Kusserow case to be reopened

[mario080]

Yesterday, a new article regarding this case appeared on JW.ORG. Brothers said that on the 26th of July the BGH court in Germany is supposed to give a verdict and in fact they did.

According to the source below this higher court overturned a ruling by the Cologne Higher Regional Court and remanded the case for a new hearing and decision:

https://www.diesachsen.de/en/culture/dispute-over-jehovahs-witnesses-archive-must-be-reopened-3152554

[Mike047]

We would hope and expect that this record of faith and loyalty will become part of our own historical record, well into the future. 

[mario080]

JW.ORG update:

https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/germany/Germanys-Federal-Court-of-Justice-Backs-Jehovahs-Witnesses-in-Kusserow-Case/
 

I like how quickly they share updates nowadays, just 3 days after verdict 🤩

[Sheep]

Fantastic! I've been waiting for this.

 

In previous trials, the courts decided that "a member of the family" had sold the archive to the Bundeswehr Military History Museum. That family member was not in the truth, but I don't know if he was aware of what was written in the will. Either way, the previous courts thought that the sale authorized by the family member was done "in good faith," and so should be left with the Museum.

 

It should be obvious what was wrong with that decision. Sister Kusserow's will should take absolute precedence over any other thoughts or arrangements made by others in the family, whether they were done in good faith or not. Hopefully, this latest decision will put the matter to rest.

[Hope]

Here's the NYT article describing the beginnings of the court case:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/25/arts/design/jehovahs-witnesses-nazis-lawsuit-museum.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uVA.8-xI.EICY-MaBTPE2&smid=nytcore-android-share

 

[Brandon]

On 6/30/2026 at 2:00 AM, mario080 said:

how quickly they share updates

In this case they shared it in the “What’s New” section, but many other recent cases (like Italy) are not there at all 😢

 

to make it worse, there’s no RSS feed for the Global Communications section 

[mario080]

10 hours ago, Brandon said:

In this case they shared it in the “What’s New” section, but many other recent cases (like Italy) are not there at all 😢

 

to make it worse, there’s no RSS feed for the Global Communications section 

It might be frustrating but have patience my brother, not so long ago we would only get an update on JW issues once a year in a yearbook 

[Ishaya]

Im just curious,why is that archive so significant? 

[secondofseven]

1 hour ago, Ishaya said:

significant

In various ways:

 

- the amount of assets is huge

- persecution is part of our cultural identity and heritage. 

 

So we ourselves want to act as a curator of those artifacts, and not depend on worldy entities to look after them for us.

[mario080]

3 hours ago, Ishaya said:

Im just curious,why is that archive so significant? 

 

It's very significant because it relates to our history, and it provides evidence of JWs exceptional steadfastness in the face of fierce opposition. Moreover, it contains over 1,000 pieces. It is a gross injustice to put such a treasure in a military museum, where it only collect dust (only 6 pieces are shown out of 1000).

 

"When she was 26 years old, Annemarie began meticulously compiling the archive of materials related to Jehovah’s Witnesses during the Holocaust. She preserved it, at times even at the risk of her life, for over 65 years until her death in 2005. What she preserved for posterity, and especially for her fellow believers, has been appreciated internationally as a historical treasure."

 

"Among the notable documents in the archive is a farewell letter from Annemarie’s brother, Wilhelm, who wrote his last words on April 26, 1940. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he refused to perform military service. For his conscientious objection, the Nazis sentenced him to death."

 

"The archive brings to life the family’s exceptional example of faith. The materials vividly illustrate how faith can impart strength in the face of severe persecution and the threat of death. This central theme of the archive can only be fully appreciated within the museums of Jehovah’s Witnesses."

 

https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/germany/Jehovahs-Witnesses-Launch-New-Legal-Case-in-Germany-Over-Annemarie-Kusserows-Archive/

[LeolaRootStew]

3 hours ago, Ishaya said:

Im just curious,why is that archive so significant? 

 

It archives the government persecution of this Witness family, including several executions, and now the same military that killed them is holding the records hostage. It's a double insult. The records were always intended to be given to the Society and that's where they should go.

[Ishaya]

16 minutes ago, LeolaRootStew said:

 

 The records were always intended to be given to the Society and that's where they should go.

 

It makes a lot of sense,

I can only imagine what they went through during that wicked regime.