Alois Andritzki was a Sorbian Catholic priest born in 1914 who became a martyr during the Second World War. After being ordained in Bautzen in 1939, he emerged as a vocal critic of the Nazi regime. His opposition to the government led to his arrest by the Gestapo in 1941. He was subsequently transferred to the Dachau concentration camp, where he eventually died after being administered a lethal injection by camp officials.
Life and death
Raised in a pious household, Andritzki completed his theological studies in Paderborn and Bautzen. Following his ordination, he faced imprisonment due to his hostile statements against the Nazi state and his involvement in religious theater. While held at Dachau, he maintained his faith and provided spiritual comfort to other inmates. In early 1943, while suffering from typhoid, he requested the Eucharist, but guards instead killed him with a lethal injection.
Veneration
The Sorbian people have long held him in high regard. His beatification took place in Dresden on June 13, 2011, after Pope Benedict XVI recognized that he was killed in hatred of the faith. The ceremony was attended by thousands of people, including religious and political leaders. His feast day is observed on February 3.