Karl Leisner was a German Catholic priest and resistance fighter who was held in the Dachau concentration camp during the Nazi regime. Born in Rees in 1915, he was a dedicated youth leader and deacon before his arrest for criticizing Adolf Hitler. While imprisoned, he suffered from tuberculosis, a condition worsened by the harsh camp environment. Despite his failing health, he was secretly ordained as a priest by a fellow prisoner in 1944. He passed away in 1945 shortly after the liberation of the camp.
Life and resistance
As a young man, Leisner led Catholic youth groups, often organizing trips to neighboring countries to avoid Nazi interference. After being ordained a deacon in 1939, he contracted tuberculosis. His political opposition to the Nazi government led to his arrest and eventual transfer to Dachau. Even in the camp, he maintained his spiritual commitment, helping to form a small Schoenstatt group and receiving secret ordination while facing extreme physical hardship and illness.
Veneration
Leisner is recognized as a martyr for his faith. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1996. His feast day is observed on 12 August, marking the anniversary of his death in a sanatorium near Munich.