Came (1946)." Historianspeaks, June 6, 2025. https://historianspeaks.org/blog/first-they-came-1946.

Ask the Historian

Have a question about this story, or an idea for a future post? Send it here.

Stay Current

Join our mailing list

One dispatch a week: a new essay, a podcast episode, and something from the archive worth a second look.