“In September 1943 the French civilian workers in Germany and the French prisoners of war who had been converted”—that means converted into workers—“were deprived of all spiritual help, there being no priest among them. Lieutenant Piard, head chaplain of Stalag VI-G, after having spoken with the prisoners-of-war chaplain, Abbé Rodhain, decided to turn into workers six prisoner-of-war priests who volunteered to exercise their ministerial functions among the French civilians.
“This change in classification of priests was difficult to accomplish, as the Gestapo did not authorize the presence of chaplains among civilian workers. . . .”
These priests and a few scouts organized a scout group, and a group of Catholic Action.
On Page 117:
“From the beginning of 1944 the priests felt themselves being watched by the Gestapo in their various activities. . . .
“At the end of July 1944, the six priests were arrested almost simultaneously and taken to the prison of Brauweiler, near Cologne. . . .”
Page 118, the same happened to the scouts. I quote:
“Against this flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention I took numerous steps and made several protests; for the prisoners of war arrested by the Gestapo I even asked the reason for their arrest. . . .