Father Leonhard Eberle was born 28 October 1870 in Rastadt, and is believed to have died in 1931 in Arkhangelsk.
He studied theology at the Catholic Seminary in Saratov and was ordained in 1897. From 7 December 1897 to 12 October 1912, he served the parish of Schönfeld. He served the Kamenka Parish from 6 December 1912 to 1928.
He was arrested in Kamenka in 1929, and on 2 December 1929 convicted and sentenced to 3 years in exile. He was sent to the Urals region. He was released on 25 June 1930, and returned to Kamenka on 4 July 1930. On 12 July 1930, he was again arrested during the sweep of all Catholic priests in the Volga region, and on 20 April 1931 was sentenced to 5 years of labor. However, because of poor health, he was released and died later in 1931 in Kamyshin. [Some records indicate that he died in Arkhangelsk, but those are not believed to be correct.]
During his life, he visited Jerusalem.
- Eberle Leonhard (wolgadeutsche.ru) [Online]
- Helmut Moll, Witnesses for Christ, A German 20th Century Martyrology vol. 2 (Fargo, ND: Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, North Dakota State University Libraries, 2003): 15.
- Schnurr, Joseph. Die Kirchen und das Religiöse Leben der Russlanddeutschen - Katholischer Teil (Stuttgart, 1980), p. 354.
Father Leonhard Eberle.
Photo courtesy of the Jolenta Fischer Masterson Collection, Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, North Dakota State University
Father Leonhard Eberle.
Photo courtesy of the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, North Dakota State University