Josef Pollak

Josef Pollak was born in Neumarktl am Loibl [today: Tržič in Slovenia]. After elementary school, he attended middle school in St. Paul in the Lavant Valley and high school in Merano, as well as the final two grades at the Franciscan private high school in Gorizia. After graduating from high school, he entered the seminary there and began his studies in theology. He then moved to Ljubljana [German: Leibach], completed his studies, and was ordained a priest in 1896. He served as a pastor in the Diocese of Ljubljana for several years before moving to North America for an extended period.

Josef Pollak returned from North America in 1934 and settled in Carinthia. At first, he served as an assistant pastor (curate) in the parish of Ebendorf and subsequently as interim pastor in St. Philipp ob Sonnberg, where he later became the parish priest.

He was highly critical of National Socialism. After the occupation of Austria by Hitler’s Germany, he quickly came into conflict with the local Nazi authorities. For example, he protested in writing against the restrictions the new regime was imposing on the population. He also maintained contact with his former classmates in Ljubljana. When a representative of this group wanted to visit him, he was forced to return home immediately. Josef Pollak protested this as well.

When Josef Pollak reported this incident to the diocesan office, he also mentioned that he had been listening to foreign radio stations and had only recently learned that this was prohibited. This, however, brought him to the attention of the Eberndorf gendarmerie, who advised him to leave Carinthia and travel to Yugoslavia. Shortly thereafter, the authorities confiscated his radio.

When the German Reich announced its victory over Poland following the German-Russian invasion of Poland, Josef Pollak refused to ring the church bells. This was likely the final straw. On October 21, 1939, during a visit by Provost Andrej Truppe, he was arrested and transferred to Klagenfurt.

Since Josef Pollak’s health was already in poor condition at that time, Andreas Rohracher, Josef Kadras, and Valentin Podgorc requested his early release. Unfortunately, this was not successful, especially since the Gestapo issued an arrest warrant on February 2, 1940, on the grounds that his behavior made him an enemy of the people and the state. As a priest, he had incited hatred against the state and undermined the population’s trust in the government.

While in prison, Josef Pollak fell ill in addition to his existing physical ailments. The Archdiocese made yet another attempt to free him from the Gestapo’s clutches by requesting an official medical certificate regarding his state of health and, consequently, his fitness for detention. However, doctors appointed by the Gestapo issued a favorable certificate.

Unfortunately, it is no longer clear when and by which transport Josef Pollak was deported by the Gestapo to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. However, he was deported in the first half of 1940. Pastor Stefan Singer saw him briefly when he arrived at the concentration camp on June 29, 1940. Shortly thereafter, on July 24, 1940, Josef Pollak died. The Nazis cited pneumonia and heart failure as the cause of death. His body was immediately cremated.

On August 11, 1940, Josef Pollak’s remains were buried in St. Philippen, with a large number of citizens in attendance. It is said that a large number of Gestapo informants were present and listened intently to every word.