Release from the Concentration Camp and Forced Labor

Engleitner's release certificate

Leopold Engleitner, “the little Austrian”, as he was called, was a particular provocation for the concentration camp overseers because of his attitude towards his faith. But this “wretched creature”, as he was often referred to, stuck unswervingly to his convictions. Many times he was offered freedom in return for signing the declaration renouncing his beliefs, but he firmly refused.

In June 1943 he was once again presented with the opportunity of release from Ravensbrück concentration camp. This time, however, the renunciation of his beliefs was not made a condition of release. Instead, he was to agree to spend the rest of his life working solely in agriculture. This Engleitner was prepared to do, and so, on the 15th of July, 1943 he was released from the Ravensbrück concentration camp. He received orders to report to the Gestapo in Linz the next day at 4.00 PM. Engleitner weighed only 28 kilograms (61.6 lb.) when he returned home.

He soon discovered why he was released so unexpectedly. His reunion with his father provided the answer. His father continuously would call the municipal's office trying to secure his son’s release. Finally the mayor promised to see what could be done. Leopold Engleitner, of course, had no idea of these developments. Early in 1943 the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler realized that a different strategy was required to deal with the Bible Students.

It had become clear to Himmler that even the most brutal methods could not break their religious will. He began to consider the “issue of the Bible students” less from an ideological point of view as from a practical one.

He then issued the following instructions, “I request that Bible Students be put to work in areas in which they will not come into any contact with war - for example, in agriculture. If appropriate tasks are chosen, no supervision will be necessary, since they will not try to run away. They can be left to work on their own and will prove themselves the most efficient administrators and workers.”

Leopold Engleitner was put to work on a farm in his home town. The farmer even paid him a small wage, although he was not obliged to do so. Engleitner was very pleased with these changes. He had everything he needed and hoped that this situation would remain unchanged until the end of the war.