Personalities
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Bernhard Büter:
Local Martyr to Hitler’s Regime
This excerpt is taken from Home, Heaven and Hitler’s Hell: Tales of Boyhood and Mysticism in Germany by Hans G. Rolfes, Chapter 6, pp. 71-74. It seemed to us of interest to our readers as an example of how the Catholics of Germany detested, Hitler, Hitler's war and Nazism, all of which has surprisingly been revived and being praised in some circles today.
Bernhard – generally called Bernd – was the son of a local farmer, who was engaged in the collection, transportation and redistribution of standard milk containers to and from the dairy in the village of Wehm. Early in the morning, the filled 20-liter containers would line the road in front of the farmhouses, and Bernd would come with his team of horses and solid four-wheel wagon to take them to the dairy, where they were emptied and the milk was processed.
Farms in Cloppenburg, Germany, where Bernhard was born; below, a milk distributor at the time of WWII
Indeed, the Bishop of the neighboring diocese of Munster – Clemens August Graf (Earl) von Galen – was an outspoken critic of Nazi policies and hence recently had had to suffer Berlin’s special treatment. Although the government elected not to incarcerate this popular Bishop, as it might cause an unwelcome reaction in his Diocese, repeated messages were sent to him by closing “his” monasteries and nunneries, and arresting the religious on trumped-up charges.
This incensed the pious Bernd, who vented his feelings in these morning sessions. Fortunately, nobody in the village was “brown enough” to report him to the authorities or he would have been picked up expeditiously.
When news of the Marian Apparitions in Heede first reached Bernd shortly after the initial event, he decided to spend an evening at this sacred location, less than 20 miles from his home. He never forgot the experience and finally chose to record his impression in a lengthy poem. With this background and Bernd’s habit of stating his opinion openly and defiantly, it is even surprising that he lasted in Hitler’s Germany as long as he did...
Bishop Clemens August von Galen, a strong protester against Nazism
While the number of casualties soon sky-rocketed, yet no official figures were ever mentioned until foreign news services claimed that one million Germans had been killed. At this point the figure of 100,000 would be published in the German press, but hardly anybody had faith in the number, as local lists started to grow day by day. Moreover, the wounded would be hastily patched up in field hospitals and quite often a “leave” was used unfairly to complete their recovery.
This happened to Bernd during the summer of 1943, and when returning to his unit later in August he discussed the precarious situation in Russia and Hitler’s godless regime with a few comrades in his railroad compartment. They were overheard by two SS men, however, who had them arrested at the next train station. They were accused of having said, “If Hitler had had any faith he would not have deserted and betrayed the German soldiers at Stalingrad!”
Bernd expected about six weeks to two months of jail time, but the situation soon got much more serious. Here is Bernd’s last letter to his parents, and the accompanying letter of the Catholic priest (translated):
Berlin, May 26, 1944
Dear Parents, Brothers and Sisters,
Bernhard Büter (1913-1944)
I shall die for Christ; that is my motto. Do not be sad, as Jesus has determined my destiny and, hence, it has to be this way. I shall die in the hope and with the conviction that “today you will be with me in paradise!” Yes, dear parents, for that goal I have spent my days here on earth. To remember me, read my stories and you will be consoled. Life on earth is but for a short while and true happiness we shall find in Heaven, my next destination. Thus I am not going to write anymore, as we are going to celebrate our reunion there in the future, where God will grant us the joy and happiness for all the suffering we had to endure down here.
With this beautiful Catholic motto and greeting I salute you: “Praised be Jesus Christ!” That is my last statement to you and in this faith bear this hard blow, which I caused you. Don’t be sad, pray and everything will be alright.
Your Bernhard
Letter from Pastor to Bernhard’s Family
June 1, 1944
May the Lord be with you, dear Family Büter,
It is my very heavy and sad duty to bring you the tragic news of the death of your dear son Bernhard. I was permitted to render him final assistance on Friday morning before Pentecost, May 26. Shortly after 6:00 a.m. he and his comrades were informed that their appeal for leniency had been denied, and that the sentence would be carried out after 8:00 a.m. Up to this moment, he was still hoping and expecting to be granted a pardon. He made his confession and then told me a few things, which I wrote down verbatim and which I convey herewith:
“Tell my relatives that I die solely for Our Lord. They may find consolation in my poems. They should not be sad, as I definitely expect a better future than many others. I know that God will pardon my sins. What I have committed does not appear to me to be a crime. He who betrayed me is someone who does not believe in anything, but I will gladly die for the Lord. I know that he will reward me accordingly. Do not be sad, but be happy and strong, as you may assume that I am a martyr for Christ and, thus, I face death in a happy state of mind.
Death by firing squad was a common Nazi punishment for anyone who criticized the regime
Then he wrote two final letters and smoked a few cigarettes. He definitely did not want to eat anything, although I offered him some good choices. He said: “For quite a while I have not eaten anything in the morning and I do not intend to change this morning.” After finishing the letters, they all received Holy Communion and General Absolution with the General Indulgence.
I must admit, these were very moving and never to be forgotten moments for me. The composure, reverence and intimacy the men showed while receiving Holy Communion was sustenance for their journey!
Then it was time to leave. We drove to Berlin Tegel, where the execution by firing squad took place. In the car I prayed with them and blessed their families. Then I accompanied him on his last walk. He was read his sentence one more time and answered distinctly, “I die for Christ, my King!” The same words he repeated once more when he stood erect, “I die for Christ, my King!”
At 8:25 a.m. he entered eternity. He did not suffer any physical pain.
Another Letter to the Family
Dear Family Büter!
Please accept my heartfelt condolences in your immense pain, which also applies for his dear fiancée, whose picture he always had on his table.
Waldfriedhof Halbe, the cemetery
where Bernhard is buried
At 9:50 a.m. I celebrated Holy Mass for him, and subsequently another priest did the same. You may be certain that he is in Heaven. I shall gladly remember him and especially you in the future, at Mass and at prayer.
May the Lord grant you strength and consolation in your time of sorrow. Please remember the saying of St. Hieronymus: “Let us not be sad that we have lost him, but grateful that we had him and still have him, as everyone lives for the Lord and who returns to him, remains in the family!”
Humbly and sincerely yours,
Note: The family was forbidden by the regime to publish the news of Bernd’s fate, or even notify his relatives and friends. When a Requiem Mass was said in his local parish in Werlte, however, the church was filled to capacity. This was the only available and safe demonstration for them then, to be made against the methods of the Hitlerite regime...
Bernhard Büter is buried at Waldfriedhof Halbe/Landkreis Dahme, Block X, Reihe 17, Grab-Nr. 2982, Stein-Nr. 372.
Posted June 26. 2024
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