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CA MPHILL 80 Years of Camphill Movement 1940–2020 An Exhibition The Camphill Founders Karl König was born in Vienna in 1902. In his youth he experi- enced very strongly how humanity was suffering through the First World War and how Europe – particularly his home in the Austro- Hungarian Empire – was being destroyed. How could he offer a healing impulse? At an early age he was burning with empathy and a deep feeling of responsibility for his times. Although he was born into a Jewish family, he was always moved by the words of Christ: «What you have done to the least of my brethren, you have done unto me.» He saw the task of healing for the human being, for society and for the earth as one whole and inter- connected task. He studied medi- cine in Vienna and Mathilde (Tilla) König was then assistant 1902-1983 for Dr. Ita Weg- man in the early Tilla Maasberg arrived on the same day as Karl König in Arles- days of anthropo- heim, Switzerland in November of 1927. She was born in Gna- sophic medicine denfrei, a Herrnhut community in Silesia. She was a children‘s and curative edu- nurse and ran a home for children with special needs with her cation in Switzer- sister. She was in Arlesheim to do courses in anthroposophical land. medicine and nursing, where Karl König was to assist. In 1929 he moved to Silesia, where they married and helped found a cura- tive home in the Pilgramshain castle. Her experience in nursing, education and householding was of great benefit for the found- Dr. Karl König ing of Camphill, particularly in the pioneering years with the 1902–1966 need also to train their young helpers. The Pioneers /2 MARIE BLITZ, later Korach, (1915 Vienna–2002 studies of mathematics and physics and then moved to Britain in 1938, working Camphill) got to know Karl König as his patient. in the curative home that already existed in England, in Clent. There he met Karl She studied medicine in Vienna. Although she König who visited frequently for talks and conferences. It was also the center for already had accomplished four years, she was bio-dynamic farming in Britain. He re-met König in 1940 in the internment camp unable to complete her studies. She fled to Lon- on the Isle of Man and on release in 1941 moved to Camphill. He was a keen don, where she worked as an auxiliary nurse in gardener. Barbara and Bernhard were instrumental in the development of Camp- a hospital and moved to Kirkton House when it hill England (Thornbury and Botton), then in Glencraig in Northern Ireland. was officially opened on May 28, 1939, on Whit- sunday. Marie carried the curative work but after the initial phase, in 1951 she attempted to begin CARLO PIETZNER (1915 Vienna–1986 Copake, USA) similar work in the USA which did not succeed was, as Anke Weihs, one of the few in the youth group for too long, then she spent many years teaching who were not of Jewish origin. Like his grandfather in the early days of Camphill in southern England, in Ringwood, then in Waldorf who had established a famous photography studio schools in Germany, studying and obtaining State recognition there, then in the in Vienna and was court photographer for the Em- new Camphill schools in Germany, in Föhrenbühl and Nuremburg, before finally peror, Carlo also learned and loved photography. His returning to Camphill where she spent her later life, very active in the schools life was always dedicated to the arts, particularly communities and travelling to younger Camphill communities in England and painting and he graduated summa cum laude from Wales to support teaching, therapeutic speech work and cultural life. the Viennese Art Academy. After he refused military service for the German army, he also had to flee. In the summer of 1938 he first went to Prague, where BARBARA LIPSKER (1912 Vienna–2002 Glencraig, he met Oskar Kokoschka and had long conversations Northern Ireland), looked after the König child- with him, staying in the same hotel with him and ren in the last years in Vienna when Karl könig painting there. From there he traveled via Switzerland to London, arriving in was re-building his practice after fleeing from January 1939, then moving to the Lake District, painting and writing a novel, from Silesia. At that time her name was Sali Gerstler, where he was interned in May 1940. After his internment on the Isle of Man and and she was the one of the youth group who had in Canada he again spent a short time in the Lake District before moving to Camp- to endure Nazi Vienna the longest. She wrote: hill in late 1941. Until the end of his life he was artistically active within the growing The last months in Vienna were a very dark time. Camphill Movement and beyond, creating many stained glass windows, painting, The persecution of Jews began from the moment writing plays, essays and poetry, giving many courses in all arts, including music when Hitler marched into Vienna. Sali could emi- and eurythmy together with specialists in these fields, and was a prolific speaker. grate with a work permit as a nanny and arrived Carlo was very instrumental in the development of Camphill in England, Ireland in London on December 30, 1938. She visited the and particularly in North America. The move with his wife Ursel to Glencraig friends during the pioneeer phase in Kirkton near Belfast in 1954 constituted the first major expansion of the Camphill Move- House but was obliged to stay with her employer until December 1940 when she ment and 1960 they followed the call to the USA, where they helped develop the moved to Camphill House. She moved to Kirkton House on January 30, 1940. school work in Pennsylvania, and the first American Village Community 1962 in Her parents and her youngest brother perished in the Holocaust. upstate New York. Carlo‘s deep commitment to furthering social questions Her husband, Bernhard (1913 Hamburg–1979 Glencraig, N. Ireland) was not a part through Anthroposophy and art connected him to many, particularly young, of the youth group. Because of his Jewish background he had to interrupt his people the world over and inspired many for innovative social development. The Pioneers /2 MARIE BLITZ, later Korach, (1915 Vienna–2002 There he met Karl König who visited frequently for talks and conferences. It was Camphill) got to know Karl König as his patient. also the center for bio-dynamic farming in Britain. He re-met König in 1940 in She studied medicine in Vienna. Although she the internment camp on the Isle of Man and on release in 1941 moved to Camp- already had accomplished four years, she was hill. He was a keen gardener. Barbara and Bernhard were instrumental in the unable to complete her studies. She fled to Lon- development of Camphill England (Thornbury and Botton), then in Glencraig in don, where she worked as an auxiliary nurse in Northern Ireland. a hospital and moved to Kirkton House when it was officially opened on May 28, 1939, on Whit- sunday. Marie carried the curative work but after CARLO PIETZNER (1915 Vienna–1986 Copake, USA) the initial phase, in 1951 she attempted to begin was, as Anke Weihs, one of the few in the youth similar work in the USA which did not succeed group who were not of Jewish origin. Like his grand- for too long, then she spent many years teaching father who had established a famous photography in the early days of Camphill in southern England, in Ringwood, then in Waldorf studio in Vienna and was court photographer for the schools in Germany, studying and obtaining State recognition there, then in the Emperor, Carlo also learned and loved photography. new Camphill schools in Germany, in Föhrenbühl and Nuremburg, before finally His life was always dedicated to the arts, particu- returning to Camphill where she spent her later life, very active in the schools larly painting and he graduated summa cum laude communities and travelling to younger Camphill communities in England and from the Viennese Art Academy. After he refused Wales to support teaching, therapeutic speech work and cultural life. military service for the German army, he also had to flee. In the summer of 1938 he first went to Prague, where he met Oskar Kokoschka and had BARBARA LIPSKER (1912 Vienna–2002 Glencraig, long conversations with him, staying in the same Northern Ireland), looked after the König child- hotel with him and painting there. From there he ren in the last years in Vienna when Karl könig traveled via Switzerland to London, arriving in January 1939, then moving to the was re-building his practice after fleeing from Lake District, painting and writing a novel, from where he was interned in May Silesia. At that time her name was Sali Gerstler, 1940. After his internment on the Isle of Man and in Canada he again spent a and she was the one of the youth group who short time in the Lake District before moving to Camphill in late 1941. Until the had to endure Nazi Vienna the longest. She end of his life he was artistically active within the growing Camphill Movement wrote: The last months in Vienna were a very and beyond, creating many stained glass windows, painting, writing plays, dark time. The persecution of Jews began from essays and poetry, giving many courses in all arts, including music and eurythmy the moment when Hitler marched into Vienna.

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