Carl Maria Splett

Carl Maria Splett (17 January 1898 – 5 March 1964) was a German Roman Catholic priest and Bishop of Danzig (Gdańsk); his role during World War II, especially as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Culm, is controversial.

After World War II he was put on trial and imprisoned in Poland for his alleged collaboration with the Nazi regime, and later deported to West Germany.

[2] He was ordained on 10 July 1921 and after graduating at Pelplin he was sent to Rome for further studies, especially in Canon law, and practiced at the Sacra Rota Romana.

[2] According to Czesław Madajczyk, Splett had close relations with Nazi Albert Forster, and pursued plans to replace Polish clergy with German ones.

[9] Splett held the position as Bishop of Danzig also after the German annexation of the Free City during World War II.

On 4 September, Splett issued a letter to churches where he praised the German invasion of Poland and Nazi annexation of the city, and recommended his flock to pray for God's blessing on Adolf Hitler.

[10] Immediately after the invasion, the Nazi gauleiter Albert Forster demanded the Vatican appointment of Splett as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Culm.

[16][17] On 8 October 1940 the Nazi Gauleiter Albert Forster praised Splett stating that he "continues to fulfill all my wishes and orders".

The trial involved 36 people out of which 22 were priests and 4 nuns[20] Stefan Samerski reports that throughout custody Hlond pretended Pope Pius XII had disbanded Splett, which was not the case.

Żurek stresses that in a statement of 16 January 1946 even the Polish Bishop of Katowice, Stanisław Adamski, emphasized Splett's merits regarding pastoral care in occupied Poland.

Adamski pointed out that Splett acted under massive pressure from the Gestapo and that the Nazis attempted to make the bishop appear as the initiator of their anti-Polish policy.

[22] Historian Peter Raina states that the trial was fair and Splett was allowed to defend himself freely and without any difficulties nor obstructions and extensively.

[2] Upon his return he sought contact and worked with the "Bund der Danziger",[25] an organization of Germans formerly living in Gdansk that demanded annexation of the Polish city as well as "evacuation of Poles from our homeland".