He was Catholic priest and during first war
volunteered to take part in the war and was accordingly employed. He w as
highly respected by soldiers catholics and non Catholics both. During the war
he volunteered to the front line service and crawled from one soldier to
another to listen to them, give sermons and interact with them. Although he was
told that this was greatly risky and could cost him his life he used to reply
that his life was with the God. he was badly wounded in a grenade explosion and
lost left leg. He was the only priest who earned a iron cross for extraordinary
devotion and bravery in the face of enemy during the war. was sent back to
Muich where he earned a nick name limping priest. during WW II he was critical
of Nazis policies and Gerstapo gave orders that he should not preach such
things at Church from pulpit. He although gave up such activity he continued to
preach anti Nazi views. He was taken into custody and was sent to a
concentration camp. Authorities were worried that he would die in the camp and
was then sent to a monastery or else. He would turn into a martyr. He was
highly respected in Germany.He survived the war and was liberated by allies. He
was sent back to Munich and in post war period he died of heart attack while
standing and preaching in the church in ending of 1945, He was beatified by the
Pope Paul II in 1987.
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