Franz Reinisch (1903 –1942)

Photograph: Franz Dionysos Reinisch. Franz-Reinisch Forum, Palottistraße 3, 56179 Vallendar. Online unter, {https://www.franz-reinisch.org/}, (Stand 8. 6.2025).

1. Early Life and Spiritual Formation

Franz Reinisch was born on February 1, 1903, in Feldkirch, Austria, into a devout Catholic family. From an early age, he felt a calling to the priesthood and joined the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines) in 1922. He was ordained a priest in 1928 and became known for his dynamic preaching, deep Marian devotion, and commitment to social justice.
During the 1930s, Reinisch grew increasingly alarmed by the rise of Nazism. He saw Hitler’s ideology as a direct attack on human dignity, religious freedom, and Christian morality. When Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938 (the Anschluss), Reinisch became an outspoken critic of the regime.

2. Conscientious Objection: Refusal to Swear the Hitler Oath

In 1940, Reinisch was drafted into the German Wehrmacht (military). However, he declared that he could not in good conscience swear the required oath to Hitler, which stated:
"I swear by God this sacred oath, that I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Führer of the German Reich and people, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and that I will be ready as a brave soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath."
Reinisch wrote in his diary:
"As a priest, I cannot swear loyalty to a man whose actions are in direct contradiction to the commandments of God. To do so would be to betray my faith."
He sought counsel from his superiors and fellow priests, many of whom advised caution. But Reinisch remained firm, believing that silence in the face of evil was complicity.

3. Arrest, Trial, and Imprisonment

On April 7, 1942, Reinisch was arrested for "Wehrkraftzersetzung" (undermining military morale). During his trial, he stated:
"I do not resist out of stubbornness, but out of a clear conscience before God. I cannot serve a regime that murders the innocent, persecutes the Church, and wages unjust war."
Despite pressure to recant, he refused. He was sentenced to death on July 6, 1942. While imprisoned in Berlin-Tegel and later in Plötzensee, he wrote letters to his family and fellow Pallottines, expressing peace and readiness for martyrdom:
"Do not grieve for me. I go to my death with a joyful heart, for I know that my sacrifice is not in vain. Christ, too, was condemned by the powers of this world."

4. Execution and Last Words

On August 21, 1942, Reinisch was executed by guillotine. Eyewitnesses reported that he faced death with remarkable calmness, praying the rosary until the end. His final recorded words were:
"I die for my Lord and Savior. May my blood be a seed for freedom and a new, Christian Austria!"

5. Legacy and Beatification Process

• Reinisch’s martyrdom was kept quiet by the Nazis, but his story spread among Catholic resistance circles.
• In 2013, the Diocese of Innsbruck officially opened his beatification process, recognizing him as a martyr for the faith.
• His writings emphasize the duty of Christians to resist evil, even at the cost of their lives.

Key Quotes from His Writings
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• On Resistance:

"Better to die than to sin. If we must choose between obedience to God and obedience to tyrants, our choice is clear."

• On Fear and Courage:

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. The greatest victory is to remain faithful to Christ, even in death."

• On Hope:

"The darkness of this time will pass. The light of Christ will prevail. Our suffering is not in vain."
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Conclusion: A Witness for Conscience

Franz Reinisch’s life and death stand as a powerful testimony to the courage of conscience in the face of tyranny. Unlike many who compromised with the Nazi regime, he chose principles over survival, embodying Christ’s words: "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s."(Matthew 22:21)