Friends have been urging me to write to you for the sake of humanity. But I have resisted their request, because of the feeling that any letter from me would be an impertinence. Something tells me that I must not calculate and that I must make my appeal for whatever it may be worth.
It is quite clear that you are today the one person in the world who can prevent a war which may reduce humanity to the savage state. Must you pay that price for an object however worthy it may appear to you to be? Will you listen to the appeal of one who has deliberately shunned the method of war not without considerable success?
Anyway I anticipate your forgiveness, if I have erred in writing to you. I remain,
About This Letter
Historical Context
This letter was written on the eve of World War II as Gandhi attempted to appeal to Hitler's conscience to prevent the impending war. The letter was never delivered due to the British government's intervention.
Significance
This represents one of the most remarkable attempts at moral diplomacy in the 20th century, showing Gandhi's unwavering belief in the power of non-violence and human conscience even in the face of fascism.
About Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the leader of the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. He pioneered the philosophy of satyagraha (non-violent resistance) which inspired civil rights movements worldwide.
About Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. At the time of this letter, he was preparing for the invasion of Poland, which would trigger World War II.
Additional Resources
- Gandhi on Wikipedia Comprehensive biography of Gandhi's life and philosophy
- The Letter That Never Reached Hitler Historical context and analysis of Gandhi's letter