He was a German Franciscan priest and WW II veteran from Wehrmacht. He was conscripted into German army during war and was commissioned as a Lieutananat. He was transferred to SS waffen and posted to occupied Poland.He was much upset with anti catholic ways in waffen and he reported the matter direct to Himmler the chief of SS. As a result, he was sent back to Wehrmacht in disgrace. In 1942.He was court martialled in 1942 but was acquitted. He was posted to eastern front and also spent winter 1943 in prison.He was then sent to occupied France and Italy.He came in contact with officers of German resistance group who tried to draw him into their fold. But he refused citing his oath of loyalty as a Christian. However after long persuasion he agreed to join the resistance group and carried messages. He had a meeting with the pope at Vatican and was in good books of the pontiff. However, his detractors blamed him for persecution of prisoners and even was blamed that he was earlier commandant at Dachau camp. After the war, he was arrested by the British and interned at camps including one at Morocco. After the war, he was tried by allies and was sentenced to death by firing squad.. However with intervention of Pope and other seniors, his sentence was kept pending and he was saved. Subsequently, the sentence was quashed. He worked as a priest in later years after war and contributed greatly in Japan where he built churches, seminaries... He returned to Germany during his failing health and passed away in Germany.
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