Martin Niemöller

(1892 - 1984 / Germany)

poet Martin Niemöller

First They Came For The Jews

Poem by Martin Niemöller

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Topic(s) of this poem: holocaust


Comments about First They Came For The Jews by Martin Niemöller

  • David (6/27/2020 4:22:00 AM)

    The Facist grew to fight the Communist. Stalin and Mao killed more, yet Hitler is more vilified.(Report)Reply

    0 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Dixie (5/16/2020 3:05:00 PM)

    I do speak up for everyone but they don't know it. The politicians are crooks. Your poem is right on.(Report)Reply

    1 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • This is wrong (1/27/2020 5:35:00 PM)

    The concentration camps were set up to persecute the communists first. The poem reflects that order(Report)Reply

    Douglas Brown(6/2/2020 3:53:00 PM)

    Maybe so, but 6 million of them did not die.

    0 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • ABU SIDDIK (1/22/2020 4:07:00 AM)

    Brevity and clarity of thought are the hall marks of this poem.(Report)Reply

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • obama''s left clavicle (12/5/2019 5:30:00 PM)

    hmmm, yes, very meaningful, thank you for sharing(Report)Reply

    0 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Denise Fisher (8/16/2019 5:19:00 AM)

    When will we wake up.We are all part of the human race.(Report)Reply

    6 person liked.
    		5 person did not like.
  • Ulrike (5/14/2019 4:11:00 PM)

    This is not properly translated. Not at all! The first line is: " when they came for the communists..." then the social democrats, then the labor unions, then the Jews.(Report)Reply

    2 person liked.
    		4 person did not like.
  • gghhhg (4/16/2019 12:20:00 PM)

    ghhghfgghngngngnfgngf(Report)Reply

    2 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • leland (4/16/2019 12:14:00 PM)

    i need to pay my charges because i stole something(Report)Reply

    Jayden White(4/16/2019 12:20:00 PM)

    I always steal stuff too! once i stole gum from walmart and i got caught: (

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • leland (4/16/2019 12:13:00 PM)

    i have to pay my charges(Report)Reply

    0 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • leand whitewell (4/16/2019 12:11:00 PM)

    i need to pay my charges right now(Report)Reply

    0 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Missing Pet Russian (4/16/2019 12:10:00 PM)

    Help me please! my pet russian escaped out of his cage last night. He wears a gas mask and is missing his left leg. Please help me bring him home!Already ReportedReply

    0 person liked.
    		3 person did not like.
  • eggplant (4/16/2019 12:08:00 PM)

    i love charges yep thats right(Report)Reply

    Jayden White(4/16/2019 12:25:00 PM)

    I like sponge baths from dale!

    i love coandy(4/16/2019 12:24:00 PM)

    e3ewrwt54y653trg64y5et6r

    Jayden White(4/16/2019 12:18:00 PM)

    Yes, me and my friend leland need to pay our charges too. if we dont we get a sponge bath from dale in the back of the school!

    leland(4/16/2019 12:15:00 PM)

    yeah i need to pay charges

    5 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Beobeoannwfn@gmail.com (3/4/2019 6:29:00 PM)

    Why did you change the words(Report)Reply

    2 person liked.
    		5 person did not like.
  • Sandy DiSimone (11/8/2018 8:53:00 AM)

    You never know when it’s going to be too late(Report)Reply

    6 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Kaliya Manley (11/5/2018 9:54:00 AM)

    this is a nice peice(Report)Reply

    8 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Dr. Zigmond Kozicki (10/11/2018 5:51:00 PM)

    First they came for the immigrants
    and I did not speak out
    because I was not an immigrant.

    Then they came for the liberals
    and I did not speak out
    because I was not a liberal.

    Then they came for the feminists
    and I did not speak out
    because I was not a feminist.

    Then they came for the journalists
    and I did not speak out
    because I was not a journalist.

    Then they came for me
    and there was no one left
    to speak out for me.

    By Dr. Ziggy Kozicki(Report)Reply

    ABU SIDDIK(1/22/2020 4:14:00 AM)

    Excellent!
    May I extend a bit sir,
    Then they came for the Adivasis
    And I did not speak out
    Because I was not an Adivasi

    Then they came for the minority
    And I did not speak out
    Because I was not a minority.
    And

    Franklin(11/24/2018 12:32:00 PM)

    They haven't come for any of these because these people control our society you yahoo.

    13 person liked.
    		15 person did not like.
  • Paulie (8/14/2018 8:51:00 PM)

    First they came for the guns, then it didn't matter what anyone said...(Report)Reply

    18 person liked.
    		11 person did not like.
  • Teddo (8/3/2018 10:45:00 AM)

    First they came for the honest Conservatives...(Report)Reply

    11 person liked.
    		7 person did not like.
  • Benjamin (7/26/2018 2:33:00 AM)

    That is a fraudulent version, I think - certainly not the poem he actually wrote, in which they first came for the Communists, which is also the chronological order in reality.(Report)Reply

    Oilibheir Álain Christie(8/16/2018 6:09:00 PM)

    I totally agree with you, Benjamin. Each of the translations I have published (links at the bottom of this page) I have translated from the original German.
    I also published my own English translation from the original German: https: //www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-quote-das-zitat-by-martin-niem-ller/

    5 person liked.
    		5 person did not like.
Read all 35 comments »



Poem Submitted: Wednesday, February 11, 2015

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