Franz Josef Waitz

The Tyrolean Franz Josef Waitz - nephew of Prince-Bishop Waitz - was admitted to the secondary school fraternity Sternkorona Hall in 1927. After completing his A-levels, he began his theological training in Innsbruck and joined the student fraternity Vindelicia in 1929.

Afterwards, he was a co-operator in Imst, but was then transferred to Ötz a few months later. Here he received a summons to the Gestapo in Innsbruck. When asked why he had been summoned here, he was told: "You have chastised a boy. We have to take you into 'protective custody'" A boy of around 10 years old answered the religious education teacher Franz Josef Waitz's question as to why he never went to church: "That's none of your business!"" He then slapped him in the face. The boy's father, a well-known local communist, then reported the religion teacher to the Gestapo. Franz Josef Waitz was imprisoned for 10 days in Innsbruck police prison together with several other priests. The local group leader of his parish of Ochsengarten in the Kühtai Valley arranged for his release.