You might think that the Koch family passed this story down through the generations like a gilded heirloom. On the contrary, we never knew it happened. When Joe Koch visited Fr. Viktor in June 1945, he sensed a pall falling
How do we know that Fr. Viktor’s story is true? It’s literally etched in stone. In 1947, two years after Fr. Viktor defended Schwarzenfeld from U.S. forces, newly elected mayor Norbert Gindele signed documents that declared the American Passionist an
In the midst of oppression and hardship, the people of Schwarzenfeld had a pastime that served as a welcome distraction. They loved speculating about what the Nazis were doing in Fr. Viktor’s monastery. The first years were limited to disgruntled
She’s easy to spot in the snapshots that American Signal Corps photographers took during the funeral. And, she has an interesting story to tell. Her name is Zita Mueller. I mentioned her once in a previous post, and had the
There is an obscure, yet intriguing detail behind the funeral ceremony that occurred on April 25, 1945. It honored both Christian and Jewish traditions. Among the photos that Signal Corps photographers captured in Schwarzenfeld during the harrowing 48-hour ordeal, there
On this day 80 years ago, the 48-hour ultimatum ended without a bullet fired. To the Schwarzenfelders it was tantamount to a miracle. In the early afternoon, Schwarzenfeld’s five hundred men, women and children assembled in a grim human wall
Fr. Viktor had spent twelve long years fighting to preserve the humanity of his German flock. On April 24, 1945, it must have stunned him to realize he was doing the same for his American countrymen. The significance of sowing
There is a certain term that perfectly encapsulates the totality of human experience on April 23, 1945. Giving credit where it’s due, I didn’t coin this phrase. I learned it secondhand through Dr. Christopher Mauriello, my friend and colleague who
On April 22, 1945, about 5PM, the six Hungarian SS wiring up the Naab River Bridge with dynamite failed in their mission. They blamed it on the rain. The bridge was wired. They heard the rumble of tanks approaching. They
I once asked Hedy, my friend and eyewitness to history, “What was it like in Schwarzenfeld before the Americans arrived?” In a piquant, accented voice, she said, “Do you remember Gone with the Wind? The scene where Scarlett O’Hara was
