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First They Came – by Pastor Martin Niemöller

Download a copy of First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller

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

Pastor Martin Niemöller

Pastor Martin Niemöller

Martin Niemöller is best known for writing First They Came, but he is a complicated figure. Initially an antisemitic Nazi supporter, his views changed when he was imprisoned in a concentration camp for speaking out against Nazi control of churches.

Read Martin's life story
'Refugee Blues' poem

'Refugee Blues' poem

Watch our film of Sheila Hancock reading the poem 'Refugee Blues' by W H Auden. The film is available to download and screen at HMD activities.

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