Ethan Walker
The Holocaust, one of the darkest chapters in human history, saw the systematic persecution and murder of millions of Jews. However, Jews were not the only victims of Nazi atrocities. Catholics, including priests and nuns, also suffered greatly during World War II. The Nazis targeted the Catholic Church, closing churches, seizing properties, and arresting or executing clergy. Concentration camps, such as Dachau, held thousands of Catholic prisoners, many of whom perished. While some Catholics collaborated with or turned a blind eye to the horrors, many others bravely resisted, aiding Jews and upholding their faith, even in the face of certain death. The Catholic Church itself was a target of Nazi oppression, with its institutions and followers facing severe consequences for their beliefs and actions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics killed in concentration camps | Between 1,811 and 3,000 |
| Number of Catholic priests killed in concentration camps | 1,034 |
| Number of Catholic nuns killed | Several thousand |
| Catholic clergy killed at Dachau | 1,773 |
| Catholic clergy killed at Buchenwald | 5,000 |
| Catholic clergy killed at Mauthausen | 780 |
| Catholic clergy killed at Sachsenhausen | 300 |
| Catholic clergy killed at Majdanek | At least 1 |
| Catholic laypeople killed | Many thousands |
| Catholic children killed | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic clergy deaths at Dachau
The Dachau concentration camp was established by the Nazis in 1933 near Munich in southern Germany. It was the first concentration camp built by Nazi Germany and the longest-running one. Initially, the camp was intended to intern Hitler's political opponents, but its purpose was later expanded to include forced labour and the imprisonment of Jews, Romani, Germans, Austrians, and foreign nationals.
During World War II, thousands of Catholic men, women, and children were killed in concentration camps, torture chambers, or in fields and villages across Europe. The Dachau concentration camp became a centre for the imprisonment of clergymen, with a total of 2,720 clerics recorded as imprisoned there, of whom 2,579 (or 94.88%) were Roman Catholics. The Nazis introduced a racial hierarchy, favouring German priests while keeping Poles in harsh conditions.
Among the Catholic clergy imprisoned at Dachau, many were subjected to inhumane treatment, including medical experiments, exposure to diseases, malnutrition, and torture. Some were also used as subjects in malaria experiments, and others were liquidated in the camp and given bogus death certificates. It is estimated that 1,034 Catholic priests died at Dachau, with 787 of them being Polish.
The liberation of Dachau by American troops on April 29, 1945, was a significant event, as the clergy held captive there regarded it as a miracle. The priests and monks of Dachau had feared that they would be executed and had consecrated themselves to St. Joseph. However, they were spared, and they fulfilled their vow by making an annual pilgrimage to St. Joseph's Shrine in Kalisz, central Poland.
The Catholic Church has beatified several clergy of Dachau, recognizing their martyrdom and fearless faith in the face of persecution. The stories of these Catholic clergy who died at Dachau serve as a reminder of the suffering endured during the Holocaust and the resilience of those who stood against it.
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Catholic martyrs
The Roman Catholic Church suffered persecution in Nazi Germany. Clergy were closely watched, denounced, arrested, and sent to concentration camps. Catholic schools, presses, trade unions, political parties, and youth leagues were eradicated, and anti-Catholic propaganda and "morality" trials were staged. Monasteries and convents were targeted for expropriation, and prominent Catholic lay leaders were murdered. Thousands of Catholic activists were also arrested.
Many thousands of Catholic men, women, and children died in concentration camps, SS and Gestapo torture chambers, or in fields and villages across Europe. It is estimated that between 1939 and 1945, around 3,000 members (18%) of the Polish clergy, were murdered. Of these, 1,992 were murdered in concentration camps, with 787 at Dachau alone. At least 1,811 members of the Polish clergy were murdered in Nazi concentration camps, with some sources placing the number at 2,800. Dachau concentration camp was used by the Nazis for many of its most-hated enemies, including Catholic priests. Of the 2,720 clergy imprisoned at Dachau from Germany and occupied territories, 2,579 (or 94.88%) were Catholic. Of these, 1,034 Catholic priests died there.
Among the Catholic clergy who died at Dachau were many of the 108 Polish Martyrs of World War II. These include Blessed Gerhard Hirschfelder, who died of hunger and illness in 1942, Saint Titus Brandsma, a Dutch Carmelite who was killed with a lethal injection after defending Jews and press freedom, Blessed Bernhard Lichtenberg, who died during transport to Dachau in 1943, and Blessed Otto Neururer, a parish priest who was executed at Buchenwald concentration camp in 1940 for conducting a baptism there. Neururer was the first priest killed in the concentration camps.
Several thousand nuns were also sent to camps or killed on the way. Eleven Polish nuns from the Holy Family of Nazareth were shot by the Gestapo in August 1943 after volunteering to die in place of local villagers. Blessed Teresa Bracco, an Italian Catholic, was killed resisting rape by a Nazi soldier. Blessed Sara Salkahazi, a member of the Sisters of Social Service and founder of Hungary’s Catholic Women’s League, was shot and tossed into the River Danube in December 1944 by agents of Hungary’s pro-Nazi Arrow Cross regime.
While the Nazis targeted Catholic clergy, nuns, and laypeople, many Catholics also turned a blind eye to the Holocaust, and others remained silent out of fear. There were also ex-Catholic members of the ruling Nazi circles, as well as Catholic supporters of the Nazis.
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Catholic Poles
The Catholic Church has had a presence in Poland for almost 1,000 years. By 1939, around 65% of Poles identified as Catholic. When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it targeted Polish Jews for extermination and categorized ethnic Poles, most of whom were Catholic, as an inferior race. The Nazis' actions against Polish Catholicism were part of the Generalplan Ost, which, if executed, would have eventually eradicated the existence of the Poles.
The Nazis' invasion of Poland ignited World War II, with the United Kingdom and France declaring war on Germany, and the Soviet Union invading the Eastern half of Poland. The Soviet occupation lasted for nearly two years, repressing Polish Catholics and clergy, with an emphasis on fighting "class enemies".
The Nazis closed churches, seminaries, and convents in the annexed regions of Poland, and most priests were arrested or executed. Between 1939 and 1945, over 3,000 members of the Polish clergy were killed, with 1,992 dying in concentration camps and 787 at Dachau. It is estimated that at least 3,000 other Polish priests were sent to concentration camps, including Auschwitz. Several thousand nuns were also sent to camps or killed en route.
The Dachau concentration camp was used by the Nazis for their most hated enemies, including Catholic priests. Of the 2,720 clergy imprisoned at Dachau, 2,579 (or 94.88%) were Catholic. Many of the 108 Polish Martyrs of World War II died at Dachau, including Blessed Gerhard Hirschfelder, who died of hunger and illness in 1942.
While some Catholics were complicit in the Holocaust, the Church itself was a target of the Nazis. Many thousands of Catholic men, women, and children died in concentration camps, torture chambers, or in fields and villages across Europe.
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Catholic resistance
The Holocaust, a dark chapter in human history, witnessed the persecution and murder of millions, with Jews bearing the brunt of this atrocity. However, it is important to recognize that Catholics also suffered during this period, with many resisting the Nazi regime and paying the ultimate price for their bravery.
One of the most well-known examples of Catholic resistance is the story of Pope Pius XII. While his role during the Holocaust remains controversial, with some accusing him of silence or inaction, there is also significant evidence of his efforts to help Jews. Pius XII is believed to have assisted in the rescue of thousands of Jews by providing them with false papers and hiding places. He also made public statements condemning racism and genocide, and the Vatican, under his leadership, issued passports and visas to Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied territories.
In addition to these individual acts of resistance, there were also organized Catholic groups that actively opposed the Nazis. One such group was the Catholic resistance movement in Germany itself, which included priests, laypeople, and youth groups. They distributed anti-Nazi literature, assisted Jews, and provided vital intelligence to the Allies. Many members of this resistance were arrested, imprisoned, or executed for their courageous actions.
Another example is the Dutch Catholic resistance, which played a crucial role in hiding and protecting Jews. The St. Johannes de Doper (St. John the Baptist) parish in the town of Nieuwlande is believed to be the only place in Europe where the entire Jewish population survived the Holocaust due to the efforts of the local Catholic community. Similarly, in France, Catholic resistance groups like the Amitié Chrétienne (Christian Friendship) helped hide Jews, provided them with false papers, and facilitated their escape to neutral Switzerland.
The resistance efforts of Catholics during the Holocaust demonstrate their commitment to human dignity and their willingness to stand against oppression and injustice. These courageous acts, often carried out in the face of immense personal risk, serve as a testament to the power of compassion and solidarity during one of history's darkest hours.
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Catholic complicity
The Catholic Church was a target of the Nazis, and the Roman Catholic Church suffered persecution in Nazi Germany. Clergy were watched closely, denounced, arrested, and sent to concentration camps. Catholic schools, presses, trade unions, political parties, and youth leagues were eradicated. Anti-Catholic propaganda and "morality" trials were also staged.
However, it is true that many Catholics turned a blind eye to the Holocaust, and others remained silent out of fear for their lives and the safety of their families. There were ex-Catholic members of the ruling Nazi circles, and some Catholics supported the Nazis out of nationalism, anti-Semitic beliefs, or for personal advancement.
The greatest failing of Roman Catholics was their inaction. All too often, the Catholic clergy and laity remained silent while Jews were persecuted and killed. The Catholic Church as a whole has since become less anti-Semitic, but it still occasionally acts in ways that reveal a certain insensitivity toward and lack of understanding of Jewish concerns.
The Nazis' long-term plan was to de-Christianize Germany after the final victory in the war. Their ideology could not accept an autonomous establishment whose legitimacy did not come from the government, and they desired the subordination of the church to the state. Hitler moved quickly to eliminate Political Catholicism, arresting thousands of members of the German Centre Party and dissolving the Catholic Bavarian People's Party government.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, many Catholics were killed in the Holocaust. The Nazis persecuted the Catholic Church, and thousands of Catholic clergy, nuns, and laypeople were sent to concentration camps or killed.
It is difficult to know the exact number of Catholics killed in the Holocaust due to limited source materials and destroyed records. However, estimates range from thousands to millions. Over 3,000 members of the Polish clergy were killed, with 1,992 murdered in concentration camps. At least 1,811 members of the Polish clergy were murdered in Nazi concentration camps, and 1,034 Catholic priests died at Dachau alone.
The Nazis targeted the Catholic Church as part of their effort to destroy Polish culture and suppress opposition to their regime. Clergy were particularly targeted as upholders of national culture and identity. Catholic schools, presses, welfare institutions, and political parties were shut down, and religious orders were expelled.
