In his capacity as rector of the German parish, Paris, Franz Stock came in contact with the hell. For during the year 1940 he was trusted with the responsibility of the ministerial work in the prisons Fresnes, Cherche-Midi and La Santé, where the Nazis incarcerated members of the resistance and all those they disliked.

Not satisfied with this in itself already hard and painful activity he secretly informed the families of the prisoners, and wherever it was possible, he gave warnings to the resistance fighters of impending dangers.