Description:

JEHOVAH'S WITNESS IS ARRESTED AND SENT TO CONCENTRATION CAMP
Voluminous Gestapo file with original covers concerning one Harm Focken, a member of the International Bible Students Association (which later evolved into the Jehovah's Witnesses), persecuted by the Nazis and eventually sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp under 'protective custody' and almost certain death. The files contains about 38 documents, some multi-paged, ranging from 1935 to 1942. Technically, Focken, a butcher, had been accused of 'selling a bible', but his religion was obviously the cause of his arrest. The Gestapo is meticulous in accumulating evidence against Focken, and interviewed all of those who attended an Easter dinner at another member's home. Their report reads, in small part: '...Focken participated. On the basis of the ordinance of the Reich President...of February 28, 1933, the 'International Bible Research Association' and its organizations are prohibited from any teaching and assembly activities, and the production and sale of tracts and other propagandistic writings are forbidden . When asked about this, the worker Heinrich Drawin declared: 1.) Regarding the matter: 'I admit that on 17.4.35 at around 19.00 o'clock in my apartment a commemoration of the name Jehovah and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was held and my wife...and and the workers Peter Dydik, Hermann Kruse and Josef Kullik took part. The celebration takes place every year at the same time. At this celebration, besides myself, the group of anointed ones who take part in this celebration are involved...I was in agreement with the cause because I did not consider this to be a proposition of the Bible Students...No propaganda activity was carried out during the dinner. A teaching and only a few proverbs from the Bible were read aloud...I did not take part in the remembrance meal. But I did attend the further celebration....My [family members?] belonged to the Bible Students' Association for a long time. We are still in possession of some older books that we bought before the ban. After the ban we received no more books and books...I admit that I took part in the memorial service...in Rethorn on April 17, 1935. The celebration, which takes place once a year to commemorate Jesus' death, was presided over that evening by the butcher Harm Focken...In March 1935 I was in protective custody because of Bible research...On April 17th at around 8 pm I took part in the celebration...My husband and I had been members of the Bible Students' Association for a long time...the butcher Harm Focken drove with us to our apartment in Gruppenbühren and there he gave the memorial meal to my husband himself...I knew that any activity by the Bible Students is forbidden...' Focken is initially sentenced to three months in prison, despite having a wife and seven children to support. Things soon worsen for the man, despite appeals by his lawyer and family. Although the grouping is not fully translated, documents show that Focken's sentence was extended by order of the Gauleitung and Reich Security Office and within a year he is sent to Sachsenhausen. Thereafter there are individual notes in his file constantly extending his incarceration: 'Reasons for release from prison not available. Protective custody is therefore extended by three months in accordance with the ruling of the Reich Security Main Office...' Ultimately, this innocent man is held until at least May 2, 1944...if he survived that long. File holes, some toning, else very good.

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December 7, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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