On the search for clues – NS crimes against forced labourers and prisoners of war in a village in Sauerland

But not everyone in Garbeck were enthusiastic “compatriots”. Many devout Catholic churchgoers were secretly clenching their fists in their pockets. Father Thomas, in particular, the cooperator of Pastor Schulte, was known for his critical attitude towards the Nazis. “There was a song ‘The enemies of your cross threaten to devastate your kingdom, Lord’. It was sung at every prayer service and at every opportunity”, said my aunt, Rita Prior (born 1926), laughing. It was a true protest song. “It was often said that the Father needed to be careful or they would come for him”. In 1940, the clergy still put on the Corpus Christi procession despite it being banned by the police. But this time, instead of processing through the village, the faithful only walked from the church to the neighbouring primary school. In the school, the Catholic youth had helped to erect four altars and a sign saying, “Christ prevails – God rules”. This was a provocation for the Nazis. I found a photo of the scene in my father’s estate (born 1923). He had been active in the Catholic youth group. The Garbeck pupils were not allowed to take part in the procession, recalled Rita Prior, but: “We were able to look out onto the street.” And our teacher Mr Lotze threatened us saying, “Don’t you dare look out of the window!”. The teacher was an SA group leader and always came to school in his uniform. At the start of the holidays, we had to stand to attention around the flag”, said my aunt.

In July 1944, a farmer denounced the Father.[6] Wallmann, the Gendarmerie Master from Balve, passed on this information to the Gestapo in Meschede. Karl Thomas had, “contrary to the rules of the Secret State Police, christened the child of an Eastern worker. The child was called Olga and was the daughter of a pair of Eastern workers, Iwan Borkow and his wife, who lived in Frühlinghausen in the Garbeck District with the farmer Lohmann.” Karl Thomas had been arrested by the Gestapo for the first time in 1937, “for preaching against the comprehensive school”.[7] At the time, Thomas was working as a teacher in Lebenhan near Neustadt, Saale. In 1938, Würzburg City Court contented itself with giving him a warning but it did take away his authorisation to teach.[8] As a result, the Order sent the Father to Garbeck, where he worked from 1 July 1940 to 31 March 1948. Karl Thomas subsequently returned to teaching and died in a traffic accident in 1971.