Sermon series on heroes featuring Franz Hasel, a non-combatant in Hitler's army.

2. Franz Hasel:
A
Thousand
Shall
Fall
Alvin L. Reyes MD

3. Theme: Psalm 91 5-7
• Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by
night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
• For the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
Nor for the destruction that wasteth at
noonday.
• A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten
thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not
come nigh thee.

4. This is an incredible story
• About how to work up faith in God.
• About faith in action, a Sabbath-
keeping family who dared to keep
their faith in the chaos of Hitler’s Nazi
Germany.
• About the miraculous acts of the
Almighty on behalf of His faithful
people.

5. World War 2
• Forty-year-old Franz Hasel, a Seventh-
day Adventist literature evangelist, was
drafted into the German Pioneer
Company 699.
• This company built bridges at the front
lines.

6. Before leaving for the war..
• Franz had read in family worship, “Thou
shalt not be afraid for the terror by
night; nor for the arrow that flieth by
day . . . a thousand shall fall at thy
side, and ten thousand at thy right
hand; but it shall not come nigh thee . .
. For He shall give His angels charge
over thee, to keep thee in all thy
ways,” Psalm 91:5-11.

7. The Hasel Family

8. Franz’s prayer before he left.
• "Please be with us, Father. . . . Help me
to be true to my faith, even in the
army. Help me so that I will not have to
kill anyone."

9. At the recruitment center
• Hasel announced that he was a
Sabbath-keeping Christian, and a
conscientious objector.
• He would be dubbed “carrot eater”
and “Bible reader”.

10. Reporting for duty
• He stated, “I am a Seventh-day
Adventist. I worship God on Saturday
as the Bible teaches us to do. I would
like to be excused from reporting for
duty on my Sabbath day. Also, I do not
eat pork or anything else that comes
from pigs. I respectfully request
permission to receive a substitute
whenever pork products are served.”

11. The Nazi Lieutenant turned beet
red…
• “You must be mad, private! This is the
German army! This battalion’s going to
war, and you want Saturday off?”
• Under his breath he spat out, “It’s just
my luck to be saddled with a religious
nut!”

12. Franz Hasel in the Army

13. Recommitment
• Franz had a pre-sentiment that unlike
the earlier, easier conquests of the
west, this battle would be long and
bloody.
• He recommitted his life to God, and
felt reassured that he was in God’s
care.

14. Sept 1,1939
• The Germans crossed the border into
Poland. Warsaw surrendered
September 29.

15. In Poland- a wooden gun?
• Franz had a carpenter carve a
wooden bracket which he later
whittled into a revolver. He used shoe
polish to blacken it.
• At great risk to his life (where he was
almost caught) he threw his real gun in
a lake.
• He also had a standard issue holster
made.

16. Standard Issue German Luger &
Holster

17. Franz was an expert marksman.
• But he threw the gun away and could
be tempted to kill someone in self
defense.
• If this had been discovered by his
superiors, he would have been
executed.

18. Why throw away the gun?
• To show God that he is serious about
not wanting to kill any human, he
disposes of his revolver, putting his life
totally into God’s hands.

19. • Franz remembered Ludwig Klein,
another private who exchanged 50
pounds of butter for his gun.
• To give a weapon to the enemy was
treason and punishable with death. He
was executed that same evening

20. Nazi Parade in Warsaw

21. Jews in Lodz, Poland forced to leave for
a ghetto

22. Jews from Warsaw Ghetto

23. Death at the Belsen camp

24. Back @ the home front…
• Franz’s wife Helene Hasel and their 3
children had harrowing episodes.
• She kept her children from taking
Saturday examinations, and stoutly
resisted immense pressure to join the
Nazi Party.

25. The Hasel Children

26. Joining Vs. Not Joining
• Joining would mean extra ration cards,
vacations, and many privileges.
• Not joining would result in difficulty
obtaining food, harassment, and
possibly arrest. The trials the family
faced were incredible.

27. But Helene Hasel stood firm.
• Seventh-day Adventist Church
officials advised caving in to the Nazis,
but Helene Hasel stoutly refused to do
so. They had to move to the country to
escape arrest. Difficulties ensued
there as well.

28. Hitler Youth which the Hasel children did
not join

29. Adventists die in a bombing raid…
• "The Bible is all lies! God doesn’t
protect us. He doesn’t care what
happens to us. We might as well not
pray any more."
• These words spill from 7 year-old
Gerhard Hasel, who believed that God
will protect believers from harm.

30. His mother, Helene, replies..
• "Pain and tragedy can come to
anybody, good and bad alike. The
important thing is to believe that God
loves us no matter what happens. As
long as we are His children, it doesn’t
matter if we live or die because in the
end, we will live with Him in heaven."

31. On Fridays it rained ?
• As his Pioneer Corps advanced East, it
was amazing how sometimes torrential
rains came on Friday, forcing the unit
to rest on the Sabbath lest they get
bogged down in Polish mud.

32. • By accident, he discovered a group
of Jews being executed by the SS.
He tried to help save lives, but was
rebuffed.

33. As incredible as it sounds…
• Franz Hasel, with God’s help, kept the
Sabbath for almost the entire war, and
“coincidences” helped him avoid pork
as well.
• One time, he disobeyed orders and
refused to work on the Sabbath. His
officer promised a court martial after
the war.

34. War Medal
• He earns the Maltese Cross because
of his "good moral influence on the
men in the entire company."
• Franz is promoted and received new
benefits, such as being relieved of all
outdoor work.

35. June 22, 1941
• At 3 o’clock am Hitler launched the
invasion of Russia. The Russians were
surprised by the attack.

36. • On June 30 the awaited order arrived:
The Pioneers were to enter Russia the
following day.

37. • Pioneer Company 699 moved into
Russia as far as the Caucasus. They felt
they had arrived in Eden with
grapevines and pomegranates heavy
with fruit.

38. Franz’ Unit

39. • The people were friendly, welcoming
the Germans as liberators from
Communist rule. For the time being the
Pioneers were stationed near Mount
Elbrus, at 18,510 feet the highest
mountain in Europe.

40. Mount Elbrus

41. Back to war…
• His sergeant notices that he is the man
in their company who does not get
even a scratch or a bruise. The bullets
always seem to miss Franz.

42. Guardian Angel ?
• His sergeant declares, "From now on,
you and I will share the same quarters!
You are going to be my guardian
angel!"

43. Moscow 1941

44. Stalingrad 1942

45. Stalingrad 1942

46. • Part of his job was to go into the next
town and obtain food for the unit. He
would warn all Jews to run for their
lives before the German army got
there.
• Discovery of his heroic deeds would
mean instant execution.

47. • Although suspected of being a
disguised Jew, Franz somehow always
is able to follow his principles.

48. Daniel 2
• At one time he explained the Daniel
2 prophecy to Captain Miekus,
Sergeant Erich and his nemesis
Lieutenant Gutschalk.

49. When he reached the toes…
• “Herr Captain,” he said, “the only
conclusion a Bible student can
come to is that the Fuehrer cannot
win this war. It will not be possible for
him to unite Europe and establish his
thousand-year Third Reich.”

50. • He looked earnestly into the Captain's
face. “Sir, the Bible’s predictions have
been proved accurate again and
again. And if they’re accurate here, it
means that we’re fighting a losing
battle.”

51. A week later the captain said…
• “Hasel, from now on we will no longer
operate a third of our motorized
vehicles. The gasoline we will save so
that when the end comes we will have
enough fuel to get back home.”

52. Stalingrad 1943

53. Soviet Offensive Leningrad 1943

54. German POWs

55. At the face of defeat…
• As the war wound down
to an ignominious
German defeat, Franz’s
unit retreated from the
Caucasus back to
Germany, in a mad dash
to surrender to the
Americans rather than
the Russians.

56. By a mere 30 minutes…
• Pioneer Company 699 retreated and
entered Germany minutes ahead of
the Russians.
• At 10:30 a.m. Franz crossed the bridge
over the river Enns, just before the
border closed. They had just made it
into American territory.

57. The Russians reach Berlin

58. Victory Parade. Red Square,
Moscow, June 24, 1945

59. At the other side..
• American told them to “Stop!” and
gestured to one pile . “Weapons here.
Ammunition there.”
• Franz unbuttoned his holster and
tossed his wooden “revolver” on the
heap.
• His friend Willi’s eyes started from their
sockets. “Franz,” he asked, “What on
earth is that thing?”

60. My angel has a wooden gun?
• “That’s my gun,” said Franz, eyes
twinkling. “I had it made in Poland and
got rid of my real one there.”
• “Are you crazy?” asked Willi.
• Sergeant Erich stared even harder at
Franz. This was the man he’d chosen to
be his guardian angel during the entire
war!

61. The American colonel
interrogated Hasel…
• “I see in your service record a notation
that you are to be court-martialed
after the war.”
• “Yes, sir,” said Franz.
• “What did you do to earn this?”

62. Franz’s answer
• “I refused an order for religious
reasons. I am a Seventh-day
Adventist, and I keep the Sabbath
holy. Once, on my day of rest, there
was an attack, and I refused to do
duty because it was the Sabbath.”

63. • “You can’t be serious. All through the
war you kept the Sabbath in the Nazi
army, and you survived?”
• “Yes, sir. God protected me, even in
the German army.”

64. • “That’s amazing,” said the colonel.
“I’m a Jew myself, by the way. Even in
the American army I don’t keep the
Sabbath because it’s too difficult.”
• “Colonel,” Franz said boldly, “I
recommend that you keep the
Sabbath.”

65. To one of his officers…
• "Because of my Christian beliefs, you
have wanted to do away with me all
during the war. Now those same
Christian beliefs are going to be your
salvation because I am not going to
turn you in for war crimes."

66. • Franz Hasel was released by the
American forces only ten days after he
surrendered. His youngest son Gerd
was the first to meet him along the
road some distance from the village.

67. • Soon Helene was in his arms. There
would be difficult days of famine and
hardship ahead. Yet the war was
over, and they were safe.

68. Family reunion
• The family knelt together while Franz
prayed. “Lord, all through the war You
protected us and, in the end, brought
us back together safely. Thank you.
Thank you!”

69. A Mighty Fortress
• The family rose, formed a circle, and
once again sang their favorite hymn:
– “A mighty fortress is our God . . . “We will
not fear, for God hath willed His truth to
triumph through us . . . “The body they
may kill; God’s truth abideth still, His
Kingdom is forever.”

70. • At the end of the war, when they return
to their city of Frankfurt, the Hasels
discover that their home is still standing
amidst the destruction.

71. Frankfurt after the war

72. 1,200 minus 7= 1,193
• All but seven of his 1,200-man unit died
in the war. Three of whom were not
wounded;
• Franz Hasel, the man with the wooden
pistol is one of these three.

73. Franz at peace-time

74. Susi Hasel
• Susi Hasel was born in 1943 to Franz
and Helene Hasel. She is married
and currently is the Registrar of
Pacific Union College, Angwin,
California. (email: smundy@puc.edu)

75. Gerhard F. Hasel
• Gerhard became Professor of Old
Testament and Biblical Theology at
Andrews University.

76. Some lessons from Franz
Hasel’s life:

77. 1. Be true to your faith.
• The truth will always be true- no matter
who twists it. It cannot be hid. It will
always come out.
• Stand on the truth.

78. Loyalty unto death!
• Practice loyalty to self, family, friends,
truth and God.
• Don’t sell your principles for money,
position, privileges.

79. Our High Calling p357
• Daniel did not seek to hide his
loyalty to God. He did not
pray in his heart, but with his
voice, aloud, with his window
open toward Jerusalem, he
offered up his petition to
heaven.

80. 2. The majority isn’t always right.
• Be aware of the “mob” reaction.
• Be wary of people who force their
morality on others (esp. leaders).

81. The SDA Church Apology: Late
by 60 years
• Church Leaders say “We’re Sorry”: German
and Austrian Churches apologize for
Holocaust actions. (May 2005 Advent Echo)
• We "deeply regret" any participation in or
support of Nazi activities during the war. The
church bodies "honestly confess" a failure "in
following our Lord" by not protecting Jews,
and others, from that era's genocide.

82. Acts of the Apostles p68
• In matters of conscience the majority
has no power."
– Merle d'Aubigne, History of the
Reformation, b. 13, ch. 5.

83. 3. Determine not to kill.
• Make a stand on combat duty,
abortion and euthanasia.
• We also kill ourselves with bad health
habits.

84. • We can also kill reputations by gossip
and kill others’ faith by bad example.

85. 4. Know & trust God personally.
• Walk with God on a daily basis.
• Trust Him on minor and large, secular
and spiritual issues.

86. • Remember, you are set
aside for a holy purpose.
• You are not to copy the
ways of the world- in
speech, dress, food,
methods and actions.

87. Gospel Workers p373
• We must know Christ personally. Then
only can we rightly represent Him to
the world. Let the prayer constantly
ascend…Wherever we are, we must let
our light shine forth to the glory of God
in good works. This is the great,
important interest of our life.

88. 5. Keep the Sabbath.
• Keep the Sabbath (including the
edges) and it will keep you.

89. Isaiah 58:13, 14
• If thou turn away thy foot from the
sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on
my holy day; and call the sabbath a
delight, and the holy of Jehovah
honorable; and shalt honor it, not
doing thine own ways, nor finding thine
own pleasure, nor speaking thine own
words:

90. The 2nd Commandment with a
Promise
• …then shalt thou delight thyself in
Jehovah; and I will make thee to ride
upon the high places of the earth; and
I will feed thee with the heritage of
Jacob thy father: for the mouth of
Jehovah hath spoken it.

91. God’s Amazing Grace p.156
• It (the Sabbath) is the sign that now
distinguishes God's people as they
come out from the world to enter the
heavenly rest. The Sabbath is a sign of
a relationship existing between God
and His people, a sign that they honor
His law.

92. Gospel Workers p209
• Those who sanctified the Lord God in
their hearts by a strictly devotional
frame of mind, and who sought to
improve the sacred hours in keeping
the Sabbath to the best of their ability,
and to honor God by calling the
Sabbath a delight,

93. Cont…
• --these the angels were specially
blessing with light and health, and
special strength was given them.
– Vol. 2, p. 702.

94. The Sabbath a sign
• In all ages the Sabbath has been the
test of loyalty to God. "It is a sign
between Me and the children of Israel
forever," the Lord declares.
• Gospel Workers, pp. 148, 149. (1915)

95. Final Word From Our Sponsor
• Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror
by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by
day;
• For the pestilence that walketh in
darkness, Nor for the destruction that
wasteth at noonday.

96. Psalm 91: 7
• A thousand shall fall at thy side, And
ten thousand at thy right hand; But it
shall not come nigh thee.

97. Salamat po.