Statement on Nazi anti-Catholic actions in Austria, including the arrest and confinement of priests, and a list of confiscated properties and institutions that were disbanded

THE FIGHTING OF NATIONALSOCIALISM IN THE DIOCESE OF THE APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATION INNSBRUCK-FELDKIRCH, OF TYROL AND VORARLBERG
After having seized power Nationalsocialism immediately showed the tendency to exclude the Church from publicity. At "Corpus Christi" in 1938 the customary solemn procession was forbidden. In the summer of the same year all ecclesiastical schools and kindergartens were disbanded. Daily newspapers and weekly reviews of Christian thinking were likewise removed.
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In the same year all kind of ecclesiastical organizations especially Youth organizations such as "Boy Scouts" were disbanded, all activity forbidden.
The effect of these prohibitions came soon: The clergy took opposition against them, they could not do otherwise. Then a great wave of priest-arrests followed. About a fifth of them were eventually arrested. Reasons for arrests were:
1. The "Pulpit-paragraph." When party actions were mentioned or criticized even in the humblest manner.
2. The "practice of the care of Young people." A specially heavy fine was given in November 1939. Children's or Youth's Mass or Services were forbidden. Religion or faith-lessons were not allowed to be given in the Church except Lessons of preparing for First Communion or Confirmation. Teaching of religion at school was very often forbidden without any reason.
The priest, according to his conscience could not follow this public prescription and this explained the great number of arrests of priests. Finally, priests were arrested on account of their "caritative" work. It was, for instance, forbidden to give anything to foreigners or prisoners. A priest was arrested because he gave a cup of coffee and bread to two hungry Dutchmen. This "caritative" act was seen to favor elements foreign to the race.
In 1939 and 1940 a new activity began. Cloisters and abbeys were seized, disbanded and many churches belonging to them closed. Among these two nun-convents were disbanded: the cloister of the Dominican sisters of Bludenz and that of the "Perpetual Adoration" of Innsbruck. In the latter, the Sisters were dragged, one by one, out of the cloister, by the "Gestapo." In the same way ecclesiastical property such as Association Houses, Parish and Youth Homes were seized. (A list of these closed churches, disbanded cloisters, and ecclesiastical institutions is attached.)
Despite all these measures, the results were not satisfactory. Then priests not only were arrested, but also deported to concentration camps. Eight priests of Tyrol and Vorarlberg have been imprisoned, among them the Provicar Monsignore Dr. Charles Lampert. One died there on account of the ill treatment, the others returned. Provicar Lampert was released but required to remain in Stettin, where later, he was rearrested and executed in November 1944, after having been condemned to death by secret proceedings.
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. Since 1941 the fight against Christianity and Church shows generally no new phases. On account of the misfortune in warfare, restrictions were eased somewhat, but nothing once ordered has been annulled. The same anti-Christian direction was kept, though moderated.
The especially severe measures against the churches in Tyrol and Vorarlberg were enacted by the Gauleiter Franz Hofer, who derived his authority and protection from Berlin.
[signed] Paulus Rusch,
Bishop.
Innsbruck, June 27th, 1945.
Sworn to before me this 27th day of December 1945, at Innsbruck.
[signed] Leonard Wheeler, Jr.,
Col., GSC Summary Court Officer
Bishop Rusch, Innsbruck.
' LIST
of the churches, convents, monasteries and ecclesiastical objects of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, seized respectively confiscated, further of the Institutions, confessional schools etc. disbanded:
I. Churches
1. "Court" Church of Innsbruck, closed.
2. Abbey-Church Wilten in Innsbruck, disbanded and closed.
3. Church of the Rev. Fath. "of our Lady's Servitors" seized
and closed.
4. Church of the Rev. Capuchin Fathers in Innsbruck, seized,
closed, inside demolished.
5. Church of the "Perpetual Adoration" in Innsbruck, seized,
turned into military establishment, inside demolished.
6. County-House Church, closed and inside demolished.
7. Church of the "Canisianum" of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers, seized
and closed. ,
8. Pilgrimage Church with Parsonage on the "Hungerburg" in
Innsbruck, seized and sold, but the church remained open.
9. Branch Church in Wilten-Wast, in Innsbruck, closed.
10. Church in Mentelberg, near Innsbruck, closed.
11. Church of the Rev. Franciscan Fathers in Hall, seized
closed, inside demolished.
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12. Chapel of the Lunatic Asylum and feeble-minded in Solbad
Hall, closed, the Chaplain office disbanded.
13. Chapel of the Agriculture Institution of Rotholz closed, the
Chaplain office disbanded.
14. Chapel of the Agriculture, Institution of Imst closed, Chaplain office disbanded.
15. Abbey-Church of Fiecht near Schwaz, seized and closed.
16. Pilgrimage Church of the "Mount of Saint Georges" seized
and closed.
17. Abbey-Church of Stams seized and closed.
18. Abbey-Church of Saint Gallus in Bregenz, seized and closed,
inside demolished.
19. Abbey-Church Mehrerau in Bregenz, seized, although remained open.
20. Ground to be used for building a church in Wilten-Wastend,
Innsbruck, seized, built over.
21. Ground to be used for building a church in "Saggen", Innsbruck, seized, built over.
22. Pilgrimage Church "Maria Waldrast" near Matrei aBr.,
seized and closed.
23. Cloister-Church of the Rev. Capuchin Fathers of Bludenz,
seized, closed, inside partly demolished.
24. Convent-Church of the Dominican Sisters of Bludenz, seized,
closed, inside partly demolished.
25. The church of Hintertux, being in construction has been destroyed.
NB. Besides the churches and chapels mentioned above, the chapels of the disbanded ecclesiastical schools, institutions, etc. have equally been disbanded and closed. Many of them turned into military establishments.
NB. In Innsbruck the following churches have been heavily damaged by bombs:
Saint James' Dean-Church.
Church of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers.
Abbey-Church of Wilten.
Church of "Our Blessed Lady's Servitors."
Church of the Ursulin Sisters.
Church of the Carmelite Sisters.
Less damaged:
Parish Church, Pradl.
Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. -
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Saint John's, Innrain. .
Parish Church, Wilten.
Parish Church, Hoetting.
Parish Church, Mariahilf.
II. Cloisters, Monasteries, etc.
1. The Abbey of Wilten in Innsbruck with all its goods in Innsbruck, HIgen Wasser (Igls), Kematen and Luesens, disbanded and seized.
2. The Cloister of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers in Innsbruck with
Zensenhof in Vill, seized.
3. The Cloister of the Rev. Capuchin Fathers in Innsbruck,
seized.
4. The Monastery of "Our Ladies' Servitors".
5. The Monastery of the Rev. Fathers of "Our Saviour", forcedhired for the largest part.
6. The Cloister of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Benedict, Innsbruck, seized.
7. Mission House of the "Mission Priest of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus," Innsbruck-Hoetting, forced-hired by the greatest part.
8. Mission House of Saint Joseph's Missionaries in Absam,
forced-hired. .
9. Cloister of the Rev. Franciscan Fathers, Solbad Hall, seized.
10. Abbey of Fiecht of the Rev. Fathers of the Order of Saint
Benedict with all their proprietaries and goods in Fiecht, Sanct Georgenberg, etc., seized.
11. Cloister of the Rev. "Our Blessed Lady's Servitors" in Volders, seized, respectively forced-hired.
12. Cloister of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Benedict, Volders,
seized.
13. Abbey of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Bernard, Stams, with all
their estates, seized.
14. Mission House Fernstein of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Benedict, in Nassereith, seized.
15. Cloister of the Rev. Capuchin Fathers, Landeck-Perjen,
seized. .
16. Cloister of the Rev. "Servitors of Our Blessed Lady" Maria
Waldrast near Matrei a.Br., seized.
17. Abbey of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Bernard, Mehrerau,
Bregenz, seized.
18. Mission Boarding House of Saint John-Xaver of the Fathers
of the Precious Blood, Feldkirch, seized.
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19. College Lochau, near Bregenz of the Rev. Salvatorian Fathers, forced-hired. '
20. Cloister of the Rev. Capuchin Fathers, Bludenz, seized.
21. Convent of the Sisters of "Perpetual Adoration", Innsbruck,
seized.
22. Convent of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Peter, Bludenz,
seized.
23. Cloister of the Ursulin Sisters, Innsbruck, forced-hired for
the largest part.
24. Abbey of Saint Gallus, Bregenz, seized.
III. Other ecclesiastical establishments, Associations and "Youth Homes."
1. Theological Institute "Canisianum" of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers, Innsbruck, with Taxerhof in Ampass, seized.
2. College Boarding School of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers, Innsbruck, seized.
3. "Youth Home" Sieberer, of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Francis of Sales, Innsbruck, seized.
4. Boarding House of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Benedict, Innsbruck, with typography, publishing house, and Bookseller's shop—seized.
5. Home for Pupils of the Rev. Fathers "Maristes" Innsbruck,
Innrain, seized.
6. Orphanage-Asylum for girls with Chapel, Museumstreet,
Innsbruck, seized, Chapel destroyed.
7. Marienheim, for young girls studying on the University or
working in offices, Innsbruck, Maximilianstreet, seized.
8. "Margaretinum" Household School and Boardinghouse, Innsbruck-Hoetting, seized.
9. Boarding House "Leopoldinum" of the Rev. Franciscan
Fathers Solbad Hall, seized.
10. Education Institute for Boys of the Rev. Capuchin Fathers,
Fuegen, seized.
11. Boarding House of the Rev. Capuchin Fathers, Feldkirch,
seized.
12. Orphanage-Asylum and Education Institute for Boys, of the
Salesian Fathers in Jagsberg, seized. .
13. Home for religious Retreats, Hall, closed.
14. Home for religious Retreats of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers, Feldkirch-Tisis, closed, disbanded.
15. Boarding House for Girls of the Franciscan Sisters, Kronburg near Zams, disbanded.
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16. Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy in Kreckelraoos near
Reutte, seized.
17. Sanatorium of the Rev. Fathers of Saint Bernard, Mehrerau-Bregenz, seized.
18. Saint Joseph's Home of the Sisters of Saint Benedict, Grins
near Landeck, seized.
19. All "Catholic Youth or Association Houses" seized, so as for
instance in Innsbruck-Wilten, Innsbruck-St. Nicolaus, Innsbruck-Mariahilf, Innsbruck-Pradl, Innsbruck-Hoetting, in Imst, Telfs, Landeck, Inzing, Tarrenz, Haiming, Absam, Hall, Mils b/Hall, Wattens, Schwaz, Jenbach, Achental, Ehrwald, Tannheim, etc. etc.
20. The Journeymen Association Houses in Innsbruck, Hall,
Schwaz, Lienz, etc. seized. .
21. The Houses of the Saint Vincenz Association Saint James,
Innsbruck, Kapuziner street Nos. 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31,
, 33, 35, 37, 37a, were seized after the disbanding of the association. -
22. All the Catholic societies, Associations Unions, Congregations
of our Blessed Lady, ecclesiastical alliances and ligues, Confraternities etc., were disbanded and their fortune seized.
IV. Ecclesiastical Institutes, Schools, Institutions, etc.
1. Theological Faculty of the University in Innsbruck, disbanded.
2. Episcopal Seminary in Matrei, disbanded. Paulinum.
3. Episcopal "Little" Seminary with College and Boarding
House, Schwaz, disbanded.
4. College and Boarding Houses of the Rev. Franciscan Fathers,
Solbad Hall, disbanded.
5. College and Boarding House of the Rev. Jesuit Fathers in
Feldkirch, called, Stella Matutina, disbanded.
6. College and Boarding House of the Abbey of Meherau, Bregenz, disbanded.
7. Teacher's Pedagogical Institute of the Christian Schools
Brothers, Feldkirch, seized and disbanded.
8. Economy School of the Christian Schools Brothers, with
Boarding house in Lienz, disbanded.
9. Trades Schools with "shops" and workshops of the Rev.
Fathers of Saint Benedict, Martinsbuehel near Zirl, disbanded.
10. Institute of Saint Bonifacius of the Rev. Salesian Fathers in Fulpmes Stubai valley, disbanded, forced-hired.
11. High school with Boarding house of the Rev. Fathers of
Saint Benedict, Volders, disbanded and seized.
12. Elementary and High School of the Rev. Fathers of Saint
Benedict, Fiecht near Schwaz, disbanded and seized.
13. Teacher's Pedagogical Institute for Girls of the Sisters of
Charity, Zams, disbanded.
14. Girls Schools of the Sisters of Charity, Zams, disbanded.
15. Teachers' Pedagogical Institute for Girls of the Sisters of
Charity, Innsbruck, disbanded.
16. Girls Schools of the Sisters of Charity of Innsbruck, disbanded.
17. Girls Schools of the Ursulin Sisters, Innsbruck, disbanded.
18. Girls Schools of the Sisters of "Visitation" with Boarding
House, Thurnfeld, disbanded.
19. Schools for Girls with Boärding House of the Schools Sisters
in Pfaffenhofen, disbanded.
20. Schools for Girls of the Franciscan Tertiär Sisters, Solbad,
Hall disbanded.
21. Schools for girls of the Dominican Sisters, Lienz, disbanded.
22. Schools for girls of the Dominican Sisters, Altenstadt, disbanded.
23. Schools for girls of the Dominican Sisters, Thalbach-Bregenz,
disbanded.
24. Schools for girls with Boarding House, Marienburg, Bregenz,
disbanded.
25. Schools for girls with Boarding House, Riedenburg-Bregenz,
disbanded. .
26. School of Householding, Gauenstein, near Schruns, disbanded.
27. Needlework School, Industry School, Gwiggen, Hohenweiler,
disbanded.
28. Orphanage-asylum with elementary and High School of the
Franciscan Tertiär Sisters, Schwaz, disbanded.
29. Girls School with Boarding House, of the Sisters of Saint
Benedict, Scharnitz, disbanded.
30. Girl School with Boarding House of Saint Joseph, of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Feldkirch, disbanded.
31. Girls Schools with a House of religious Retreats, called "Saint
Antony's of the Sisters of the Holy Cross," Feldhirch, disbanded.
N.B. Besides this all, the ecclesiastical teachers of the nun-convents have been removed from all public schools in, the municipalities and communities.