Il Terzo Reich nei confronti della Chiesa in Alta Silesia : don Jan Macha (1914-1942), martire della carits christiana

Abstract

The Third Reich towards the Church in Upper Silesia. Fr Jan Macha (1914-1942), martyr of the Christian charity. Upper Silesia is a unique part of Europe and Poland. In the past centuries, this region changed its nationality several times. It is a region with a very complex history. What remains unchanged is the faith standing by the Catholic Church and Christian values. During the Second World War, many inhabitants of Upper Silesia were persecuted by the Nazis. Among them there were many clergymen from the diocese of Katowice. One of them is Rev. Jan Macha, who for his commitment to charitable activities for suffering people, was arrested by the Germans, tortured, and at the end guillotined in the prison in Katowice. In the article, history of his life, work for people who needed support, and his martyr’s death are depicted against the background of the political, social and religious situation in Upper Silesia during the German occupation.