this author is so far off base he's not even on the ball diamond. So Niemoeller volunteered to serve in the German Army in 39. That's interesting as he was thrown in prison on July 1, 1937 (the sixth time he had been arrested for preaching fiery sermons against the Nazis) where he remained for the next 7 years. He was finally transferred to a concentration camp and later to northern Italy where he was to be executed within 3 days of the Allies liberation.
Niemoeller publicly confronted Hitler before his arrest and by the time of his liberation was tubercular and nearly dead. And the above mentioned quote was written by his wife and delivered by Niemoeller before Congress in 1967.
This author is simply attempting to smear a brave German pastor.