Bedrich Fritta This is not a fairy tale. It's true. From Gerald Green's wonderful book The Artists of Terezin
Hand-bound book made for Tomas Fritta by his father Bedrich Fritta. Tomas survived. The Jewish Museum in Prague has published an English version of it.
'Bedřich Fritta
Born September 19, 1906 in Višňová u Frydlantu, Czechoslovakia; died November 8, 1944 in Auschwitz-Birkenau
Background
He worked as a cartoonist and graphic designer in Prague before the war.
He worked as a cartoonist and graphic designer in Prague before the war.
Internment in Theresienstadt
On November 24, 1941, Fritta was among 342 Jewish men from Prague deported by the Germans to Theresienstadt as part of the Aufbaukommando (construction battalion). In Theresienstadt he worked in the Technical Department, the Zeichenstube, where many artists were assigned. There he had access to drawing materials and paper, and he and other artists made drawings of Theresienstadt and its prisoners. On July 17, 1944, he was arrested with other painters there for creating what the Nazis called "horror propaganda." He was sent along with his wife. Hensi, and three-year-old son, Tommy, to the Little Fortress. Along with his friends, Bloch, Ungar and Haas, he was tortured. His wife died of starvation.
On November 24, 1941, Fritta was among 342 Jewish men from Prague deported by the Germans to Theresienstadt as part of the Aufbaukommando (construction battalion). In Theresienstadt he worked in the Technical Department, the Zeichenstube, where many artists were assigned. There he had access to drawing materials and paper, and he and other artists made drawings of Theresienstadt and its prisoners. On July 17, 1944, he was arrested with other painters there for creating what the Nazis called "horror propaganda." He was sent along with his wife. Hensi, and three-year-old son, Tommy, to the Little Fortress. Along with his friends, Bloch, Ungar and Haas, he was tortured. His wife died of starvation.
With the painter Leo Haas, he was deported to Auschwitz on October 26, 1944 and he died there on November 8, 1944. Fritta's son was adopted after the war by Leo Haas and his wife. An album made by Fritta and dedicated to his son on his third birthday was found hidden in the walls at Theresienstadt.'
http://lastexpression.northwestern.edu/Bios/french/bio_fritta.html
Our hearts, my heart goes out to Tomas and his parents.
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