In solitary witness: the life and death of Franz Jägerstätter / [by] Gordon C. Zahn.

Includes appendices.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 274-277.)

Franz Jägerstätter an introduction -- St. Radegund -- The young ruffian -- the "new" man -- From Enns to Berlin -- One of God's special friends -- A train to hell -- The martyr and his village -- The martyr and his church -- The martyr as rebel: a sociological summary -- Appendix I: The Jägerstätter documents -- Appendix II: 1. A methodological note -- 2. A note on secondary sources and bibliography.

"In Solitary Witness is the remarkable story of Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian peasant who refused to fight on Hitler's war because he believed that the Nazo movement was anti-Christian. Because of his stance, he was beheaded by the Germans in 1943. Gordon C. Zahn recreates Jägerstätter's life especially the crucial events of the last years, by making extensive use of his prison letters and the perceptive testament he wrote as a "catechism" for his three young daughters, as well as documentary materials and interviews with those who had known him. Zahn tells the story with admirable objectivity, which allows the man and the circumstances of his life to come through in all their complexity. There is a special fascination in seeing the conflicting attitudes towards Jägerstätter among those who knew him. The village pastor and the prison chaplain of his last days in Berlin believe he some day may be canonized as a saint, but his case remains an embarrassment both to the villagers and to the local Catholic authorities. The dimensions of Jägerstätter's ultimate decision illuminate the very meaning of heroism. In Solitary Witness is a powerful statement of a disturbing question that has many implications: if a man like Jägerstätter, from a small village, without formal education, and with no support from his religious community, could make such a choice, how could the conscience of the West have been so indifferent in the face of Nazi blasphemy?" -- back cover.