Blessed Franz Jägerstätter
The Austrian farmer who refused the oath to Hitler and was executed in 1943
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Layperson, Martyr
- Life
- 1907 – 1943
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 21 May
- Countries
- Austria, Germany
Life story
Franz Jägerstätter was born on 20 May 1907 at St. Radegund in Upper Austria, under the birth name Franz Huber. He grew up in a poor rural family and took the surname Jägerstätter after being adopted by his stepfather. He worked as a farmer, spent a period working in a mine, and later inherited his stepfather's farm.
In 1936 he married Franziska Schwaninger, and they had three daughters. He took over care of the village church as sexton. When Austria was annexed to Germany in 1938 he is reported to have been the only person in the village to vote against. He was called up in 1940 and had brief training before being sent home; in 1943 he received a second call-up. He had thought about the matter for a long time and consulted several priests and his bishop, some of whom advised him to obey; he nevertheless held to his decision. His wife and daughters were left without him, and his letters from prison show a calm, steady man worried for his family.
He reported to the Enns garrison but refused to swear loyalty to Hitler and refused to serve in the army, judging the regime's war to be unjust. He was arrested in March 1943 and sentenced to death by the Reich military court in Berlin. He was offered a way out if he would sign a declaration of military service, but he declined. He was beheaded on 9 August 1943 at Brandenburg-Görden prison, aged thirty-six.
Cardinal José Saraiva Martins celebrated his beatification on behalf of Benedict XVI on 26 October 2007 in Linz. His feast is on 21 May, the day of his baptism.
Works and witness
- Farmer and sexton of the village church at St. Radegund
- Married in 1936 and had three daughters
- Refused the oath to Hitler and military service in 1943
- Executed on 9 August 1943 at Brandenburg-Görden
- Beatified on 26 October 2007
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
- Gordon Zahn, In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jägerstätter
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.