Engelbert (Franz Xaver) Blöchl OCist

Franz Xaver Blöchl was born in Freistadt as the only child of master tailor Franz and his wife Katharina, née Pieber. After attending elementary school, he went on to the state gymnasium in Freistadt, where he graduated and, in the same year—on July 25, 1912—entered the Cistercian Abbey of Hohenfurth (today: Vyšší Brod in the Czech Republic) in Bohemia. He received the religious name Engelbert. He completed his theological studies at the seminary of St. Florian Abbey, graduating in 1916. On August 6, 1916, he took his solemn religious vows, and later that same year, on December 3, 1916, he was ordained a priest and sent to serve as curate in the parish of Priethal (today: Přídolí). His mother died in 1920, and his father was murdered by two itinerant journeymen in 1933.

Engelbert Blöchl subsequently became the curate in the parish of Heuraffl (today: Přední Výtoň). In Heuraffl, he also witnessed the annexation of the “Sudetenland” by Hitler’s Germany on October 2, 1938. As early as the very next day, October 3, 1938, he was arrested by the Gestapo on the grounds that he had maintained friendly relations with Czech customs officials, and was interned in the former Czech customs house in Heuraffl. Thanks to the intercession of Abbot Tecelin Jaksch, who promised to keep him within the monastery, Engelbert Blöchl was released from custody on October 25, 1938. However, Engelbert Blöchl was determined to return to parish work. At his request, Abbot Tecelin Jaksch made the fateful mistake of allowing him to take over his first parish in Priethal.

From the time when he was already serving as a curate in the Priethal parish, Engelbert Blöchl had personal enemies among the local National Socialists. Among them was the mayor, who had left the Church. He viewed Engelbert Blöchl as a particular target. [Note: In some writings, the mayor of Heuraffl is mentioned instead of the mayor of Priethal.]

On August 17, 1940, Engelbert Blöchl was arrested once again by the Gestapo. He was charged with the “crime of sexual assault under § 128 of the Criminal Code (StG) and incitement to sexual misconduct under § 132 III of the Criminal Code (StG).” Two former female students, who were now active in the BDM, came forward and were willing to testify against him for 200 RM each. In a closed-door court hearing on October 29, 1940, he was sentenced to “one year of severe imprisonment, aggravated by hard labor every three months.” His defense attorney, Albin Schinko, advised him against appealing the verdict, as doing so would result in the sentence being doubled.

In the transcript of the verdict dated November 4, 1940, addressed to the Gestapo in Linz, a note was added stating that the prisoner was to be handed over to the Secret State Police in Linz after serving his sentence. On November 21, 1940, Engelbert Blöchl was transferred to the Garsten prison. There, he happened to encounter his father’s murderers, forgave them, and extended his hand to them in reconciliation.

On August 17, 1941, Engelbert Blöchl would have completed his one-year prison sentence. However, he was not released but was transferred to the Gestapo in Linz. They deported him to the Dachau concentration camp on August 31, 1941. There, his health deteriorated progressively. After being admitted twice to the “infirmary,” he died, completely exhausted, on November 1, 1942. According to another account, he was beaten to death by an SS guard. The official cause of death was listed as a heart attack. His body was cremated in the crematoria at the Dachau concentration camp.