Memoir of a priest in Dachau
I received "Priestblock 25487" yesterday as a Christmas present from the Mulier Fortis (late because of Amazon). The book comprises the memoirs of a priest from Luxembourg, Fr Jean Bernard, from his time at Dachau. He first wrote them up for the Luxemburger Wort in 1945 and made them available again because we must "never forget". He describes the period from May 1941 to early August 1942.
The book is compelling in its description of both the physical, psychological and spiritual suffering of the priests who were gathered together in the same block. The SS used this tactic in order to prevent the priests unduly influencing the other prisoners. About 2670 priests passed through Dachau, 600 to their death.
For a time, it was widely "known" in the camp that the priests did not have to work in the same way as the other prisoners and that they were given more food and even wine. In fact, they were degraded, humiliated and abused in much the same way as the other prisoners, sometimes more harshly. One Good Friday in 1941, 60 priests had been hung on the "tree". Their wrists were tied together behind their backs, palms facing outwards. The hands were then turned into the body, a chain tied round the wrists and then they were hung up from the ceiling so that their body weight ripped their joints apart. those who were physically strongest recovered, many were permanently disabled and some died as a result.
As to the wine: for the time that this "privilege" existed, it was itself used in a sadistic ritual. The priests were ordered under threat of beating to uncork and pour out the wine and then drink a third of a bottle in one gulp. One priest who hesitated had the glass slammed into his face, cutting through his lips and cheeks as far as the bone. Nevertheless, the rumour of "special privileges" made many of the other prisoners hate the priests and greatly reduced their opportunity to exercise any spiritual influence. In fact the "privileged" regime was ended after a time, probably because of strong statements from the Pope or the Bishops condemning the Nazi regime.
The Preface by Cardinal O'Malley and the introduction by Robert Royal are important additions. Royal outlines the history of the change of attitude to Pope Pius XII beginning with the KGB inspired play "The Deputy". (Cf. "KGB plotted to discredit Pius XII")and gives evidence of the widespread resistance of the clergy to the Nazi regime. He is keen to make the point that forgetting about the horrors of those times would be an act of cowardice with repercussions for the present and the future.
A film has been made of Fr Bernard's book. It is called "The Ninth Day": if you have seen it, I would be interested to know your views on it - especially if you have read the book as well.
19 comments:
I've read the book and it is very good and really gives you an idea of the terrors of living in Daschau.
I haven't seen the films but Catholic film reviwer Steven Greydanus at decentfilms.com gave it an A+
http://decentfilms.com/sections/reviews/ninthday.html
I have received a similar book before, Lenz's Christ in Dachau. Though harrowing, it was very instructive.
This was horrible to read, but I read it anyway.
It is good to remember our modern martyrs.
These priests, like Christ, despised and abused by men, have suffered a painful and degrading death.
Now they share in his resurrection.
i'm sticking with The Great Escape for the moment..Dachau's too grueling..
I've seen the Ninth Day. Much of it is set outside the camp as a priest is released for a time to talk to his bishop.
There's something mesmerising in the meeting of the grim conditions of the camp and the quiet but steady Faith of the priests, and though the physical barbarity of the camp is amply illustrated, it is the psychological aspect of the torture that is considered at greatest length.
It is this element which remains even once the protagonist is allowed outside for nine days, forced to choose between collaboration and integrity, between freedom and increased tortures for himself, his family and the other priests.
The Nazi side is represented by a smart young SS officer, and in his verbal clashes with the priest it becomes clear that the real enemy for the Nazi's is God.
As a film it actually failed to engage me on aestetic grounds, since there's something rather too grotesque about the colours and characters, but it's a firm and salutary reminder of how firm so many priests stood in their Faith.
I have not read the book, but the film is beautiful, not to be missed.
Sounds similar to "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand. He was a protestant pastor in communist russia who spent 14 years imprisoned, undergoing similar tortures.
This is a MUST read. I will see what Amazon (US) has available and I will order it. I'm also going to check on the film you mentioned. If you come across the film, please post any information about it. Thank you and God Bless you:0)
Tom
Father-
While checking for Priestblock 25487, I came across the movie The Ninth Day. It is available in Amazon US. No doubt I will get it.
Tom
There is another book on Dachau written by a Catholic Priest who was imprisoned there virtually from its beginning until liberation
CHRIST IN DACHAU BY Fr John Lenz
obtainable from Carmel Books published by Roman Catholic Books PO Box 2286 Fort Collins, CO 80522
There were hundreds of priests in Dachau and eventually the authorities gave permission for a huge chapel hut to be built. Only one Mass a day was allowed. There are 44 beatified martyrs from Dachau and l Saint Titus Brandsma.
A small size replica exists in the form of a chapel run by Carmelite nuns (in the prison compound) with examples of some of the work produced by the priest prisoners. Strongly recommended for a visit, it is quite near Munich.
"The Ninth Day" is an excellent, riveting film. The story is so compelling that language barrier -- it's in German -- is easily overcome. Rent it.
I saw and bought this film last summer in Boston, USA. It is brilliant and, with one minor timing detail, is completely authentic. The detail is when the Luxembourg Archbishop refers to the consequences of the Statement from the Dutch bishops concerning the Nazis. These consequences were the deportation of Jews who had converted to Catholicism, like Edith Stein. The timing detail is that the Dutch Statement was in 1943/44 while the incarceration of Fr. Bernard in the film was from May 1941 to August 1942.
This detail in no way detracts from the film showing the terror exercised by the Nazis.
I believe that Volker Schlondorff is not a Catholic but this is a powerful Catholic film. Ulrich Mattes who played Goebbels in Downfall plays Fr. Bernard, although his name is Fr. Kremer in the film. It is humbling to have both the book and the film is one's hands.
The quickest way to get both is to order them from Amazon.com (N.B. dot com) and have them shipped from the USA. This I have done. But, you must ahve a multiregional DVD player.
Sorry for not giving more of the story but I'm almost saying you must buy this film and book. Go straight now to Amazon.com
Many thanks for your comments on the film. I will buy a copy since films like this are worth having in a collection for showing to groups in the parish.
A German who grew up near Dachau during the last war, now a parishoner in the UK, told me of some wonderful stories from the camp in the midst of that evil.
Fr Karl Leisner (made Blessed by John Paul II) was ordained priest at Dachau on Gaudete Sunday 1944. A French bishop performed the rite, with full pontifical ceremonies and vestments, etc secretly made. The other priests formed the schola cantorum and even the proper permissions from his Ordinary were smuggled into the camp. He was so ill that he only managed to celebrate Mass on St Stephen's day. What a winess, what Rejoicing!
Dilecte confrater in Christo,
Since a time, when by chance I found your blog, I am taking pleasure in reading your articles. As a young confrater (the second youngest priest) of the same archdiocese as was Monsignor Jean Bernard I was quite honoured (Is this the right term? I apologize for my bad English.) to read about his book “Priesterblock 25487” on your blog. I did not even know that an English translation would exist.
When I was a young altar boy at Luxembourg Cathedral I had met the author at same occasions. I remember a very humble elderly priest. At that time I knew nothing about his past in WWII. Later on, I read his book, unfortunately after his burial, which I served. That lecture deeply impressed me. And sometimes I continue to ask me: Would I have such courage as they had?
In the last year I past in Luxemburg Priest’s Seminary I had also the chance to be taken by our Seminary’s “Praeses” to the first night of “Der neunte Tag” (The Ninth Day). Idem I was deeply impressed. For a young man linke me, the cruelties described by many concentration camps survivors became very concrete for me. Reading about those things in a book is different than seeing them on the screen. It permitted me to see, what people in the camps had to suffer. In the film you may see some very cruel scenes, but I think, reality was even more cruel.
Father Bernard was one of the few, which got a leave in Dachau. Official reason: the death of his mother. But, we see it in the film, his mother was dead some time before. We will never know what were the true reasons. Did the Nazi occupant want him to influence the Bishop of Luxembourg or the old Luxemburgish families (The Bernards are still today one of the “famous” families in our country) to collaborate with them? The independent Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg was annexed by the Nazis to Germany – disapproved by most of Luxemburg Population - and made part of the greater “Gau Moselland”. The only Luxemburgish institution continuing existing was the diocese, which was, of course, a sting in the eyes of the German. “You, Excellency,” said the American Ambassador to Bishop Joseph Philippe before leaving Luxembourg in July 1942, “remain the last authority in the country.” In his book, the author let a blank; he did not wrote anything about what happned in these nine days. Volker Schlöndorf made his film just about these days.
Both, book and films, are worthwhile to bee read and seen.
Fr. Luc Schreiner
cooperator
Esch-sur-Alzette (L)
Fr Luc, thank you very much for your most interesting comment and for taking the trouble to write such a lengthy comment in English. I think that it is good for us to ask "Would I have such courage as they had?" Surely in such a situation, we would be forced to acknowledge our need of the grace of God - yet we so easily forget our need of it in times that are physically easier but spiritually harder. I look forward to viewing the film.
For UK readers - I just checked on Amazon and the DVD is available only in NTSC format so you have to have a multi-region DVD player. Just ordered one from Canada for £6.99 plus tax, duties, delivery and whatever else gets whacked on top. I'll post when it arrives and let you know the total.
I have not read the book but the film is a masterpiece and something that every Catholic should see. People forget how faithful Catholics, especially priests, were tortured by the Nazis.
I plan to buy this book, when funds permit. I'm currently studying the Holocaust, and I will be writing an essay on post-Holocaust theology. I will inform my lecturer, Rabbi Professor Dan Cohn-Sherbok about this post; it may interest him.
The rabbi is giving a lecture soon as part of an annual series of theological/religious lectures, on why he's not a Christian. Should be interesting if nothing else.
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