Swiss Declaration, 1943

Every war brings countless misfortunes upon Mankind. Every war brings difficult moral dilemmas to thousands, yes, millions of people. This applies especially to this war, which has spared no corner of the earth and has been spread through the air, water and land. It is therefore inevitable that in such times, not only individuals, but also communities of every sort, unintentionally or deliberately are falsely suspected.
 
Even Jehovah's Witnesses have not been spared this fate. We have become made out to be a association, the object or activity of which is described as, "to undermine military discipline, especially to force or mislead conscripts into insubordination against military orders, neglect or refusal of duty, or becoming fugitives."
 
Such an opinion can only be put froward by someone who completely misunderstands the spirit and activity of our Society or who despite his better knowledge, malevolently distorts it.
 
We expressly state, that our association neither commands nor recommends, nor in any other way suggests, acting against military orders. Questions of that sort are dealt with neither by our congregations nor in the Society's published literature. We do not at all concern ourselves with such questions. We view our business to be solely that of rendering a witness to Jehovah God and to proclaim bible truth to all peoples. Hundreds of our members and fellow believers have performed their military duty and continue to do so.
 
We have at no time presumed and at no time shall do so, to view the performance of military duty, as laid down by your statutes, as an offence against the principles and aspirations of the association of Jehovah's Witnesses. We beseech all our members and fellow believers, in the proclamation of the message of God's Kingdom (Matthew 24:14), to confine themselves strictly to the proclamation of bible truth, and always to avoid giving grounds for misunderstanding, and certainly never to be able to be misunderstood as offering any incitement to insubordination against military orders.
 
Swiss Associaton of Jehovah's Witnesses
 
President: Ad. Gammenthaler Secretary: D. Wiedenmann
Berne, 15th September 1943.