Franciszek Dachtera was a Polish Catholic priest who served as a military chaplain during the Second World War. Born in Salno in 1910, he was ordained in 1933 before being mobilized to serve the 62nd Wielkopolska Infantry Regiment in 1939. Following his capture by Nazi forces, he endured imprisonment in several concentration camps, including Buchenwald and Dachau. He is recognized as one of the 108 Blessed Polish Martyrs of the Second World War.
Life and death
After being taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bzura, Dachtera was moved from a prisoner of war camp to Buchenwald in 1940. He was later transferred to Dachau in 1942. Known for his cheerful spirit, he earned the nickname Cherubnik. He died in the Dachau concentration camp after being subjected to malaria experiments conducted by Claus Schilling, which caused severe organ failure and intense pain.
Veneration and legacy
He was beatified in 1999 as part of a group of 108 Polish martyrs. His feast day is observed on August 22. In Poland, he is honored through various commemorative plaques on churches and a street named in his memory. He also received several posthumous medals for his service during the defensive war of 1939.