Albert Willimsky
Encyclopedia
Albert Willimsky was a German Roman Catholic priest active in resistance movement against the National Socialism
, martyred in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
.
and later, as a radio-telegraphist. He was ordained as a priest on at the cathedral of Breslau Diocese, and became a vicar in Bytom
.
In 1933, while he was a provost in Friesack
(Havelland district), he openly criticized Nazism
, and because of that he fell into conflict with local authorities. In he had to leave this parish and became a provost in Gransee. In , he was arrested for the first time by the Gestapo
. He was freed on and in July of the same year he became a provost in Podjuchy – which was at the time the only Roman Catholic parish in Stettin (now Szczecin
). Here he encountered maltreatment of Polish forced labourers working in extremely difficult conditions. His further criticism of Nazism and protection of the Polish labourers led to his denunciation in , when he was arrested for the second time and sent to Sachsenhausen
concentration camp in Oranienburg. He died several weeks later.
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, martyred in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
.
Biography
Willimsky was born in 1890 in Oberglogau (now Głogówek) in Prussian Silesia. After he finished secondary school, he started his theological studies at the Breslau University. During the World War I, he decided to suspend his studies to work as a paramedicParamedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
and later, as a radio-telegraphist. He was ordained as a priest on at the cathedral of Breslau Diocese, and became a vicar in Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
.
In 1933, while he was a provost in Friesack
Friesack
Friesack is a town in the Havelland district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated northeast of Rathenow, and southwest of Neuruppin. It is known for its Mesolithic archaeological site.-Film shot in Friesack:...
(Havelland district), he openly criticized Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, and because of that he fell into conflict with local authorities. In he had to leave this parish and became a provost in Gransee. In , he was arrested for the first time by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. He was freed on and in July of the same year he became a provost in Podjuchy – which was at the time the only Roman Catholic parish in Stettin (now Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
). Here he encountered maltreatment of Polish forced labourers working in extremely difficult conditions. His further criticism of Nazism and protection of the Polish labourers led to his denunciation in , when he was arrested for the second time and sent to Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen may refer to:* Sachsenhausen , a quarter of Oranienburg, Germany* Sachsenhausen concentration camp, a detention and extermination facility established there in 1936...
concentration camp in Oranienburg. He died several weeks later.
Memory
- Parc named Park im. Alberta Willimskyego in Szczecin-Podjuchy, where he worked in years 1939-1940,
- Commemorative plaque in a cript of St. Hedwig's Cathedral,
- Commemorative plaque in Gransee, also in memory priest Paul Bartsch.