Kolbe 14 Feb

Soon after their arrival from mission in Japan, Fr  Kolbe was arrested by Nazi forces – simply for being a religious leader – and held for several months, while many of his community members were exiled. 

Upon his release, Kolbe continued to publish the Knights of the Immaculata, but now, rather than demonstrating religious apathy, the Franciscan challenged the new Nazi regime. The German governor responded by shutting down the press, suppressing the congregation, dispersing the brothers, and imprisoning Kolbe.

On May 28th, 1941, he was transferred to Auschwitz and branded as prisoner 16670