The concentration camp in Dachau operated for a long twelve years of the Nazi regime. The first prisoners arrived in March 1933, initially recruited mainly from among German opponents of the regime. However, it soon filled with Jews, Roma, Sinti, homosexuals, and prostitutes, ... after Kristallnacht, 11,000 Jews were deported here at once.
Titus was deported to Dachau on June 19, 1942, and was placed in one of the three "priest" blocks, through which a total of 2,720 priests and religious passed, mostly Poles. There were 63 Dutch, of whom ten were released, seventeen did not survive, and thirty-six were liberated from the camp. In 1942, about 8,700 prisoners lived in the camp, at least 5,128 of whom died (which is the documented number of deaths, but the actual number was likely significantly higher).
Titus was assigned to work in a garden three kilometers away. His health quickly deteriorated due to the demanding labor, meager food rations, and frequent beatings and humiliation. A great support to him were the young Carmelite brothers: Dutch br. Rafael and two Poles – br. Albert and br. Hilarius (the prior of the monastery in Kraków, who perished shortly before the liberation of the camp while caring for Russian prisoners of war; he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1999).
We present here the full text of Titus' last letter, which he wrote two weeks before his death and addressed to his relatives and, through them, to friends and brother religious. It reveals his constant concern for events at home. His brother Heinrich later recounted: “No one wrote warmer letters than he did. He was interested in everything: the stamps of nephews and nieces, the health of parents and siblings, the weather, whether there was enough hay, how the livestock was doing. Father always had great support from him.”
In parentheses, we add the most necessary information. Jan, whom Titus inquires about at the end of the letter, perished in Dachau the day after Titus arrived at the camp.
Dachau, July 12, 1942
Dear brother-in-law and sister,
Until now, I have been writing to Father Prior in Nijmegen, but now it would be better if I wrote to you. Please pass the letter on to Father Prior. He will relay it to others and respond on your behalf.
The reply must be written in German and, above all, without abbreviations that are not easily understood. Otherwise, it will not be delivered. The letter that Father Prior sent me to Kleve, I was allowed to read, but I could not keep it because it was in Dutch.
Thank you very much for all the kind words – from you, from [my brother] Heinrich, from Father Prior, and everyone else. I am doing fine. One must get used to the new conditions again; with God's help, I will manage here as well. Our dear Lord will continue to help me. I am allowed to write only once a month, and this is the first opportunity. I greet everyone. I would be happy if you could let me know how many novices have joined, how many new priests we have, and how are the [schools] in Oss and Oldenzaal doing. I would also like to find out how [my brothers] Hubert, Cyprián, Vitalis, and the other sick ones are doing? I wish Brother Subprior a speedy recovery.
If anyone wants to help, I can receive 40 marks monthly. Father Prior will take care of this.
Heinrich wrote that [my colleague at Frisia catholica] Father Kaeter was transferred to Eibergen. Please convey my congratulations to him. Has anyone else been transferred from those I know? I am still waiting for news from Akke Kramer about how her brother Jan is doing.
Many greetings to the pastor and chaplains in Bolsward, to Father Provincial, and all my brothers. Let us remain united under the protection of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Do not worry too much about me.
In Christ
Yours, Anno
(processed according to volume 2 of the collected works of Titus: Titus Brandsma, Letters to the family, 2021)
