Gavrilo V, Serbian Patriarch

Detention and imprisonment in World War II

← Previous revision Revision as of 08:14, 25 April 2026 Line 46: Line 46: On 15 September 1944 both Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo V (Dožić) and Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović were sent to [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]],<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Boeckh |editor1-first=Katrin |editor2-last=Schon |editor2-first=Dietmar |title=Der Blick auf den Anderen: Katholisch-Orthodoxe Selbst- und Fremdwahrnehmung |date=2021 |publisher=Verlag Friedrich Pustet |isbn=9783791773513 |page=112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VhIMEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA112}}</ref> which was at that time the main concentration camp for priests arrested by the Nazis. Both Dožić and Velimirović were held as special prisoners (Ehrenhäftlinge) imprisoned in the so-called Ehrenbunker (or Prominentenbunker) separated from the work camp area, together with high-ranking Nazi enemy officers and other prominent prisoners.{{sfn|Byford|2008|pp=92-93}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sundhaussen |first1=Holm |title=Geschichte Serbiens: 19.-21. Jahrhundert |date=2007 |publisher=Böhlau Verlag Wien |isbn=9783205776604 |page=312 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5fBOPsQLt_0C&pg=PA312}}</ref> On 15 September 1944 both Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo V (Dožić) and Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović were sent to [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]],<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Boeckh |editor1-first=Katrin |editor2-last=Schon |editor2-first=Dietmar |title=Der Blick auf den Anderen: Katholisch-Orthodoxe Selbst- und Fremdwahrnehmung |date=2021 |publisher=Verlag Friedrich Pustet |isbn=9783791773513 |page=112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VhIMEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA112}}</ref> which was at that time the main concentration camp for priests arrested by the Nazis. Both Dožić and Velimirović were held as special prisoners (Ehrenhäftlinge) imprisoned in the so-called Ehrenbunker (or Prominentenbunker) separated from the work camp area, together with high-ranking Nazi enemy officers and other prominent prisoners.{{sfn|Byford|2008|pp=92-93}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sundhaussen |first1=Holm |title=Geschichte Serbiens: 19.-21. Jahrhundert |date=2007 |publisher=Böhlau Verlag Wien |isbn=9783205776604 |page=312 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5fBOPsQLt_0C&pg=PA312}}</ref>

In December 1944 they were transferred from Dachau to Slovenia, together with [[Milan Nedić]], the Serbian collaborationist PM, and German general Hermann Neubacher, the first Nazi mayor of Vienna (1938–1939),{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} as the Nazis attempted to make use of Patriarch Gavrilo's and Nikolaj's authority among the Serbs in order to gain allies in the anti-Communist movements. Contrary to claims of torture and abuse at the camp, evidence that Patriarch Dožić himself was subjected to mistreatment is doubtful.{{sfn|Byford|2008|pp=92-96}} In December 1944 they were transferred from Dachau to Slovenia, together with [[Milan Nedić]], the Serbian collaborationist PM, and German general Hermann Neubacher, the first Nazi mayor of Vienna (1938–1939),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stav.ba/vijest/cetnicka-i-ljoticevska-ideologija-duboko-su-ukorijenjene-u-djelovanje-crkve-srbije/19164|title=Četnička i ljotićevska ideologija duboko su ukorijenjene u djelovanje Crkve Srbije|publisher=stav.ba|author=Pobjeda|place=|language=bs|date=August 17, 2023|accessdate=April 18, 2026}}</ref> as the Nazis attempted to make use of Patriarch Gavrilo's and Nikolaj's authority among the Serbs in order to gain allies in the anti-Communist movements. Contrary to claims of torture and abuse at the camp, evidence that Patriarch Dožić himself was subjected to mistreatment is doubtful.{{sfn|Byford|2008|pp=92-96}} Later, Patriarch Dožić and Bishop Nikolaj were moved to Austria, and were finally liberated by the US 36th Infantry Division in Tyrol in 1945.<ref name="Bojović" />{{sfn|Byford|2008|p=107}} Later, Patriarch Dožić and Bishop Nikolaj were moved to Austria, and were finally liberated by the US 36th Infantry Division in Tyrol in 1945.<ref name="Bojović" />{{sfn|Byford|2008|p=107}}

==Last years== ==Last years==