The movie includes one real-life character and incident. In 1938, Bishop Fermoyle is sent to Vienna to deal with Cardinal Theodor Innitzer (played by Josef Meinrad), the real-life Archbishop of Vienna. Innitzer's public support for the "Anschluss" annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany put him at odds with the Vatican, who ordered him to retract his statement of support. In the months following the annex, the Nazis reneged on their earlier agreements with the Church of Vienna, and prohibited Church institutions and Catholic newspapers. Afterwards, Innitzer became a critic of the Nazi regime. In October, 1938 (as seen in the film), Innitzer held a Catholic rally in Vienna, in which he proclaimed, "There is just one Führer: Jesus Christ." The following day (also seen in the film), a Nazi mob stormed Innitzer's Vienna offices and ransacked the Archbishop's residence.

Film

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