Letters and reports on the planned use of the Klosterneuburg monastery property as an Adolf Hitler School in Vienna

NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN LABOR PARTY GAULEITUNG VIENNA
[Red Pencil Mark] SECRET
4 Am Hof,
Vienna 1. Tel. 23-5-90, U 21-5-30 22 January 1941.
The Deputy Gauleiter: .
[Pencil mark: partly illegible]
To Dr. Kramer with the request of taking cognizance.
Our File No.: Sch/G. Your file no:
[pencilled note, partly illegible,]
2/ I a Pot (Dr. Graf) Secret act
Subject: Monasteries.
To:
Regierung President Dr. Dellbruegge 2 Ballhausplatz Vienna 1.
Dear President:
I am enclosing for your information a very confidential teletype letter of the deputy of the Fuehrer.
Today I submitted the teletype letter to the Reich Leiter who wishes it carried out most swiftly.
With reference to our discussions on this subject I request that you keep me posted on your planned measures. On behalf of the Party I shall take the liberty of submitting proposals to you very shortly. Gebietsfuehrer in the Hitler Youth Major General Pg. (Party member) Kowarik informed me that Vienna had the possibility of getting an Adolf Hitler school which Hamburg is also striving to obtain. The Reich Leiter attaches great importance to Vienna's being successful especially in this quest. The monastery Klosterneuburg should be considered for the establish-
645
3927-PS
ment of the Adolf Hitler school because of its size and the propinquity of sport places.
I request that you especially have in mind this individual case. I have asked the Gebietsfuehrer to get in touch with you immediately since according to my knowledge the time is very urgent in this matter.
Heil Hitler!
[Stamp:] National Socialist [signed] Scharizer
German Labor Party Gauleitung Vienna 1 enclosure.
(Copy)
13 January 1941 1530 hours
Fuehrer Construction.
Reich Leiter M. Bormann to all Gau Letters.
Strictly Confidential
It has been found that the population does not show indignation if monasteries (convents) are used for what appears to be generally appropriate. A generally suitable use would be a conversion into hospitals, convalescent homes, national political educational institutes or Adolf Hitler schools, etc. Far reaching use should be made of these possibilities.
[signed] Reich Leiter M. Bormann
Express Letter [Schnellbrief]
Telephone A-17-5-80 4 Morzinplatz Vienna 1.
23 January 1941
Secret State Police (Geheime Staatspolizei)
State Police Directorate Vienna Staatspolizeileitstelle Wien
B. No. 517/40 II B 1
Kindly note above File No. and date in reply To the Reichsstatthalter in Vienna Attention Regierung President Dr. Dellbruegge Ballhausplatz Vienna 1.
Subject: Augustinerchorherrnstift Klosterneuburg. Action: Oral order of 23 January 1941.
Enclosures: 1 fastened.
The Augustinerchorherrnstift Klosterneuburg was founded by Leopold III of Babenberg in 1106 and is considered one of the
646
3927-PS
wealthiest monasteries of the Ostmark. The enlarged monastery building was erected in 1750. It comprised a Romanesque church of the 12th century with an early Gothic Archway and the so-called Verduner altar of 1811, a treasure room containing the hat of the Austrian arch duke, and a library of 120,000 Volumes and
2.000 manuscripts and incunabula. Worth mentioning are also the gallery of paintings and collection of coins as well as a theological private teaching establishment. The cellar rooms of the monastery with the giant barrel comprising 1000 kegs are widely known.
However, the most valuable property of the monastery may be its large real estate. On 1 January 1937 this real estate was estimated at about 82,000,000 "square meters" outside Vienna and at about 9,000,000 "square meters" in the Vienna city area.
After the World War the monastery leased a part of its real estate especially that in Klosterneuburg and Floridsdorf to small, settlers. The contracts were so unsocial that the lessees were forced to pay about five times as much as was customary in such cases in the Alt Reich (the old, former Reich). This state of affairs led finally to an agreement between Gauleiter Buerckel and the monastery to the effect that about 1400 hectars of leased land were handed over to the Party. The revenue from this leased land Gauleiter Buerckel gave to the Fund of the German Mother ["Fonds der deutschen Mutter"] founded by him. In this connection it is worth mentioning that it was only after lengthy negotiation and after its previous unsocial conduct had been repeatedly pointed out that the monastery seems to have found itself prepared to make this concession.
It is known furthermore that the Chorherrenstift Klosterneuburg owns several properties in Hungary. It is believed that on the property Duna-Almas a great new building was erected in 1938 which contains about 100 rooms and which is said to have been erected at the cost of about 200,000 Pengoes. Further known are the landed estate of Neszmely and the meadow land of Sur, Repcze, and Czatar in the district of Vestzprom as well as the meadowland of Nagy Gyon and Meserczer in the district of Stuhl-weissenburg. These estates are estimated at a total area of about
15.000 Hungarian "Jocks". In connection with the building of the hotel the suspicion of having dealt illicitly with foreign currency was expressed. However, in the opinion of experts, the estates in Hungary yield revenues in such great amounts that such a new construction seems possible with their own means.
As a Catholic stronghold the monastery was closely connected
647
3927—PS
with the past political system. It is known that the present prelate was an intimate friend and political follower of the mayor [Systembuergermeistee] of the city of Vienna, Schmitz. Beyond this, other members of the monastery also appeared in a manner injurious to the state. The repeated convictions of members arid employees of the monastery for crimes against nature caused special sensation.
The prelate of the monastery Alipius Josef Linda was denounced by his former valet for his asocial conduct. Linda is also said to have repeatedly called his valet in the charwoman's presence the most abusive names such as "idiot, fool, liar, bum, blockhead, mule, ape" and similar names. The valet stated further that Linda has a picture of the Fuehrer put up only if an officer of the Party or prominent personalities are expected. Linda is said to have expressed himself toward his valet to the effect that he is well supplied with shoes and undergarments and the war for his part may last another few years.
The member of the monastery Dr. Pius Parsch, born in Neustift near Olmuetz on 18 May 1884, has become known through his so-called folk liturgical church congregation [volksliturgische Kirehengemeinde]. In the rooms of the St. Gertrude chapel which belonged to the monastery he conducted liturgical masses and Bible hours. Parsch and other prebendaries try to use these occasions, since the political change for the purpose of influencing the youth in order to keep them away from the Hitler Youth service.
The prebendary and professor of religion of the monastery Roman Karl Seholz, born in Maerisch-Schoenberg on 16 January 1912 was arrested on 22 July 1940 on grounds of preparing for high treason and brought before the court. The proceedings against him have not as yet been concluded.
Seholz was the "chief" of the "Freedom Movement Austria" [Freiheitsbewegung Oesterreich] which, together with the "Greater Austrian Freedom Movement" [Gross-Oesterreichische Freiheitsbewegung] and a number of other subversive secret organizations, had as its goal the splitting up of the Greater German Reich. After the defeat of the German Reich in this war which was taken for granted and the ensuing collapse, the separation from the Reich and the reestablishment of a Greater Austrian Reich within the frame work of the former Austrian-Hun-garian monarchy was to be brought about. For this purpose an organization was built up which did not deal only with propaganda from mouth to mouth and the distribution of pamphlets and leaflets, but which also concocted plots against vital plants
648
3927-PS
3927-PS
and military objectives. According to his own confession Scholz founded this movement under the title of "German Freedom Movement" [Deutsche Freiheitsbewegung] as early as the fall of
1938. At that time he gathered about himself a circle of like-minded people which was composed particularly of intellectuals and students. He recruited especially people who were known to him from his activity as professor of religion and educator of youth. Furthermore, he conducted Bible classes in the Chorherrenstift Klosterneuburg and influenced the participating persons to his way of thinking; he also repeatedly kept several participants who at the same time were also members of the "Freedom Movement Austria" [Freiheitsbewegung Oesterreich] after these Bible lessons in order to hold discussions with them in the spirit of this movement. Independently from that, Scholz also told members of the movement to come into his apartment located in the monastery in order to discuss with them the projected terroristic acts. In this connection it is to be emphasized that a great part of the persons who belonged to the "Freedom Movement" were former students of the monastery Klosterneuburg.
To the members of the "Freedom Movement Austria" belonged also the private employee Alexander Heribert Ziegler, born in Klosterneuburg on 2 December 1911 who works in the monastery's administration as an employee. He could further be convicted of having maintained the existence of the Catholic-German fraternity "Arminia" which had been dissolved after the political change ["Umbruch"] and of having promoted the aims of this fraternity by arranging for meetings with other former members.
A concrete proof of the fact that other members or persons of the Chorherrenstift Klosterneuburg also knew about the existence of the "Freedom Movement Austria" or, promoted Scholz' subversive activity and attitude could so far not be furnished. However, it seems almost impossible that these meetings and discussions should not have been noticed. The priest Karl Krajatsch, born in Iglau on 8 August 1902, also a member of the Chorherrnstift in an inn ("Heurigenschenke" i.e. an inn where this year's wine is to be had) in Tattendorf, made the remark that all National Socialists are fools. He was sentenced to one year in jail ["Kerker"] by the Landgericht in Vienna for a misdemeanor against the law concerning Malice ["Heimtueckegesetz"].
Against the member of the Chorherrenstift, the priest Vinzenz Oskar Ludwig, born in Niederhillersdorf on 18 June 1875, charges for suspicion of forgery of documents were preferred by the Directorate of the Criminal Police of Vienna. Ludwig be-
744400—47—43
649
3927-PS
came known for the fact that he baptized an enormous number of Jews after the political change ["Umbrueh"]. He is suspected of having accepted for baptizing up to RM 600.00. It is true that the proceedings were discontinued. ,
The Chorherrenstift Kloster is particularly known for several cases of crimes against nature which have occurred there in the course of the last 4 years. For instance the sexton Adolf Jungbauer, born in Pressbaum on 2 May 1886, was sentenced to 7 months in the penitentiary ["schwerer Kerker"] for this crime because he committed it against an acolyte of the monastery.
Furthermore, the sexton of the monastery Ludwig Melik, born in Joslowitz on 22 February 1900, who at the same time was Gau Leader of the Reich Association of the Catholic-German Youth of Austria ["Reiehsbunder katholisch-deutschen Jugend Oesterreichs"], was sentenced to a year in the penitentiary ["schwerer Kerker"] on 1 August 1938 because he misused members of the Reich Association homosexually in the rooms of the monastery after inducing them to permit his unnatural actions especially by promising them work or a promotion.
The member of the Chorherrenstift Professor Wilhelm Fassl, born in Litzelsdorf on 16 July 1899, was sentenced on 20 June 1938 to 7 months in the penitentiary ["schwerer Kerker"], intensified by a day of fasting in each month in jail, for crimes against nature and for seduction to such crimes. Fassl committed crimes against nature with the monastery sexton Franz Buzek, born in Klosterneuburg on 24 September 1915 who at the same time was sentenced to 2V& months in prison ["strenger Arrest"] and with two acolytes. On the occasion of the trial before the court of appeals Fassl's sentence was increased to 18 months in the penitentiary upon the consideration that his guilt was aggravated by the fact that Fassl seduced persons who had hardly passed the youthful age to commit actions against nature and that he had continued his relationship with them for years.
In this connection the branch Klosterneuburg of the Directorate of the Criminal Police of Vienna learned the following:
The two acolytes involved in the case against Fassl were at liberty before the trial. During that time they had a discussion with Kanzlei Director Friedrich and later with Prolate Linda on which occasions they pointed out that more cases of crimes against nature had occurred between them and two other canons. The Kanzlei director and the prelate are said to have declared their willingness to reward the acolytes' reticence with financial support and the promise of giving them employment after their hav-
650
3927-PS
ing undergone their term of imprisonment. Actually, the two are said to have received in installments altogether RM 120-130 before the trial. During that time the accused canons were transferred to one of the estates in Hungary. After the two had been brought into safety, the canons discontinued any further payment.
The monastery is also the camouflaged proprietor of the Bernina, the Folk-Liturgical ["Volksliturgischer Verlage"] and the St. Augustinus Publishing Houses ["Verlag"] as well as of the book store "Liturgia".
The publications of these publishing houses were repeatedly confiscated for their subversive contents, especially for glorification of Judaism.
[signature illegible, possibly Huber or Huhn]
The Reichsstatthalter in Vienna
[Editor's Note : The following statement is handwritten]
(1) Note: According to a consultation with Oberregierungsrat Dr. Kreis (Z. R.) title of the agency to be used is "The Reichsstatthalter in Vienna—Municipal Administration", not "Reichsgau Vienna—Municipal Administration" because the municipality of Vienna in its function as authority is concerned.
1,2 Ballhausplatz.
22 February 1941
I a RV-6009-127/41
(2) To the
Augustiner Chorherrenstift Klosterneuburg Attention: Abbot Alipius Josef Linda Klosterneuburg.
Order :
Subject: Taking over in accordance with the Law of Housing Public Offices.
On the basis of the Law of Housing Public Offices, Gesetzblatt for the State of Austria, No. 278 1938 the monastery Klosterneuburg belonging to the Augustiner Chorherrenstift Klosterneuberg, is taken over for the purpose of establishing and housing an Adolf Hitler school and assigned to the Reichsstatthalter in Vienna — Municipal Administration—without a stipulated time period.
Subject to the taking over are the monastery building plus secondary buildings with all rooms located in these buildings, all the furniture constituting the accessories of the monastery, the court-yards and garden grounds in so far as they are situated in the former municipal district of Klosterneuburg and are directly, locally, connected with the monastery.
651
3927-PS
Exempted from being taken over are only the rooms serving purely ecclesiastical purposes; other rooms and real estate which at the time this Order is delivered are rented or leased, in so far as they are not needed for housing the Adolf Hitler school. The buildings and parts of buildings are to be handed over within 14 days after this Order is delivered.
As compensation for the usage the Reichsstatthalter of Vienna —Municipal Administration—must bear the cost accruing from maintenance and operating of the confiscated buildings and parts of building, and the taxes and assessments for same.
Reasons:
The buildings and parts of buildings taken over are not sufficiently used and are not needed for the monastery's tasks as regards worship and administration. A fraction of the presently occupied rooms will be found to be sufficient for these purposes and the monastery can easily get the needed rooms in the houses and buildings remaining to it.
On the other hand, there exists an urgent need for taking over the demanded real estate for the establishment of an Adolf Hitler school which at present cannot be housed more favorably.
The fixed compensation appears adequate.
Instruction on Legal Remedies:
An appeal to the Reichsminister of the Interior against this Order is admissible and must be submitted to me in writing within 2 weeks after delivery of this Order and which must offer reasons for the appeal. Insofar as it is directed against the assignment of real estate, the appeal has no postponing effect.
652