FEATURED GALLERIES

This aerial photo shows the modern-day town of Schwarzenfeld, the town where Father Viktor built the German Foundation's third Passionist monastery in 1935. The Miesberg is visible on the far right. Click here to see how much the city has grown since Father Viktor's day.

Bows and an evergreen garland adorn the marble plaque honoring Father Viktor's heroism in saving Schwarzenfeld during the last days of WWII. The town of Schwarzenfeld mounted the plaque in 1995, during the 50th anniversary ceremony.

Katherine and Gary, Father Viktor's great grandniece and grandnephew, respectively, reflect on the grave of their ancestor after an emotional wreath laying ceremony.

A close-up of the wreath Katherine and Gary placed upon Father Viktor's grave. The elaborate gold lettering reads, "From his grateful and admiring family and friends in America and Germany".

Father Viktor's gravesite with the wreath.

Thirteen Passionist Fathers, Brothers, and Confraters are buried within the Miesbergkirche's peaceful cemetery grounds, including Fr. Valentin Lehnerd, who co-founded the German Foundation with Fr. Viktor.

Sixty years after WWII, Fr. Viktor Koch C.P. and Fr. Paul Boeminghaus, C.P., are images forever trapped within grainy black and white photos, but the sacristy where they defied Nazi Germany remains. The room itself is V shaped; this picture shows the wider end. To give our visitors a sense of the sacristy's size (comparable to the space of a small walk-in closet), we could squeeze about five or six people in the room at one time. Click here to see how it looked in Fr. Viktor's day.

This photo shows the sacristy's narrow end. Click here to see how it looked in Fr. Viktor's day.

Father Viktor's great grandniece Katherine and Passionist Provincial Fr. Gregor Lenzen, C.P. discuss WWII-era artifacts in Fr. Paul Boeminghaus' room, located directly above Fr. Viktor's in the flower sacristy.

The rounded door visible in the Miesbergkirche flower sacristy leads to the choir chapel, shown in this picture. During the tour, we learned an interesting story: when the monastery was confiscated by Nazi officials in 1941, they also intended to seize the church's choir chapel and transform it into a gymnasium for the children's school. Knowing the German fascination for mysticsm, Father Viktor drew heavy drapes over the windows and lit candles throughout the room; when Nazi officials were touring the church, they refused to enter the chapel, believing it to be a holy place. Thus, Father Viktor prevented them from seizing this room, used for various Passionist ceremonies.

Afternoon sunlight breaks through the clouds as we enter the Miesbergkloster's arched, east-side porch.

A beautiful view of Schwarzenfeld from the Miesberg mountain.

A breathtaking view of Schwarzenfeld from the Miesbergkloster's east-side porch.

Another beautiful view of Schwarzenfeld, taken from the Miesbergallee road leading to Miesberg's church and monastery.

Night falls over the Naab River, which meaders along Schwarzenfeld's southwestern borders.

When Allied planes inadvertently strafed the train carrying Flossenbürg's Jewish prisoners, several inmates escaped the ensuing massacre by hiding in this train station warehouse (the red brick building). Sixty years after these events took place, an uneasy peace pervades the site, but memories still haunt this aging, dreary relic from human history's darkest era.

This silent, grassy meadow in Schwarzenfeld's peaceful residential zone held horrors beyond description in 1945: this was the site of the mass grave, where 140 atrocity victims were hastily buried in a lime-covered grave prior to the American arrival on April 22, 1945. After the 11th Armored Division's departure on April 23, the 26th "Yankee" Infantry Division discovered the mass grave and prepared to retaliate against Schwarzenfeld's innocent population.

Schwarzenfeld's town cemetery, site of the funerary ceremony conducted by the town in compliance with American orders. Surroundings have changed over time, but the chapel visible in the background remains. (Click here to compare with the 1945 funeral scene).

The 140 atrocity victims originally buried per American orders in Schwarzenfeld's town cemetery were exhumed and moved to Flossenbürg's memorial cemetery. The stone plaque in this picture marks the former grave site. Rough translation: "Here rest in God 184 victims of National Socialism, people of different religion and occupation. Peace to the victims, Peace on Earth! Reburied in May 1957 to the KZ Honor Cemetery in Flossenbürg."

Three archival researchers who love unearthing factual artifacts from the past: (L -> R) Gary Koch, Fr. Rob Carbonneau, C.P., and Katherine Koch.

Bavarian, German, and European Union flags proudly fly in front of our hotel, the Schloss Schwarzenfeld.

The Schloss Schwarzenfeld, our hotel.

A deep sense of religion pervades this predominantly Catholic town. The signs are everywhere -- crucifixes adorn street corners, house blessings written in white chalk, "20 C+M+B 05" are inscribed on doors throughout the monastery and town, and a friendly warmth radiates from the smiles of friends and strangers alike.

The modern-day St. Nikolaus Apotheke, which Fr. Viktor helped establish circa 1945-1946. Historical note: the apothecary has moved since its founding in 1946, so this is not the original location. However, St. Nikolaus Apotheke remains in business today.

The street sign for Viktor-Koch Strasse, Schwarzenfeld's main street.

Peter Bartmann arranged this beautiful store window photo showcase depicting the St. Nikolaus Apotheteke's original owners, the Weiss family, and buildings that previously housed Schwarzenfeld's first pharmacy.

When we first drove into Schwarzenfeld on Wednesday afternoon, we could estimate our proximity from the town based solely upon seminar advertisements. On its outskirts, mounted poster boards sprang up near the curbs like occasional roadside flowers; once we reached its thriving center, Fr. Viktor's likeness covered so many street corners, lampposts, tree trunks, and store windows that we sensed our ancestor watching our taxi - and the poster density afforded him an unhampered view of every twist and turn on our way to the Miesberg!

Designed by Fr. Gregor Lenzen's cousin, the seminar poster reads, "Invitation to the historical seminar. 1945-2005, Sixty years of peace are not a matter of course. Pater Viktor Koch, CP, the friendly enemy? Learn about the monastery founder under the swastika!"

Many thanks to our friend and guide, Peter Bartmann, who organized a successful advertising campaign. His efforts resulted in a record turnout: three hundred people from the local area attended the historical seminar.

Schwarzenfeld's Catholic Youth Center, the Jugendheim, where the historical seminar was held.

The long-awaited history seminar, May 12, 2005. Seated at the table from left to right are Mr. Oswald Wilhelm, Schwarzenfeld's town historian; Katherine Koch, Fr. Viktor's great grandniece; Fr. Gregor Lenzen, C.P., Provincial of the German Foundation and Fr. Viktor's youngest successor; Mr. Gary Koch, Fr. Viktor's grandnephew; Fr. Martin Bialas, C.P.; and Fr. Robert Carbonneau, C.P., Director of the Passionist Archives in Union City, N.J., USA.

On Friday morning, (5-13-2005) we gathered at the town Rathaus for the "Golden Book" signing ceremony. This photo shows the signatures of those who attended the event.

Sunday mass in the Miesbergkirche, (5-15-2005), celebrated by Fr. Gregor Lenzen, C.P.