ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Franz Jägerstätter

Franz Jägerstätter was an Austrian farmer who lived a long time ago. He was born in a small village called St. Radegund. When Franz was growing up, he learned how to work on the farm and do all the things that farmers do.

But Franz was also a very special person because he had strong beliefs and principles. In those days, there was a man named Adolf Hitler who was the leader of Germany. Hitler wanted to take over other countries, which was called starting a war.

Now, most people were afraid of Hitler and followed him because they thought he was powerful and strong. But Franz didn't believe in what Hitler was doing. Franz believed that starting a war was wrong and that killing other people was against his principles.

When World War II began, all young men in Austria were supposed to serve in the military and fight for Hitler. But Franz refused to join the army because he didn't want to support Hitler and be a part of the war.

You see, Franz loved his family, his village, and his country. He didn't want to see them hurt or see other people suffer. So even though many people didn't agree with him, he stood up for what he believed in.

Because Franz refused to join the army, he was arrested by the authorities. He was taken away from his family and put in prison. His friends and the people in his village tried to help him, but they couldn't change the authorities' minds.

Being in prison was very difficult for Franz. He missed his family a lot, especially his wife and three daughters. But he still didn't change his mind about joining the army. He knew that he could have easily just said yes and avoid all the trouble, but he believed it was worth it to stand up for what he believed was right.

Sadly, in 1943, when Franz was just 36 years old, he was executed by the government because he refused to join the army. Many people didn't understand why he made that choice, but looking back now, we know that Franz Jägerstätter was a hero. He gave up his life to stay true to his principles and to stand against war and violence.

Years later, people started to recognize Franz's bravery and his sacrifice. He became an inspiration to many. In 2007, Franz was even declared a martyr by the Catholic Church, which means they believe he was a person of great faith who died for his beliefs.

Franz Jägerstätter's story reminds us that it's important to stand up for what we believe is right, even if it's hard. He teaches us that it's okay to have different opinions and that we should always follow our hearts and stand up for what we think is true and just.