Schiff, Hilda, ed. 1996. "First They Came For the Jews." Holocaust poetry. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN: 0312143575.
Introduction
"First They Came For the Jews" was written by Pastor Niemoller during World War II. Many people stood by during the war and watched as their Jewish neighbors were deported or killed. They chose to ignore the injustice that was going on at that time. This poem speaks out against that attitude.
First They Came For the Jews
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.
Extension Activity
This poem works well within the study of the Holocaust. The following is a list of nonfiction books about the Holocaust.
Module four focuses on poetry across the curriculum.