He died in Zhengding, Hebei, China while attempting to protect the local population during the Sino-Japanese war.

As the Imperial Japanese troops progressed through Eastern China, they reached Zhengding as part of the full-scale invasion in 1937.

Around 5,000 local residents, including 200 young women, sought refuge with the Catholic priests from the advancing army.

They dismiss accusations of the crime as propaganda, citing that there had been no houses for comfort women in the area at the time.

[7][14] In 2016, the Schraven Path was opened, a 10 km walk way in his home town of Lottum, connecting his birthplace and local chapels.