Part One: Martin Niemöller, the author of 'First They Came', was a murderous fascist
Summary
Hosts Margaret Killjoy and a guest examine the life of poet Martin Niemöller, challenging the common narrative that he was a passive observer who later became a resolute anti-fascist. They argue that Niemöller was actually an enthusiastic supporter of the Nazi regime, particularly regarding anti-Semitism, and that his famous "First They Came" poem omits key groups to reflect his own prejudices. The episode traces his upbringing in a deeply Lutheran, nationalist family and his early career in the German Navy, highlighting how his personal history contradicts the sanitized version of his lega…
Topics discussed
Introduction and guest Margaret Killjoy
Introducing Martin Niemöller and the 'First They Came' poem
Reading the original poem and its historical context
Modern interpretations and the 'oppression olympics' debate
Niemöller's reputation as a reformed fascist sympathizer
Sponsor segments: Preparation H, Airtasker, Point Me, Roland Martin
Niemöller family history and the Lutheran heritage
Martin Luther's anti-Jewish writings and their legacy
Father Heinrich Niemöller's influence and patriarchal views
Martin's childhood, nationalism, and the Kaiser's navy
Sponsor segments and Blue Apron joke
Martin's obsession with the German Navy and WWI buildup
Naval training, camaraderie, and the eve of WWI
The outbreak of World War I and German enthusiasm
Sponsor segments: Airtasker and Roland Martin
Debate on responsibility for starting World War I
Martin's naval service: mines, U-boats, and war crimes
Sinking the SS Aragon and the controversy over survivor rescue
Conclusion, book recommendations, and final sponsors
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