Přemysl Pitter —
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of “Spiritual Revolution in the Heart of Zurich, Switzerland. The idea of honor- Europe” (Geistliche Revolution im Herzen ary doctoring, which arose from Swiss Europas). Zurich circles, was justifi ed at the request of the University of Zurich by prof. Dr. 1970 Rotapfel-Verlag Publishing House, Zu- Jan Milíč Lochman from the University rich und Stuttgart issued a publication of Basel. • Přemysl Pitter professed ideas by Přemysl Pitter “Unter dem Rad der of the Bohemian Brethren and opted for Geschichte”. • In January, a formal con- this Church as well. stituent meeting of the Jan Hus Congre- gation of Czechs and Slovaks was held 1976 The last address (January 4) of Přemysl in Zurich. Pitter devoted a major part Pitter in Jan Hus Congregation in Zurich. Přemysl Pitter of his eff orts in the seventies to the Jan • February 15, after a month-long hospi- Hus Congregations. His work in the talization he died in Zurich hospital. As — Masaryk Foundation at the Federation of he wished, ashes were scattered without Czechoslovak Associations in Switzerland religious ceremonies. • On behalf of Basic information was an important part of his activities as Přemysl Pitter, Olga Fierzová took over well, he was the President of the Swiss a medal in memoriam from the Johannes branch of the Society for Science and Arts, Mathesius Gesellschaft. • Till 1990, Olga he worked in the Zurich association of Fierzova continued in publishing of the 1895 Born (June 21) in Prague – Smíchov. Czech exiles “Svatopluk Čech“. In early exile magazine Talks with Writers. She seventies, he initiated establishment of was a continuator of Přemysl Pitter’s work 1909–1912 He fi nished his compulsory edu- the Czechoslovak complementary school and a guardian of his legacy. cation; after unsuccessful studies at Real- in Zurich (in the late seventies interest of schule, he started typographic school in 1991 Archives of P. Pitter and O. Fierzová dislo- parents in this school faded). Prague and after completion of his stud- cated to the Pedagogical Museum of J. A. ies, he graduated from Business College st 1973 Awarded by the Grand Cross 1 Class Comenius in Prague. • President Václav in Prague II. of the Order of Merit of the Federal Havel awarded Přemysl Pitter by the Order Republic of Germany by the President of of T. G. Masaryk, in memoriam, class III. 1911 His mother, Žofi e Pittrová died (February Germany Gustav Heinemann. 28); he attended book printing school in 1994 The P. Pitter and O. Fierzová Foundation Leipzig by mid-1912. 1974 The Czech edition of “Spiritual Revolu- was established (it was transformed into tion in the Heart of Europe” was pub- the P. Pitter and O. Fierzová Endowment 1912 He completed his practice training as a lished in the exile publishing house Kon- Fund in 2000). typesetter in Berlin and started to work frontation Verlag, Zurich. For this work as a chief in his father’s printing company. 1995 The UNESCO’s general conference and his memoires “Unter dem Rad der declared the 100th birth anniversary of 1913 His father, Karel Pitter died (April 30); Geschichte” he was awarded by a prize Přemysl Pitter to be a world cultural an- father’s printing house passed in the pos- of the Zurich Canton Government. niversary of the year. session of Přemysl Pitter. 1975 Received an honorary doctorate of the- 1914–1918 A soldier of the Austro-Hungarian ology (June21) from the University of army; participated in battles in Galicia, Italy, and Balkans. Terrible battlefi eld experiences infl uenced his attitudes and opinions for life. 1919 He worked shortly in the social depart- ment of the Ministry of National Defence. • For the fi rst time he addressed audi- ence under the open sky at the Republic Square in Prague (September 28). His lecture topic was “What is the real Chris- tianity”. 1920–1921 He studied at Jan Hus Faculty of Theology in Prague, extramural student; Medal of P. Pitter awarded by the P. Pitter and O. Fierzová Foundation. left school after two semesters, started Author: Michal Tomšej, MFA, averse and reverse, 1995. practical educational activities. 1920–1928 Public preacher and lecture activi- children from the Milíč’s House, a sana- established in castles Štiřin, Olešovice, ages, 1959). • He was appointed by the ties both in Prague and out of Prague. torium Domov (Home) was opened in Kamenice, Lojovice and in a boarding World Council of Churches to provide Mýto u Rokycan. • He visited Czech house Ládví in the Central Bohemia. • In pastoral and social services in the Valka 1920 He established a movement for spiritual boarder area to get acknowledged with his lecture to the public (May 27) he refugee camp near Nuremberg. and social revival New Jerusalem. current situation and opinions of people denounced post-war violence against 1955 In exile, publishing in various Czech and 1922 Founded building and housing associa- living there. • In the magazine Sbratření defenceless German inhabitants. other magazines (e.g. Czech Word, The tion Milíčův dům (The Milíč’s House). (Fraternisation) spoke out against anti- 1946 Visited London, where he dealt on behalf People of Jan Hus in Chicago etc.). semitism. 1923 Made a successful five-week lecture tour of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Social 1962 Pitter’s mission in the Valka camp fin- around Moravia and Silesia. • Partici- 1939 Shortly before the Nazi occupation he Welfare about possibilities of post-war ished; Olga Fierzová worked there as pated in an international conference of returned from his lecture tour made in resettlement of Germans from Czecho- well. • Together with Olga Fierzová he IFOR in Nyberg, Denmark (July 19–26). the Great Britain. • He dealt with Jaro- slovakia to the British occupation zone left for Switzerland, where they settled There he met with British Quakers for the slav Šimsa about his involvement into in Germany. in Affoltern am Albis, near Zurich. • He first time. He established long-standing national resistance movement. • In the 1947 The Castles operation terminated. 810 started to issue (in December) the exile contact with them. magazine Sbratření (Fraternisation) he children went through the Castles res- magazine Talks with Writers. published numerous articles in defence 1924–1938 Member of the League for Human cue operation. • Přemysl Pitter passed of Jews. • In the Milíč’s House and in Rights and Chair of the Peace Committee, school leaving examination (June 11) at Mýto u Rokycan, joint education of Jew- member of the Academic YMCA. two-year higher-level school for educa- ish and non-Jewish children continued. tion of social-health workers (external 1924–1941 Publisher (together with Pavla student). • PublisherJoža Jícha in Brno Moudrá, a writer) and redactor of Sbrat- issued Pitter’s book The Word of God to ření (Fraternisation), a magazine for re- Children for Family and Sunday School. vival of spirit and society. 1948 He protested against totalitarian regime 1926 He participated in an international con- in many of his biblical lectures. • The ference of the International Fellowship of Milíč’s House was taken over by the Cen- Reconciliation in Oberammergau; there tral National Committee in Prague, edu- he met with Olga Fierzová who became cational activities were limited substan- his closest associate. tially. 1927 Secretary of the Movement for Christian 1950 Olga Fierzová left for her sister’s funeral Communism in Czechoslovakia. The move- to Switzerland (February 17). Her re- ment was established in February 20, turn to Czechoslovakia was denied by 1927; its activities were abolished in 1928. the totalitarian authorities. • Přemysl 1929 As a member of the International Board Pitter was barred from giving any public of the Internationale of opponents of war speeches. 1964 Together with Olga Fierzová he was services, he participated in Board ses- invited by former “children of the Castles” 1951 In the spring, he was deprived of his office sions in London and Zurich. • He made to Israel. He was appraised by the honor- 1941 Issuing of the magazine Sbratření (Frater- of Director of the Milíč’s House. • He was numerous lectures both in his homeland ific of the State of Israel Yad Vashem for nisation) ceased officially. • Deportation summoned by the police for questioning, and abroad. rescuing Jews in the War (1966) and his of Jews to Terezín affected Pitter’s col- threatened by forced labour in uranium name was immortalized on Jerusalem’s 1931 The Highest Court in Brno confirmed the leagues as well, and as a consequence mines. • He emigrated (August 26) over “Mountain of Memory”. sentence passed on Přemysl Pitter in the pedagogical activities at the Milíč’s House the Lusatian Mountains to the German matter of draft resolution against intro- were also disturbed. Democratic Republic and then through 1965 His “Schuld und Suhne” was published duction of pre-military education of youth. the Western Berlin to the Federal Re- in Munich. • On the occasion of the 1943 Přemysl Pitter was barred from giving public of Germany. While escaping from 550th anniversary of the death of M. Jan 1933 The Milíč’s House in the Prague district any public speeches. the Republic, he had a code name Paul. Hus and 50th anniversary of commence- of Žižkov was opened (December 24). 1944 Přemysl Pitter initiated setting up of the He met with Olga Fierzová in Munich ment of Masaryk’s abroad resistance, he Till 1951, he worked as a director there. illegal Committee for Christian Aid to (October 23). made a speech at the Jan Hus Memorial 1934–1935 He visited Germany twice, the Jewish Children. in Constance. • Launched cooperation 1952 He started to cooperate with BBC, Radio objective of his stays there was familiari- with Prague Archbishop Josef Beran and 1945 An operation Zámky (The Castles) started Free Europe, later with Roman radio as zation with domestic political situation.