Karoline “Lina” Wilhelm (28.2.1900 Moosch/Upper Alsace – 7.1.1984 Munich)

In 1927, at the age of 27, Lina Wilhelm was baptized as member of the Bible Students (which in 1931 was renamed the Jehovah's Witnesses). Her husband died in 1933, leaving her alone with two young daughters, Ruth and Hildegard. Illegal Bible study groups were held in her home. In 1936, she was imprisoned for six months for being active with the Jehovah's Witnesses. In 1943, she helped Alois Eibl, who was being persecuted by the Gestapo, to go into hiding. When he was brought to safety with Jehovah's Witnesses at Lake Ammersee, she passed on 230 reichsmarks from donations for his accommodation costs.

On November 24, 1943, Lina Wilhelm was arrested again and charged before the Berlin People's Court on July 8, 1944. At the time, she was being held in the Dachau court prison. Together with five other Jehovah's Witnesses, she was accused of having “between 1938 and 1943, as a member of the International Bible Students' Association, publicly sought, through the dissemination of anti-military writings, to paralyze and destroy the will of the German people to defend themselves” (BArch, ZC 9472). Further it was said: "The writings [...] of the Bible Students' Association (IBV) contain vicious agitation against all institutions of the National Socialist state leadership. The writings also called on people to refrain from any 'interference' in the war and to refuse military service and work in the German armaments industry.” Lina Wilhelm and two other Jehovah's Witnesses were sentenced to death, but this was then commuted to seven years in penitentiary. The death sentence was carried out in the case of a fourth Jehovah's Witness.

Lina Wilhelm lived in Munich again after the war, as did her daughter Hildegard and her family, while her daughter Ruth emigrated to Australia.