World War II August Hlond

the invasion of predominantly catholic poland nazi germany in 1939 ignited second world war. nazi plan poland entailed destruction of polish nation, required attacking polish church, particularly in areas annexed germany. in territories annexed greater germany, nazis set systematically dismantling catholic church - arresting leaders, exiling clergymen, closing churches, monasteries , convents. many clergymen murdered. elsewhere in occupied poland, suppression less severe, though still harsh. papal nuncio poland, fillipo cortesi had abandoned warsaw along diplomatic corps, after invasion. other channels existed communications, including cardinal hlond.

on 18 september 1939, @ request of polish government, hlond left poland, part of army, in order reach rome , report on actions of nazis in poland, , inform world via vatican radio , press. hlond submitted official account of persecutions of polish church vatican, reporting seizures of church property , abuse of clergy , nuns in annexed regions:

many priests imprisoned, suffering humiliations, blows, maltreatment. number deported germany... others have been detained in concentration camps... not rare see priest in midst of labour gangs working in fields... of them have been shut night in pigsties, barbarously beaten , subjected other tortures... canon casimir stepczynski... forced in company jew carry away human excrement... curate wished take place of venerable priest brutally beaten rifle butt

in final observations pope pius xii, hlond wrote:

coat of arms of august hlond archbishop of gniezno , poznań (1926-1946)



coat of arms of august hlond bishop of katowice (1925-1926)

hitlerism aims @ systematic , total destruction of catholic church in rich , fertile territories of poland have been incorporated reich... known 35 priests have been shot, real number of victims... undoubtedly amounts more hundred... in many districts life of church has been crushed, clergy have been expelled; catholic churches , cemeteries in hands of invaders... catholic worship hardly exists more... monasteries , convents have been methodically suppressed... [church properties] have been pillaged invaders.

in 1939 hlond spent several months in rome conclave of 1939. in january 1940, vatican radio broadcast hlond s reports of german persecution of jews , catholic clergy in poland. these reports included in report of polish government nuremberg trials after war.

in march 1940, hlond went on pilrimage lourdes, in france. following fall of france, remained in country, staying @ benedictine abbey @ hautecombe, in savoy, remained, unable leave, until himmler ordered gestapo arrest him in february 1944 (the member of sacred college of cardinals arrested nazis). gestapo held him @ headquarters in paris 2 months, and, soviet armies driving nazis russia, attempted have him declare public support german war against soviet union, in order secure release. gestapo offered make hlond regent of poland, but, according tablet, withdrawal of german troops poland necessary, cardinal implacably insisted, before discuss matter whatsoever german officer. hlond remained in custody of gestapo, first @ convent @ bar-le-duc, until allied advance forced germans shift him wiedenbrtick, in westphalia, remained 7 months, until released american troops in 1945. americans flew hlond paris, , rome on april 25th, returning war ravaged poland on 20 july 1945.

hlond reported in august 1941 cardinal secretary of state, luigi maglione, polish people believed pope pius xii had abandoned them. said in light of nazi persecution of polish church , clergy.