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Otto Wels (15 September 1873 – 16 September 1939) was the chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) from 1919 and a member of parliament from 1920 to 1933.
- Freiheit und Leben kann man uns nehmen, die Ehre nicht.
Freedom and life can be taken from us, but not our honor.- Otto Wels's Speech against the Passage of the Enabling Act (March 23, 1933), in Paul Meier-Benneckenstein, ed., Dokumente der deutschen Politik, Volume 1: Die Nationalsozialistische Revolution 1933, edited by Axel Friedrichs. Berlin, 1935, pp. 36-38. (online in German and English)
- Wels was the only German politician to speak against the Nazi Party's Enabling Act of 1933. In this passage, he directly addresses Adolf Hitler in reference to attacks carried out against the Social Democratic Party of Germany of which he was leader.
- Wir deutschen Sozialdemokraten bekennen uns in dieser geschichtlichen Stunde feierlich zu den Grundsätzen der Menschlichkeit und der Gerechtigkeit, der Freiheit und des Sozialismus. Kein Ermächtigungsgesetz gibt Ihnen die Macht, Ideen, die ewig und unzerstörbar sind, zu vernichten. Sie selbst haben sich ja zum Sozialismus bekannt. Das Sozialistengesetz hat die Sozialdemokratie nicht vernichtet. [...] Wir grüßen die Verfolgten und Bedrängten. Wir grüßen unsere Freunde im Reich. Ihre Standhaftigkeit und Treue verdienen Bewunderung. Ihr Bekennermut, ihre ungebrochene Zuversicht verbürgen eine hellere Zukunft.
In this historic hour, we German Social Democrats solemnly pledge ourselves to the principles of humanity and justice, of freedom and socialism. No Enabling Act gives you the power to destroy ideas that are eternal and indestructible. [...] We greet the persecuted and the oppressed. We greet our friends in the Reich. Your steadfastness and loyalty deserve admiration. The courage of your convictions and your unbroken optimism guarantee a brighter future.- Otto Wels's Speech against the Passage of the Enabling Act (March 23, 1933), in Paul Meier-Benneckenstein, ed., Dokumente der deutschen Politik, Volume 1: Die Nationalsozialistische Revolution 1933, edited by Axel Friedrichs. Berlin, 1935, pp. 36-38. (online in German and English)
- Wels was the only German politician to speak against the Nazi Party's Enabling Act of 1933.
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