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From Resistance to Responsibility: The Korbinian Apple Tree at St. Gabriel
Ursula Mauritz
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the Steyler Missionaries in St. Gabriel planted a “Korbinian apple tree”—a variety first cultivated by Fr. Korbinian Aigner, a Bavarian priest and outspoken critic of the Nazi regime, during his imprisonment in the Dachau concentration camp.
Around fifty participants gathered in front of the Holy Spirit Church, where Rector Fr. Franz Pilz, SVD, blessed the young tree before it was carefully planted by Br. Franz Aichhorn, SVD, the community gardener.
The planting initiative was spearheaded by Br. Emanuel Huemer SVD and Fr. Franz Helm SVD from the JPIC (Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation) team of the Divine Word Missionaries. The occasion marked not only the end of World War II but also the anniversary of the return of the St. Gabriel Mission House, which had been seized by the Nazi regime. In keeping with the mission of the Steyler Congregation, the apple tree stands as a visible and living reminder that we must remain watchful and engaged whenever democracy is threatened.
Korbinian Aigner: “The Apple Priest,” Resistance Fighter, and Dachau Prisoner
As Br. Emanuel Huemer shared during the ceremony, the story of the Korbinian apple is deeply intertwined with the life of Fr. Korbinian Aigner, a Bavarian priest and fruit-grower. Born in 1885 in Hohenpolding, Aigner was ordained in 1911 and became known not just for his pastoral ministry but also for his expertise in pomology.
Early on, he emerged as a vocal critic of National Socialism. Aigner refused to baptize children with the name “Adolf,” rejected the swastika as a national symbol, and openly opposed the violent tactics of the SA. His views led to his denunciation and arrest. He was first imprisoned in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp before being transferred to Dachau.
Forced to work in agriculture while in Dachau, Aigner astonishingly managed to cultivate four new apple varieties under clandestine conditions. “It was in this place of suffering that he still found a way to create life,” said Br. Emanuel. With the help of a young Camaldolese nun who smuggled apple seeds into the camp, Aigner cultivated the varieties he called KZ-1, KZ-2, KZ-3, and KZ-4 — a poignant nod to the German abbreviation for Konzentrationslager (concentration camp). Aigner survived the 1945 death march to South Tyrol, carrying the seedlings in his jacket.
Of the four varieties, only KZ-3 survives today, later renamed “Korbinian’s Apple” in honor of Aigner’s 100th birthday. It continues to be grown as a living testament to courage and resilience.
Photos © SVD, Franz Helm SVD
St. Gabriel Mission House in the Nazi Era
During the ceremony, Fr. Franz Helm SVD reflected on the fate of the St. Gabriel Mission House during and after the war. In 1941, the Gestapo seized the property, labeling it as “harmful to the state and people,” and transferred ownership to the City of Vienna. From that time until 1945, the property was repurposed by the Nazi regime as the headquarters of the Flugmotorenwerke Ostmark (Ostmark Aircraft Engine Works). The kitchen alone produced up to 6,000 meals a day for workers in the armaments industry.
The Divine Word Missionaries were expelled. The priests found refuge at a Franciscan monastery in Vienna, many brothers were relocated to the parish in Obermarkersdorf (transferred to the SVD), and a few were forced to remain at St. Gabriel to work under Nazi control. “A total of 357 confreres were drafted into military service,” said Fr. Helm. “Around a quarter of them died, went missing, or became prisoners of war.”
In April 1945, as the war came to a close, tragic events unfolded: “Rector Fr. Josef Loidl was shot by advancing Russian soldiers, as were Brothers Augustinus and Remigius while attempting to bring news to Maria Enzersdorf,” recounted Fr. Helm. “Five other religious men who were not Steyler Missionaries were also murdered in the house.”
A Living Memorial to the Fragility of Democracy
After the planting and blessing, participants were invited to water the young tree, helping it take root. A plaque was installed to inform visitors about the history of both the apple and its creator.
Closing the ceremony, Br. Emanuel Huemer summed up the symbolism behind the Korbinian apple tree at St. Gabriel:
“This apple tree stands as a living reminder of the fragility of our democracy. It calls us to reclaim democracy again and again, especially today, when anti-democratic forces are gaining ground and far-right ideologies move from the margins into the mainstream. The tree reminds us to remain vigilant — especially when social tension increases, when polarization grows, or when enemies are demonized. These forces ultimately undermine the very foundation of democracy.”
He added powerfully:
“Perhaps this delicate, care-dependent apple tree expresses our concern for the preservation and strengthening of democratic processes better than any monument of cold stone ever could.”
