SCANDAL CONVERSION: Schorndorf artist bravely resisted Hitler!

SCANDAL CONVERSION: Schorndorf artist bravely resisted Hitler!

In a stirring look back at the dark days of National Socialism, Irmgard Kleinle Schneider from Schorndorf remembers her courageous father, Paul Bay. What an impressive life! This artist and master painter was not only a creative mind, but also a strict opponent of the Adolf Hitler regime. The shocking determination of his resistance against the Nazi dictatorship makes the story all the more dramatic and touching. Irmgard keeps one of her father's works of art, which is displayed in the living room and is a constant reminder of his remarkable courage. The detailed account of his life shines a bright light on the dangers of totalitarianism and the great heroes who rebelled against it, even at the risk of everything.

But the stories of resistance under National Socialism are not isolated! A look at history shows how the brutal Gestapo acted against Catholic orders. On July 30, 1941, the Gestapo occupied the Provincial House of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Mulhouse and promptly declared it closed! These threats, which cost countless lives, stand in shocking contrast to the efforts of the ecclesial communities that heroically opposed the tyrannical regime. Bishop Clemens August Graf von Galen, a key figure in the resistance, speaks loudly against the inhumane killing of the mentally ill. In his haunting sermon he describes the shocking transport of “unproductive fellow citizens” who are treated like goods and transported away.

The resistance of the Catholics

The heroic deeds of this time are far from vague rumors or exaggerations. Bishop von Galen calls on citizens to stand up for the honor of the denounced religious. The Catholic Church was a significant obstacle to the Nazi regime, and many priests were not only persecuted because of their beliefs, but had to risk their lives for them. The example of the Lübeck martyrs, who were executed on November 10, 1943 for their critical sermons, is just the tip of the iceberg!

Hundreds of Catholic priests and parishioners who rebelled against the regime's inhumane practices have gone down in the annals of history. The brave Dr. Bernhard Wensch wrote critical newsletters among Catholic young people in Saxony, and Wilhelm Caroli refused to fly a swastika flag. These heroic souls often did not survive the journey to the concentration camps, where they were brutally murdered.

Catholic women on the front lines of the resistance

But it wasn't just men at the front! Women like Gertrud Luckner and Maria Husemann also dared to go beyond the limits of the intolerable regime. Luckner was honored as “Righteous Among the Nations” for her work on behalf of persecuted Jews! She helped save lives while the horror of the Holocaust raged around her. Maria Husemann also supported Jewish victims of persecution and campaigned tirelessly for the dissemination of critical writings. Their remarkable courage demonstrates an unwavering belief in humanity in the midst of barbaric chaos.

The shocking facts and stories of those who stood up to the horrors of Nazism are a reminder of the courage some showed under massive pressure. These people changed the world with their determination and taught us that even in the face of evil, our conscience and our humanity must remain inviolable.

Find out more about the heroic deeds of this time and the steadfast resistance to injustice: ZVW reports that ..., BPB about resistance against National Socialism, zumfeindmachen about Catholic women in the resistance.