Manifesto of the Ninety-Three

The "Manifesto of the Ninety-Three" is the name commonly given to a 4 October 1914, proclamation endorsed by 93 prominent German scientists, scholars and artists, declaring their unequivocal support of German military actions in the early period of World War I. These actions were elsewhere called the Rape of Belgium. The Manifesto galvanized support for the war throughout German schools and universities, but many foreign intellectuals were outraged.

Wilhelm Foerster soon repented having signed the document and soon with Georg Friedrich Nicolai they drew up the Manifesto to the Europeans. They argued "it seems not just a good thing, but a dire necessity, that educated men of all nations direct their influence in such a way that the terms of the peace not become the wellspring of future wars - uncertain though the outcome of the war may now still seem. The fact that this war has plunged all European relations into an equally unstable and plastic state should rather be put to use to create out of Europe an organic whole." Whilst various people expressed sympathy with these sentiments, only Otto Buek and Albert Einstein agreed to sign it and it remained unpublished at the time. It was subsequently brought to light by Einstein.

A report in 1921 in The New York Times found that of 76 surviving signatories, 60 expressed varying degrees of regret. Some claimed not to have seen what they had signed.

Here is an English translation (italics in original):

As representatives of German Science and Art, we hereby protest to the civilized world against the lies and calumnies with which our enemies are endeavoring to stain the honor of Germany in her hard struggle for existence—in a struggle that has been forced on her.

The iron mouth of events has proved the untruth of the fictitious German defeats; consequently misrepresentation and calumny are all the more eagerly at work. As heralds of truth we raise our voices against these.

...
Wikipedia