You don’t have to be psychic to see the future of America, you only need to study the history of Czechoslovakia to see that the same fascist playbook is being employed by the Republican party. The spirit of the Fabry family and their friends in exile have been helping me all these years, preparing me for the rise of fascism and giving me courage to share their stories of resistance here, as an education and warning to all. It is more important than ever that we speak the truth boldly and with heartfelt conviction, because it is the communication of truth that dictators fear the most. We need to support independent newspapers and journalists who are risking everything to report the truth.
The next document comes from the Director of Verbandsdruckerei A.G. (Association Printing Company), Bern, Switzerland, dated 26 February 1958, a declaration on behalf of Dr. Pavel Fabry – “a good patriot and friend of Switzerland”.
Declaration
I have known Dr. Pavel Fabry from Bratislava, Slovakia, since 1946, when he came to me through the mediation of WIFAG (Winkler, Fallert & Co. AG Bern) to buy our rotary press, which we were about to replace. The purchase was urgent because he wanted to use this machine in Slovakia, as the already advanced communist power had also spread to the printing works. This was done with the aim of preventing the democratic parties (Democratic and Social Democratic Parties) from printing election propaganda for the upcoming elections. For this reason, Dr. Fabry wanted a machine so that he could continue the election propaganda with printed matter in a close circle with his democratic party friends.
The purchase came about partly through our cooperation and because we knew the machine would serve anti-communist purposes. The machine was also exported, and it was thanks to this circumstance that the elections against communism in Slovakia were so successful, as I was told. The price totaled 80,000 Swiss francs, which Dr. Fabry paid in cash from his own resources. During the negotiations, I got to know Dr. Fabry as a good patriot and friend of Switzerland.
Thanks to Miroslav Kamenik for translating this letter from Milan Fabry to his godparents Pavel and Olga/Maminka Fabry, and for research assistance, narrowing down the date of this letter to “8-12/1948.” Milan is giving explicit instructions to Maminka to help “Sveto” escape Czechoslovakia, using the same route as General Frantisek Moravec – famous for his role in the assassination of Nazi architect Reinhard Heydrich in Prague. Another new discovery, with Miroslav’s help, is that “Sveto” is another name for Pavel – likely a code name!
Dear Godmother!
After a quarter of a week in bed – I had some kind of angina, which I treated with cibazol so badly that I ended up feeling sick from it – I return to my letter from Friday, to which I have not received an answer to today.
1/ On Sunday or Monday, a gentleman will arrive from Frankfurt to Switzerland, whom you will surely know at least from his story and by name. He is General Mirko Vesel. I will briefly describe his background, if you do not know him. He comes from the Vesel family in Zvolen. His father was a lawyer and chairman of the board of directors of the former Slovak National Bank /before Pauliny/. My mother used to stay with them, when she was still single, while she worked in the aforementioned bank in Zvolen. General Vesel is the one who, as a lieutenant colonel under the Slovak State, prepared the uprising and led it. Then he flew to London. From there he returned and for Czechoslovakia held the position of Chief of the General Staff of Artillery at the Ministry of National Defense in Prague. He has now been retired and fled here to Germany about four months ago. He is a 100 percent man, both in terms of his past and character, but also in terms of his performance and courage. A soldier-general in his place, who has his own organization and his own people. He has several urgent matters in Switzerland, but he promised me with certainty that he would get in touch with you to discuss the matter of the Sveto with you. I had to at least briefly describe to him what was going on and roughly make a deal with him. The matter would look something like this: The general’s agent would visit a trustworthy and close person to Sveto in Bratislava /I was thinking of Mária Vorlová – if you have someone better and more discreet, tell the general/. The agent would give this person a password from you /e.g. Sveto is referred to by Viera… or something else/ and ask that this intermediary person agree with Sveto when he would like to and could go /early evening/. Mária would give Sveto’s message to the agent, who would call Sveto at the appointed hour, put him in a car and drive him to a certain place near Morava (MK: river Morava). Near Morava, you have to walk about 150m on our side. There will be a person with a boat ready to take both of them to the other side. On the Austrian side, it is necessary to walk 1.5 km to a village and from there, by taxi with a fake kenkarta (MK: ID card), which the agent will have ready, he will get to Linz via Vienna. From Linz, it would then be very easy to go to the US zone in Germany and to Frankfurt, where he could wait with us until the necessary documents for Switzerland are processed. It would be necessary to instruct the godfather (MK: he talks about Sveto, but not sure about “krstný” as godfather of Milan) to take a passport with him, perhaps even an invalid one, or an old one from the former Czechoslovakia. The financial cost of the trip is 30,000 CZK to be paid in Bratislava to the agent for the maintenance of the organization, which otherwise has no funds, and 25,000 CZK to be paid to the ferryman across Moravia on the Austrian side.
2/ I do not consider the possibility that I described to you in Friday’s letter to be so certain – but still a good one. This would involve our Czechoslovak organization being affiliated with an American intelligence organization. The liaison between these organizations and the head of the Czechoslovakbranch is made by MP Dr. Michal Zibrín, a former Bratislava lawyer. This organization does not want to give a description of the route for reasons of its own security and revealing the route. They only guarantee that it is a route through Austria /Vienna/ to Linz and from there a transfer to Frankfurt. They further guarantee that they will take Sveto along the best route, which they reserve only for eminent persons. The following have so far traveled this route: General of the Intelligence Service Moravec and Zibrín’s wife with their children. This is a journey of about three hours on foot. They demand that a password be given to Sveto and that USD150 be paid in advance. The company is trustworthy and as far as payment is concerned, they agree that the money (one hundred and fifty dollars) should be deposited by Wednesday with Rudek in Switzerland, or Dr. Pal Glaser – also Rudek’s address with the indication that it is for Dr. Zibrin. By Friday morning (ten o’clock) there must be a telegram in Frankfurt to my address with the following text: I agree stop money deposited stop signature. Their people are leaving for Slovakia from Frankfurt on Friday and by then I would have to show them such a telegram.
Godmother, I did everything I could, it’s up to you to decide. It’s certainly hard to make a decision in such cases. You probably don’t have anyone there to consult with either, and I can understand how hard it must be for you to stifle everything inside yourself, unable to talk, when even the closest person is so far away. For my part, I advise you once again to seek out Rudek, who knows both people well, and to make a decision with him. However, I consider it my duty to warn you that if nothing is done, you can’t count on something coming by itself – you need to act. And decide – no matter how difficult it is.
Yesterday I received a package or voucher from you. Thank you very much for it, you don’t even know how good something better sometimes feels. Otherwise, life goes on as usual – we have enough work, if only there was as much bread! But we can’t complain because we still have a beautiful life as refugees.
Hand kisses Your Milan
P.S. I gave to general the phone number to Genéve 2-91-92. Please wait for his call.
With great respect to Army General Lev Prchala and to our grandfather Dr. Pavel Fabry – Czechoslovakian heroes, defenders of democratic freedom, symbols of resistance against nazis and fascists! These are the last letters between them, from 1960, with related documents included. Translations will be added later. Pavel died of a heart attack in Berlin on 19 December 1960, he was 69. Vlado took over the remaining legal work from his father, somehow finding time for it while also working for the UN in the Congo. Vlado’s letter to the General is sent from Hotel Le Royal, Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), 12 March 1961. It brings tears to my eyes how much love they had for their friends, the personal sacrifices they were willing to make for each other – my cup runs over in their memory.
Thanks to Miroslav Kamenik for transcribing and translating all the handwritten letters here!
17.5.60
Vážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
byl bych Vám nesmírně vděčen, kdybyste mi alespoň několika slovy naznačil jak stojí záležitosti Vašich Londýnských klientů, resp. klientek, které mě svými dotazy stále bombardují.Také bych rád věděl, zda máte v úmyslu se se mnou v Německu viděti, poněvadž čas utíká a můj odlet do Mnichova se blíží. Počítám, že přiletím pravděpodobně 2 nebo 3 června a že se v Mnichově zdržím až týden. Pak bych Vám byl k dispozici a vše závisí z Vašich plánů, kdy a kde byste mě potřeboval.
Těším se na Vaši laskavou odpověď a jsem s ruky políbením milostivé paní a se srdečnými pozdravy
Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
I would be extremely grateful if you could give me at least a few words about the state of cases of your London clients, who are constantly bombarding me with their inquiries. I would also like to know whether you intend to see me in Germany, as time is running out and my departure for Munich is approaching. I expect to arrive probably on the 2nd or 3rd of June and to stay in Munich for up to a week. Then I would be at your disposal, and it all depends on your plans, when and where you would need me.
I look forward to your kind reply and I am with a kiss on the hand of your wife and with warm regards
Faithfully your
Prchala
20.5.60
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
dnes jsem obdržel letecký lístek London – Mnichov – London od Česko – Sud. Něm federálního výboru pro let dne 2. června 1960.
Poletím tedy ve čtvrtek dne 2. června do Mnichova a zdržím se tam asi týden. Zároveň jsem byl uvědoměn, že čestné pozvánky budou rozposlány v příštích dnech. Doufám, že pozvánku pro sebe a Vaši milostivou obdržíte co nejdříve.
A nyní mám k Vám, vzázcný příteli, jednu velikou prosbu. Abych zde měl pevný důkaz pro nutnost své jízdy do Německa, zašlete mně, prosím, telegram, v němž mě vyzýváte k schůzce v Německu. Dejž Bůh, aby taková schůzka se stala doopravdy možnou.
S ruky políbením velevážené milostivé paní a se srdečnými pozdravy jsem Váš oddaný,
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
today I received a London – Munich – London ticket from the Czech – SudetenGerman Federal Committee for the flight on June 2, 1960.
I will fly to Munich on Thursday, June 2, and will stay there for about a week. At the same time, I was informed that the honorary invitations will be sent out in the coming days. I hope that you will receive the invitation for yourself and your ladyship as soon as possible.
And now I have one great request for you, dear friend. So that I may have solid proof of the necessity of my journey to Germany, please send me a telegram in which you invite me to a meeting in Germany. God grant that such a meeting may actually become possible.
I am with a kiss on the hand of your wife and with warm regards
Faithfully your
Prchala
28.5.60
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
dovolte, abych Vám srdečně poděkoval za telegram, který jsem právě obdržel. Telegrafoval jsem ihned do Mnichova, aby Vám zaslali čestnou pozvánku, o kterou jsem žádal již před několika týdny. Vysvětluji si tuto chybu jedině tím, že Ing. Simon je zavalen prací a pevně doufám, že tento faux pas okamžitě napraví.
Těším se velice na setkání s Vámi a Vaší milostivou paní, které uctivě líbám ruku.
Srdečně Vás zdraví
Váš oddaný
Prchala
P.S. Tatsachenbericht jsem odevzdal pí. S a pí. M. V Mnichově bydlím v hotelu „Esplanade“ naproti hl. nádraží.
Dear Doctor, my friend,
let me to thank you most cordially for the telegram I have just received. I immediately telegraphed to Munich to have the honorary invitation sent to you, which I had requested several weeks ago. I can only explain this mistake by saying that Ing. Simon is overwhelmed with work and I firmly hope that he will rectify this faux pas immediately.
I am very much looking forward to meeting you and your honorable wife, whose hand I respectfully kiss.
Yours sincerely
Prchala
P.S. I handed over the Tatsachenbericht to Mrs. S and Mrs. M. In Munich I live in the hotel “Esplanade” opposite the main station.
9.6.60, München, Hotel Esplanade
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
srdečně děkuji za zavolání z Kolína a ze Ženevy. Zítra odjíždím k sestře do Rieneck bei Gemünden / M a tam budu čekat na další Váš rozkaz. Dovolíte-li, pak navrhuji, abychom jeli přímo do Bonnu kde příští týden zasedá Bundestag a ušetřili si zastávku ve Frankfurtu. Souhlasíte-li s tímto mým návrhem, pak očekávám v Rienecku Váš telegr. vzkaz.
Milostivé paní ruku líbám,
Vás, drahý příteli, srdečně zdravím.
Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
thank you very much for your call from Cologne and Geneva. Tomorrow I am leaving for my sister in Rieneck bei Gemünden / M and there I will await your further orders. If you allow me, I suggest that we go directly to Bonn where the Bundestag is in session next week and save ourselves a stopover in Frankfurt. If you agree with this proposal of mine, I am expecting your telegram in Rieneck.
Kind kisses to your honorable wife’s hand,
I greet you warmly, my dear friend.
Yours faithfully
Prchala
17.6.60
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
srdečné díky za Vaše telegramy z Berlna, z Kolína a z Frankfurtu a též za Váš ctěný dopis „expres“. Mám silné podezření, že jste můj dopis z Mnichova adresovaný Vám do Ženevy neobdržel a že zde vzniklo nedorozumění, jež z Vašeho telegramu z Frankfurtu vysvitá.
Domluvili jsme se sice telefonicky za mého pobytu v Mnichově, že se sejdeme ve Frankfurtu, ale pak jsem Vám poslal dopis, v němž navrhuji schůzku přímo v Bonnu, a to během tohoto týdne. Zapomněl jsem bohužel, že v tomto týdnu jsou 2 svátky, a to 16 a 17 a 18 je sobota a v Bonnu se neúřaduje.
Prosím Vás proto za prominutí a dovoluji si Vám navrhnouti, abychom se sešli v pondělí dne 20. t.m. večer v Bonnu v Bergischer Hof a nebo 21. t.m. ráno tamtéž.
Zaslal jsem Vám dnes telegr. zprávu a návrh a prosím o Vaše laskavé tel. rozhodnutí. Chci z Rienecku odjeti v poledne dne 20. t.m. Doufám, že bonnský parlament bude příští týden zasedat a těším se na shledání s Vámi.
Milostivé uctivě ruku líbá
Vás srdečně zdraví
Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
Heartfelt thanks for your telegrams from Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt and also for your esteemed “express” letter. I strongly suspect that you did not receive my letter from Munich addressed to you in Geneva and that there was a misunderstanding here, which will become clear from your telegram from Frankfurt.
We agreed by telephone during my stay in Munich that we would meet in Frankfurt, but then I sent you a letter in which I propose a meeting directly in Bonn, during this week. Unfortunately, I forgot that there are 2 holidays this week, namely the 16th and 17th and the 18th are Saturdays and there are no offices in Bonn.
Therefore, I beg your pardon and allow me to suggest that we meet on Monday, the 20th, in the evening in Bonn at the Bergischer Hof or on the 21st, in the morning there.
I sent you a telegram today. report and proposal and I ask for your kind decision. I want to leave Rieneck at noon on the 20th. I hope that the Bonn parliament will be in session next week and I look forward to seeing you.
Kind kisses to your honorable wife’s hand,
I greet you warmly, my dear friend.
Yours faithfully
Prchala
3.7.60 (Rieneck)
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
sedím stále v Rienecku a čekám na Vaše zavolání. Mám zde již dlouhou chvíli a rád bych se již zas vrátil do Londýna, kde mě žena netrpělivě očekává. Píše mi zoufalé dopisy, poněvadž je nemocná a potřebuje důkladné lékařské vyšetření a léčení, které je v Londýně dosti drahé, když se tomu podrobujete u privátního lékaře a ne na health service, které je zdlouhavé a dosti povrchní. Chudinka nechápe, že zde nelze věci uspíšit více než to děláme a že je třeba míti velikou trpělivost. Doufám, že jste v Kolíně dobře pořídil a že i s našimi záležitostmi se dostaneme o krok dále a to dříve než pánové půjdou opět na svou dovolenou. Očekávám toužebně Vaši laskavou odpověď a jsem s ruky políbením milostivé paní, mému strážnému anděli, a se srdečnými pozdravy Vám, velevážený,
Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
I am still sitting in Rieneck and waiting for your call. I have been here for a long time and I would like to return to London, where my wife is impatiently waiting for me. She writes me desperate letters because she is ill and needs a thorough medical examination and treatment, which is quite expensive in London if you undergo it with a private doctor and not with the health service, which is lengthy and rather superficial. My poor wife does not understand that things cannot be rushed here any more than we do and that great patience is needed. I hope that you have made good arrangements in Cologne and that we will also get a step further with our affairs before the gentlemen go on their vacation again. I eagerly await your kind answer, kind kisses to your honorable wife’s hand, my guardian angel,
I greet you warmly, my dear friend.
Yours faithfully
Prchala
8.7.60
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
srdečný dík za Váš ctěný list z Baselu z 6. t.m. s přílohami. Včera jsem Vám odeslal dopis do Ženevy s odůvodněním, proč z Rienecku musím začátkem příštího týdne vypadnout (?) a navrhl jsem schůzku v Bonnu 11 nebo 12 t.m. večer. Domnívám se, že když 12 vyjedu, mohu 13 vyřídit svou věc u min. Seebohma a 14 je již beztak konec týdne, takže schůzka 13 večer s Vámi by byla podle mého skromného názoru nejvhodnějším dnem. Račte mi, prosím, ještě telegr. potvrdit, zda Vám 13 večer vyhovuje a já se podle toho zařídím. Milostivé paní uctivě ruku líbá,
Vás, drahý příteli, srdečně zdraví
Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
heartfelt thanks for your esteemed letter from Basel of the 6th with attachments. Yesterday I sent you a letter to Geneva with the justification why I have to leave Rieneck at the beginning of next week (?) and I proposed a meeting in Bonn on the 11th or 12th in the evening. I believe that if I leave on the 12th, I can take care of my business with Minister Seebohm on the 13th and the 14th is already the end of the week anyway, so a meeting with you on the 13th evening would be, in my humble opinion, the most suitable day. Please confirm by telegram whether the 13th evening suits you and I will make arrangements accordingly.
Kind kisses to your honorable wife’s hand,
I greet you warmly, my dear friend.
Yours faithfully
Prchala
2.8.60
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
potvrzuji s díky Váš ctěný dopis z 23.7.60 a sice teprve dnes, poněvadž jsem čekal, že se Kolín ozve. Bohužel se tak dosud nestalo. Mezitím jsem obdržel dopis od p. ministra Seebohma, jenž mi sděluje, že i jemu bylo A Amtem potvrzeno, že stanovisko AA bylo příznivé a odesláno Regierungspräsidentovi v Kolíně. Po obdržení této odpovědi A-amt spojil se ministr S. S panem Dr. Mirgelerem a žádal jej, aby moje věc byla uspíšena. M. mu to slíbil, ale podotkl, že Kolín se mne ještě jednou dotáže a požádá potvrzení, cituji: „der Staatenhorigkeit, die früher als 1956 vorhanden sein müsste, aber danach mit einer boldigen Entscheidung gerechnet werden könne“. Teď ale už tomu vůbec nerozumím. Vždyť v mé žádosti o rentu podle § 1 BEG výslovně stojí, kdo jsem a co jsem a také to že jsem od roku 1939 staatenlos.
Zlé je, že se jedná byrokratům v Kolíně o nový (???) mé záležitosti a proto Vás snažně prosím, abyste v Kolíně znovu intervenoval, třeba jen telefonicky. Podotýkám, že i na tento dotaz z Kolína dosud čekám. Jakmile se dozvíte, v čem dělo?, pak mi, prosím, ihned napište. Také Vás velmi prosím o sdělení, jak jste dopadl v Berlíně. Já osobně bych Vás s touto žádostí neobtěžoval, ale mí londýnští přátelé mě stále bombardují svými dotazy a moje žena stojí před úplným duševním zhroucením.
Milostivé paní ruku líbá, Vás srdečně zdraví
Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
I confirm with thanks your esteemed letter of 23.7.60, replying today, because I was expecting Cologne to respond. Unfortunately, this has not happened yet. In the meantime, I have received a letter from Mr. Minister Seebohm, who informs me that he too was confirmed by the A-Amt that the AA’s opinion was favorable and sent to the Regierungspräsident in Cologne. After receiving this reply from the A-Amt, Minister S. contacted Dr. Mirgeler and asked him to expedite my case. M. promised him this, but pointed out that Cologne would ask me again and ask for confirmation, I quote: “der Staatenhorigkeit, die früher als 1956 vorhanden sein müsste, aber danach mit einer boldigen Entscheidung gerechnet werden könne”. But now I don’t understand it at all. After all, my application for a pension according to § 1 BEG explicitly states who I am and what I am and also that I have been stateless since 1939.
The bad thing is that this is a new (???) of my affairs for the bureaucrats in Cologne and therefore I strongly ask you to intervene again in Cologne, even if only by phone. I would like to point out that I am still waiting for this inquiry from Cologne. As soon as you find out what happened, please write to me immediately. I also ask you to tell me how you ended up in Berlin. I personally would not bother you with this request, but my London friends are constantly bombarding me with their questions and my wife is on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.
Kind kisses to your honorable wife’s hand,
I greet you warmly, my dear friend.
Yours faithfully
Prchala
26.8.60
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
přijměte, prosím, můj srdečný dík za Váš dopis z 24.8.60 s přílohami. Upřímně lituji jménem svým jakož i jménem všech Vašich londýnských klientů, že Vám způsobujeme tolik starostí a škodíme Vašemu zdraví.
Dej Bože, abyste se co nejdříve zbavil těchto starostí o návrat a měl konečně trochu času pro léčení svého tak cenného zdraví.
Dr.Höniger obdržel přípis Regierungspräsidenta teprve 8.8.60 a ihned mi jej zaslal. Zařídil jsem okamžitě vše potřebné a včera dne 25.8. jsem již poslal Hönigerovi potvrzení Home Office, že jsem byl Flüchtling (ode) dne 1.10.53 ve smyslu Ženevské konvence z roku 51 a že moje residence je ve Velké Británii. Byl jsem také na zdejším německém velvyslanectví kvůli lékařské prohlídce. Ale tam mi bylo řečeno, že Köln musí znovu o ní požádat a to jsem také sdělil Hönigerovi s prosbou, aby Köln o tom ihned vyrozuměl. Vrátil jsem mu také přípis Regierungspräsidenta, který měl číslo: 14.II.-6-673-674 28.8.60. Napíšu mu ihned, aby Vám tento přípis poslal do Ženevy.
Přílohy pro paní Locherovou a paní Malíkovou jim co nejdříve odevzdám a s Dr. Paulínym si smluvím schůzku.
Ještě jednou Vám, drahý příteli, srdečně děkuji a vyprošuji si ruky políbení Vaší vzácné manželce.
Se srdečným pozdavem
jsem Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend
please accept my heartfelt thanks for your letter of 24.8.60 with the enclosures. I sincerely regret, on my own behalf and on behalf of all your London clients, that we are causing you so much trouble and harming your health.
May God grant that you may be rid of these worries about returning as soon as possible and finally have some time to treat your precious health.
Dr. Höniger received the Regierungspräsident’s letter only on 8.8.60 and sent it to me immediately. I immediately arranged everything necessary and yesterday, 25.8. I already sent Höniger a confirmation from the Home Office that I was a Flüchtling (from) on 1.10.53 within the meaning of the Geneva Convention of 51 and that my residence is in Great Britain. I also went to the German embassy here for a medical examination. But I was told there that Cologne had to apply for it again and I also told Höniger about this, asking that Cologne understand this immediately. I also returned to him the letter from the Regierungspräsident, which had the number: 14.II.-6-673-674 28.8.60. I will write to him immediately to send this letter to you in Geneva.
I will hand over the enclosures for Mrs. Locherová and Mrs. Malíková to them as soon as possible and I will arrange a meeting with Dr. Paulíny.
Once again, my dear friend, I thank you heartily and with a hand kiss to your honorable wife
Yours faithfully
Prchala
16.9.60
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
mám za to, že jste již opět v Ženevě a doufám, že Vás svým dopisem neobtěžuji. Doufám také, že jste si po tak namáhavé práci alespoň trochu odpočinul a že zdravotně se cítíte nyní lépe.
O obsahu Vašeho telegramu a dopisu nás již podrobně informoval přítel Dr. A a nezbývá než Vás obdivovat a Vám za Vaši obětavou práci mnohokráte děkovat. Zdá se, že to teď již dlouho trvat nebude a že vbrzku dojednáte věci definitivně.
Mě osobně velmi znepokojuje mlčení Kolína. Nedostal jsem dosud ani „Erklärung“, který jsem měl podepsat, ani povolání k lékařské prohlídce. Höniger sice slíbil, že po své dovolené, která končila 6.9., zajede do Kolína a o mé věci osobně pohovoří s Reg. Presidentem, ale dosud jsem bez zprávy jak z Kolína tak od Hönigera. A proto Vás prosím, abyste Vy se na to ještě jednou podíval, a to proto, poněvad6 Vám věří a vím, že bez Vaší intervence se nic nevyřídí.
Milostivé paní uctivě ruku líbám, Vás, drahý příteli, srdečně zdravím
a jsem Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Doctor, my friend,
I believe you are back in Geneva and I hope I am not bothering you with my letter. I also hope that you have at least rested a little after such strenuous work and that you are now feeling better in health.
We have already been informed in detail about the content of your telegram and letter by our friend Dr. A and there is nothing left but to admire you and thank you many times for your dedicated work. It seems that it will not be long now and that you will soon arrange things definitively.
I am personally very concerned about the silence of Cologne. I have not yet received either the “Erklalung” that I was supposed to sign or the summons for a medical examination. Honiger promised that after his vacation, which ended on September 6, he would go to Cologne and personally discuss my case with the Prime Minister, but I have still not heard from either Cologne or Honiger. And that’s why I’m asking you to take another look at it, because I trust you and I know that nothing will be resolved without your intervention.
Kind kisses to your honorable wife’s hand,
I greet you warmly, my dear friend.
Yours faithfully
Prchala
22.3.61
Vysoce vážená milostivá paní,
promiňte, když na Váš milý dopis ze 7. t.m. odpovídám teprve dnes, ale byl jsem v Německu a vrátil jsem se teprve koncem minulého týdne. Byl jsem v Bonnu, ve Stuttgartu a Mnichově a všude mě doprovázely vzpomínky na milovaného přítele Dr. Fábryho, jenž padl ve službě pro své blízké. Jen jeho genialitě a krajní obětavosti máme co děkovat, že byly dosažena výsledky, o nichž se nikomu z nás, jeho klientů, ani nesnilo. Ale co pak znamenají všechny poklady tohoto světa, které vždy možno nahradit, oproti ztrátě milovaného manžela, otce a přítele?
Stále ještě se nemohu smířit s jeho odchodem a mrzí mne, že jsem mu nemohl osobně poděkovat za jeho vzácnoua opravdu přátelskou službu, kterou prokázal mi a mé rodině.
V sobotu dne 20. t.m. obdržel jsem dopis od pana Dr. Vladimíra z Conga. Upřímně ho lituji a doufám, že se vrátí zdráv a co nejdříve z tohoto afrického pekla. Potvrzuje mi to, co mi před týdnem vyřídila telefonicky Vaše milostivá slečna dcera a paní Tágová, od níž jsem dostal dopis po svém příjezdu z Německa. Doufám, že koncem května budu opět v Bonnu a pak si dovolím zaslat Vám, milostivá, zbytek svého dluhu z druhé částky náhrady, která, jak předpokládám, bude do té doby už určitě v mé bance v Bonnu.
V červnu pak chci opět na léčení do Bad Kissingen. Žena tam chce také, ale teprve v srpnu, poněvadž někdo z nás zde musí zůstat. Takový je předpisCzech Trust Fundu, v jehož domě chceme bydlet i nadále. Do Ženevy se podívám až budu míti britský pas, což bude někdy na podzim.
Srdečně Vás, milostivá paní, oba zdravíme, já uctivě ruku líbám a jsem
Váš oddaný
Prchala
Dear Madam,
I apologize for only replying to your kind letter of the 7th, but I was in Germany and only returned at the end of last week. I was in Bonn, Stuttgart and Munich and everywhere I was accompanied by memories of my beloved friend Dr. Fábry, who fell in the service of his loved ones. It is only to his genius and extreme dedication that we have something to thank for that results were achieved that none of us, his clients, could even dream of. But what are all the treasures of this world, which can always be replaced, compared to the loss of a beloved husband, father and friend?
I still cannot come to terms with his passing and I regret that I was not able to thank him personally for his precious and truly friendly service that he rendered to me and my family.
On Saturday, the 20th, I received a letter from Dr. Vladimír from Congo. I sincerely feel sorry for him and hope that he will return safely and as soon as possible from this African hell. I am confirmed by what your gracious daughter and Mrs. Tágová told me by telephone a week ago, from whom I received a letter after my arrival from Germany. I hope that I will be in Bonn again at the end of May and then I will take the liberty of sending you, my lady, the rest of my debt from the second amount of compensation, which, as I assume, will certainly be in my bank in Bonn by then.
In June I want to go to Bad Kissingen again for treatment. My wife also wants to go there, but not until August, because one of us has to stay here. This is the regulation of the Czech Trust Fund, in whose house we want to continue living. I will travel to Geneva when I have a British passport, which will be sometime in the autumn.
We both warmly greet you, dear Madam, I respectfully kiss your hand and I am
Yours faithfully
Prchala
From Gen. Lev Prchala to Vladimir Fabry, 22 March 1961:
22.3.61
Dear Doctor,
Thank you very much for your esteemed letter of 12.3.61, which I received only on the 20th of this month, just after sending my letter to Mrs. Tagova. She sent me the letter on 7.3.61, while I was in Germany, and asked me only for a short statement that I agreed with the expert’s estimate of 6,425DM. I sent this to her immediately after my return, i.e. on the 20th of this month, with my notarized signature. She did not ask for a power of attorney from me, because she hopes that it will be possible to do without a “Vergleich”. I also promised her a special reward for the work connected with this case, which I will pay her as soon as I am back in Germany at the end of May.
I hope that you will also return soon from this African hell and that we will see each other either here in London or in Germany. Just in case, I would ask you to kindly tell me how much I still owe you, so that I can transfer the money to your gracious mother from my account in Bonn, where I will be during the Whitsun holidays. By then, another order from Berlin will probably be there and I will be given the opportunity to pay my debt.
Excuse me if I do not ask you how you are doing in Congo, because I can imagine what you are going through there.
I wish you much success and good health and send you my warmest regards
Yours faithfully
Prchala
From Prchala to Madam Olga Fabry-Palka, 23 February 1961:
Bonn, Hotel Krone. 23.2.61
Dear Madam,
I am in Bonn. I could be happy, but the memories of my dear friend, Dr. Fabry, do not leave me and sadness returns to my heart.
Thank you very much for your telegram, which I received in London before my departure. Without your kind permission, I took the liberty of sending to your address a small sum as a contribution to the monument to a dear and esteemed friend. I hope you will forgive me and with a hand kiss I am
Here is a unique letter from Dr. Samuel Bellus to Vlado’s sister Olga (Olinka) – he calls her ‘Olichka’ – sent 13 December 1960. At this time, Radio Free Europe became a European-based organization, it had been headquartered in New York.
13. December 1960
Dear Olichka,
Thank you very much for your letter. Don’t be angry that I didn’t get back to you sooner, but I really had a lot of work to do. A very turbulent time has passed us by. Ralph will surely tell you later.
Rudko and Fedor [Hodza] were here and we remembered you. Do you already know exactly when you will come here? Write me an appointment soon so I can relax. I would like to point out that I won’t be able to take even the shortest vacation, because I really can’t move away from Munich.
I will remember you at Christmas and I hope you remember me. Have a good time, Olichka.
Yours
Samuel
Envelopes found from Free Europe Committee, Two Park Avenue, New York 16, NY, sent to Dr. Pavel Fabry, in Geneva, Switzerland. Radio Free Europe was created through the efforts of the National Committee for a Free Europe, later known as Free Europe Committee, formed in New York by Allen Dulles who was head of the CIA. Until 1971, RFE was secretly funded by the CIA.
“Looking back at the FEC as a shelter for prominent émigrés who used its resources and facilities to fight communism from abroad, the Committee can be considered a very unique organization with a specific role in the Cold War history. The number of people involved, the expenses incurred, and the efforts to get the FEC into the U.S. public awareness all serve as evidence of this. The émigrés relied on their “American friends” in the early Cold War years, believing in the possibility of defeating communism in Europe. However, after the failed Hungarian uprising in the fall 1956 that was violently suppressed by Soviet tanks, the mood among East-European exile communities dramatically changed. The émigrés realized that the West would not intervene directly in favor of an opposition group in a country within the Soviet sphere of influence. As a result, their expectations, along with the Free Europe Committee’s importance, gradually diminished.
Nevertheless, the legacy of the organization, sometimes called the “unofficial Department of U.S. propaganda” is not entirely forgotten. More than two decades after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Radio Free Europe still broadcasts in twenty-one countries, and Captive Nations Week—marked every year in July—serves as a reminder of the suffering of many nations still living in undemocratic conditions.”
The next document was first shared here on 30 April 2013, exactly 12 years ago today. From Dr. Samuel Bellus, a sworn statement on behalf of Mrs. OIga Viera Fabry-Palka (Vlado’s mother), 30 September 1956:
I, Samuel Bellus, of 339 East 58th Street, New York 22, New York, hereby state and depose as follows:
That this statement is being prepared by me at the request of Mrs. Olga Viera Fabry, nee Palka, who formerly resided in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, but since 1948 has become a political refugee and at present resides at 14, Chemin Thury, Geneva, Switzerland;
That I have known personally the said Mrs. Olga Viera Fabry and other members of her family and have maintained a close association with them since the year 1938, and that I had opportunity to observe directly, or obtain first hand information on, the events hereinafter referred to, relating to the persecution which Mrs. Olga Viera Fabry and the members of her family had to suffer at the hands of exponents of the Nazi regime;
That in connection with repeated arrests of her husband, the said Mrs. Fabry has been during the years 1939 – 1944 on several occasions subject to interrogations, examinations and searches, which were carried out in a brutal and inhumane manner by members of the police and of the “Sicherheitsdienst” [SD -TB] with the object of terrorizing and humiliating her;
That on a certain night on or about November 1940 Mrs. Fabry, together with other members of her family, was forcibly expelled and deported under police escort from her residence at 4 Haffner Street, Bratislava, where she was forced to leave behind all her personal belongings except one small suitcase with clothing;
That on or about January 1941 Mrs. Fabry was ordered to proceed to Bratislava and to wait in front of the entrance to her residence for further instructions, which latter order was repeated for several days in succession with the object of exposing Mrs. Fabry to the discomforts of standing long hours without protection from the intense cold weather and subjecting her to the shame of making a public show of her distress; and that during that time humiliating and derisive comments were made about her situation in public broadcasts;
That the constant fear, nervous tension and worry and the recurring shocks caused by the arrests and deportations to unknown destinations of her husband by exponents of the Nazi regime had seriously affected the health and well-being of Mrs. Fabry during the years 1939 – 1944, so that on several such occasions of increased strain she had to be placed under medical care to prevent a complete nervous breakdown; and
That the facts stated herein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Happy birthday to Czechoslovak politician and Army General Lev Prchala, born on 23 March 1892! He sent this handwritten letter and his Curriculum Vitae to Pavel Fabry in 1956 from London, where he was living in exile. I have included the typewritten response from Pavel confirming that he will represent General Prchala for “Compensation for Persecution”.
*Update 14 May 2025: This post has been moved to the top of the page, the previous post was deleted. My sincere appreciation to Miroslav Kamenik, who kindly sent me his translation of Gen. Prchala’s letter and C.V., which I have transcribed here – thank you!
“11 Oct 1956 Dear Doctor, First of all, let me kindly thank you for your warm greetings forwarded to me by our friend Dr. Pauliny-Toth. He also stated you were ready to take care about my case by West-German offices. As you know, it is about a compensation for losses suffered in my property, service pension [MK – soldier], health of myself and my wife and possible some kind of pension. Attached is my CV as well, let me kindly ask you about the estimated costs related with my case. My personal circumstances are not such that I could send you the usual fee and advance payment for expenses. Of course, I am ready to cover your fee and all costs when the result of my case will be positive [MK – i.e. from future profit]. Awaiting your kind reply, Yours faithfully, Prchala”
“C.V.
*23 March 1892 [born] in Polska Ostrava, Frydek area, Silesia [MK – Empire of Austria-Hungary]
Roman Catholic, married with Lucie Seebode *9 August 1901 Kuokkala Finland, resident in St. Petersburg (Russia), evangelical
Children – son Ladislav Vladimir *5 Feb 1920 in Batarejnaja, Siberia (Russia), now resident in Buenos Aires, Argentina; daughter Lucie Marie *29 July 1921, died 9 Oct 1936 in Kosice [MK – Slovakia today]
Education – Gymnazium [MK – classic high school] with exam; 4 semesters of Law in Vienna; Military school in Paris 1921-23
April 1914 – activated in Inf. Regiment 13 in Krakow [MK – Cracovia, Poland today], sergeant.
August 1914 till June 1916 in the field/ eastern front of WWI
Since June 1916 in Russian captivity, in rank of lieutenant
June 1917 till August 1920 in Czechoslovak legion in Russia (or Siberia), then returned to newly established Czechoslovakia in rank of Colonel, as the commander of the III. Czechoslovak division in Russia [MK – in charge of retreating battles, towards to Vladivostok]
Autumn 1923 till autumn 1925 commander of the 1st mountain brigade in Ruzomberok [MK – Slovakia today], since autumn 1924 in rank of Brigade General
1925 till 1931 Commander of the XII. Inf. Division in Uzhorad [MK – or Uzhhorod, in Ruthenia/Subcarpathian Ukraine/Russia in Czechoslovak times, now part of Ukraine], since 1927 in rank of Division General
Autumn 1931 till autumn 1933 Deputy Chief of Staff in Prague
Nov 1933 till 1938 Army Commander in Kosice [MK – Provincial/Land’s military commander in Slovakia +Ruthenia], since January 1935 in rank of Army General [MK – highest rank]
September 1938 Commander of IV. Army in Brno in time of Munich [MK – expected attack from 3rd Reich, Prchala in the area of most expected fights]
Since 5 October 1938 till till 19 January 1939 Commander of Army in Slovakia
19 Jan 1939 appointed minister of the II. Czechoslovak Republic for Subcarpathia [MK – 1 of 3 ministers of this part of CZ]
16 March 1939, after 15th when Czechoslovakia had been occupied by Germans, Lev Prchala turns back to Prague to newly established so-called Protektorat Bohmen und Mahren and has been forced into retirement. It is prohibited to leave the Protektorat, possible only with special approval by German Military office.
25 May 1939 fled secretly to Poland, with wife and son, where he organized the Czechoslovak Legion for the fight against Hitler.
17 September 1939 arrested by Soviets in eatern Galicia [MK – most probably Zalishchyky in todays Ukraine, history was not very kind in/to this area…], then released and passed to Romania.
27 October 1939 till June 1940 in France, in June fled to England – since 26 June 1940 in UK, living in London [MK – next words not fully legible, probably meaning “stateless, on state support”, this corresponds with the date of Prchala’s naturalization officially done by UK in 1961]
Army general had to escape from Protektorat in May 1939 in order to avoid capture/avoid death by execution, because he was the only General of Czechoslovak army strongly against the capitulation to Hitler, well known to the people of Czech lands, and Gestapo as well. Many personal damages and harm are connected to the escape. He left all his belongings which he had acquired and saved in 20 years, and was exposed to persecution and harassment by the Czechoslovak capitulators like Dr. Benes and his followers, even in friendly foreign countries. The result is not only material but also in the matter of the failing health, including his wife. She had to pass two operations and suffers nervous disease [MK-?], he suffers from angina pectoris.
Material losses: Four room flat + kitchen + office equipment: furniture, carpets, clothes, silver, porcelain, glass incl. Crystal glass, piano, paintings, books, 6 Persian carpets – 150,000Kc [MK – Czechoslovak Crowns in 1938 prices] and 40,000Kc in shares and cash.
Losses due to the forced retirement between May 1939 and May 1945 about 600,000Kc [MK – other potential losses unknown, not legible]
Here are more letters from General Lev Prchala to Dr. Pavel Fabry (Vlado’s father) from 1958. I have also included duplicates of letters from Pavel. Thank you to Miroslav Kamenik for translating many of the letters here!
From Lev Prchala, 29.3.58
Vážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
již dlouho jsem Vám nepsal. Byl jsem dosti vážně churav a ještě dnes nejsem ve své kůži. Trpím rheumatickými bolestmi svalstva a rychlým úbytkem váhy. Není vyloučeno, že je to ve spojení se zdejším podnebím, je však také možné, že jde současně o neuralgii způsobenou celkovým stavem mých nervů. Nebylo by divu, povážím-li co jsem za svého života musel unésti. Právě nejnověji mému zdravotnímu stavu a nervovému systému neprospěl dopis Regierungspräsidenta z Köllnu, jehož opis přikládám.
Byl bych Vám velmi povděčen, kdybyste mi laskavě co nejdříve oznámil svůj názor a poradil, co dále dělat. Doufám, vážený pane doktore, že jste alespoň Vy zdráv v lepším švýcarském klimatu a jsem se srdečným pozdravem
Váš oddaný
Prchala
→
Dear Doctor, dear friend,
I have not written to you for a long time. I have been quite seriously ill and am still not myself today (in my senses?). I suffer from rheumatic muscle pains and rapid weight loss. It is not impossible that this is connected with the local climate, but it is also possible that it is at the same time neuralgia caused by the general condition of my nerves. It would not be surprising, considering what I have had to endure in my lifetime. Most recently, my health and nervous system have not benefited from the letter from the Regierungspräsident of Köln (Cologne, Germany), a copy of which I enclose.
I should be very grateful if you would kindly let me know your opinion as soon as possible and advise me what to do next. I hope, dear Doctor, that you at least are well in the better climate of Switzerland, and I am with cordial regards
Your devoted
Prchala
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
From Pavel Fábry, 5.mája 1958 (5 May)
Typewritten in Slovak language
Vysokovážený pán Generál,
Vzácný Priateľu!
S netrpezlivosťou očakávate moje oznámené riadky. Chápem velmi dobře situáciu. Ale ako z priloženého záznamu napamäť vidíte, nelením, ale na každom mieste a kroku sa starám, aby sa otázka riešila. Tým referentom je nie kuzávidieniu. Na jednej strane státisíc žiadostí a na druhej strane denne dostávajú úpravy a úpravy, ako prísne vposudzovaní pokračovať. Žialbohu sú medzi nimi aj rôzne elementy, ktoré sa cítia v minulosti dotčení, keď sa oprenasledovaní nácistmi jedná. Ťažko o tom písať.
Tendencia, aby sa pokračovalo nie na odškodnění z politických dôvodov, ale z dovodu národnosti má svoje úspornépozadie, lebo tam sú odškodnenia veľmi nízke.
Preto musíme držať líniu politického dovodu. Nuž veď politický minister bol pre politické smýšlania prenásledovaný. Veď Bundestagsabgerdneter Wenzel Jaksch v jeho objemnej knihe /520 strán/ Vás viackráť spomína a posledná spomienka je na Vašu politickú činnost a úlohu na Východe Republiky.
Velmi by bylo záhodné, aby sme sa sišli. Viem, že sú to veľké náklady – ale myslím že do Paríža by to nebol veľký výdavok. Prípadne v Bonne / dačím by som aj ja preddávkove prispel/ a prebrali by sme to v rámci mojho memoranda – v ktorom Ste medzi šiestimi – a prehovorili s Prezidentom Wiedergutmachungs Kommission des Bundestages a samým poslancom Jakschom. Prosím Vás mne v tomto smere podať Váš náhľad a dobu, kedy by sme sa mohli stretnúť. Nemajtežiadne pochybnosti že odškodnenie dostanete.
Pri tejto príležitosti by som chcel aj žiadost Rückerstattungu podať – mám ju pripravenú, len chcem niektoré otázky prehovoriť.
Očekávajúc Vaše vzácné zprávy a pokyny zdravím Vás čo najsrdečnejšie do skorého videnia
Váš (not signed Fábry)
→
Highly Exalted General,
Dear Friend!
You eagerly await my announced lines. I understand the situation very well. But as you can see from the enclosed memoir, I am not lying, but at every place and step I am making sure that the issue is addressed. Those clerks are not to be envied. On the one hand, hundreds of thousands of applications and on the other hand, they receive daily adjustments and modifications as to how strictly to proceed in the assessment. Unfortunately, there are various elements among them who feel aggrieved by the Nazi persecution in the past. Hard to write about it.
The tendency to continue not on reparations on political grounds but on grounds of nationality has its economical background, for there the reparations are very low.
Therefore, we must hold the line on political grounds. Well, after all, a political Minister has been persecuted for his political views. After all, Bundestagsabgeordneter (MK – member of Parliament) Wenzel Jaksch mentions you several times in his voluminous book /520 pages/ and the last memory is of your political activity and role in the East of the Republic.
It would be very convenient for us to get together. I know it’s a big expense – but I don’t think it would be a big expense to go to Paris. Possibly in Bonn / I would also make a contribution in advance / and we would discuss it within the framework of my memorandum – in which you are one of the six – and talk to the President of the Wiedergutmachungs Kommission of the Bundestags and to the Member Jaksch himself. I would ask you to give me your insight in this regard and a time when we could meet. Have no doubt that you will receive compensation.
I would also like to take this opportunity to make a request to the Rückerstattung – I have it ready, but I just want to ask a few questions.
In anticipation of your kind messages and instructions I greet you most cordially until I see you soon
Yours (not signed Fábry)
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
From Lev Prchala, 14.V.1958
66, St. George’s Drive, London SW1
Vysoce vážený pane doktore, drahý příteli!
Srdečný dík za Váš dopis ze dne 5.V. t.r. (MK – 5. května tohoto roku). Plně s Vámi souhlasím, že se musíme držet politických důvodů v mé záležitosti. Souhlasím také s Vámi, že je nutné, abychom se sešli. Domnívám se, že nejlepší místo pro nai schůzku by byl Bonn. Byl jsem totiž pozván do Stuttgartu na Sudetskoněmecký sjezd a mám již volnou letenku do Stuttgartu. Jedná se nyní o to, kdy bonnský parlament bude zasedat, abychom tam našli Jaksche a Frenzla – zda to bude v posledním týdnu květnovém anebo v prvním týdnu v červnu. Snažil jsem se to již vypátrat, ale ani na telegram, ani na telefon nedostalo se mi odpovědi. Proto navrhuji: až se to dozvím ve Stuttgartu, zaslal bych Vám okamžitě o tom telegrafickou zprávu, v níž bych také navrhl den naší schůzky v Bonnu. Můj telegram můžete očekávat dne 23.V. t.r. – Vás bych pak, Vážený pane doktore prosil, abyste mi telegraficky sdělil, zda s mým návrhem souhlasíte.
Dnes se uvidím s Dr. Paulinym a budu jej informovat o Vašem dopisu.
Očekávaje Vaši laskavou odpověď ještě do Londýna,
jsem se srdečným pozdravem
Váš oddaný
Prchala
→
Highly respected doctor, dear friend!
Sincere thanks for your letter of 5.V. this year (MK – 5 May this year). I fully agree with you that we must stick to political considerations in my matter. I also agree with you that it is imperative that we meet. I believe that the best place to meet would be Bonn. I have been invited to Stuttgart for the Sudeten German Congress and I already have a free ticket to Stuttgart. The question now is when the Bonn parliament will meet so that we can find Jaksch and Frenzel there – whether it will be in the last week of May or the first week of June. I have already tried to find out, but neither the telegram nor the telephone has been answered. I therefore suggest that when I hear about this in Stuttgart, I should send you a telegraphic message immediately, in which I would also suggest a date for our meeting in Bonn. You can expect my telegram on the 23rd of May – I would then ask you, Dear Doctor, to tell me by telegraph whether you agree with my proposal.
I shall see Dr. Pauliny today and inform him of your letter.
Expecting your kind reply still to London,
I am your devoted
Prchala
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
From Lev Prchala, 19.6.1958
t.č. Rieneck 235 bei Gemünden am Main
Vysoce vážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
přijměte, prosím, ještě jednou můj srdečný dík za Vaši obětavou a přátelskou pomoc. Můj krátký pobyt v Bonnuve společnosti Vaší milostivé paní choti a Vaší mně zůstane ještě dlouho milou vzpomínkou na vzácné lidi a krásné Slovensko. V příloze dovoluji si zaslati 6 mnou podepsaných formulářů a jsem s ruky políbením a se srdečným pozdravem
Váš
Prchala
PS: 27. t.m. budu již zpět v Londýně, 2 Cleve Rd., NW6
→
(at that time) Rieneck 235 bei Gemünden am Main (Germany)
Dear Doctor, dear friend,
please accept once again my heartfelt thanks for your dedicated and friendly help. My short stay in Bonn in the company of your gracious wife and your [daughter – TB] will remain for a long time a pleasant memory of the precious people and beautiful Slovakia. Enclosed I take the liberty of sending you 6 forms signed by me and with my hand kisses and warm regards
Yours
Prchala
PS: I shall be back in London, 2 Cleve Rd., NW6 on the 27th of this month.
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
no date – Karlspreis / Sudetendeutscher Tag Stuttgart, 25.5.1958???
(Reichsbahn-Hotel & Bahnhof-Turmhotel Stuttgart, Hans Loeble)
Vysoce vážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
vracím Vám tímto mnou podepsanou kopii (zázrkami?). Lituji, že jste nebyl přítomen na dnešní evropské oslavě, která se mimo každé očekávání skvěle vydařila. Mluvil jsem s poslancem Frenzelem a smluvil s ním schůzku na 10.6.1958 v Bonnském parlamentě. Jakše jsem nestihl, poněvadž odjel na pohřeb svého bratra, který prý náhle zemřel. Těším se na shledanou s Vámi v Bonnu a to dne 10.6.1958. Budu bydlet v hotelu Krone (?) naproti hlavnímu nádraží.
Milostivé paní ruku líbám, Vás srdečně zdraví Váš oddaný
Prchala
PS: Přeji Vám i Vaší milostivé paní chotišťastnou cestu.
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Highly respected doctor, dear friend,
I hereby return to you a copy signed by me (by miracles?). I regret that you were not present at today’s European celebration, which, beyond all expectations, was a great success. I have spoken to MEP Frenzel and arranged a meeting with him on 10 June 1958 in the Bonn Parliament. I was unable to meet Jakš because he had gone to attend the funeral of his brother, who is said to have died suddenly. I look forward to seeing you in Bonn on 10.6.1958. I will be staying at the Hotel Krone (?) opposite the main station.
I kiss your gracious lady’s hand and send you my heartfelt greetings from your devoted
Prchala
PS: I wish you and your gracious lady a happy journey
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
From Lev Prchala, 2.7.1958
Vážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
srdečný dík za Váš ctěný dopis z 28.6.1958, jakož i za přílohu, kterou Vám přiloženě vracím. Děkuji také za lístek z Gemünden, který mi zaslala Vaše milostivá paní choť do Rienecku. Nyní jsem opět v tom zaplakaném Londýně a marně vzpomínám na krásné chvíle, které jsem v Bonnu prožil va Vaší a Vaší milostivé paní společnosti. Dejž Bože, aby páni v Kölnu moji žádost příznivě posoudili. Pak bych měl po starostech a letěl bych rovnou do Ženevy, abych Vám, vážený pane doktore, osobně poděkoval a milostivé paní složil svou poklonu. V Německu jsem obdržel také dopis od svého přítele Dr. Hönigera, bývalého majora justiční služby v Košicích, v němž mi sděluje, že chce s Vámi navázat spojení a dát své služby k Vaší disposici. Je to velmi čestný chlap, sportovec, který po Mnichově vydržel v armádě až do posledního okamžiku a nechal se pak pensionovat. Rozhodně nepatřil k těm Němcům, kteří v neštěstí ??? opouštěli potápějící se loď.
Milostivé paní ruku líbá, Vás srdečně zdraví, Váš oddaný
Prchala
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Dear Doctor, dear friend,
my heartfelt thanks for your esteemed letter of 28.6.1958, as well as for the enclosure which I am returning to you. Thank you also for the note from Gemünden, which your kind wife sent me in Rieneck. I am now back in that weepy London and I am vainly recalling the beautiful moments I spent in Bonn in your and your gracious wife’s company. God grant that the gentlemen in Cologne may consider my application favourably. Then my worries would be over, and I would fly straight to Geneva to thank you personally and to pay my respects to your ladyship. In Germany I also received a letter from my friend Dr. Höniger, a former major in the judicial service in Košice, in which he tells me that he wishes to make contact with you and place his services at your disposal. He is a very honest man, a sportsman, who after Munich lasted in the army until the last moment and then retired. He certainly wasn’t one of those Germans who abandoned a sinking ship in a disaster.
I kiss the hand of the gracious lady, I greet you warmly, your devoted
Prchala
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
From Lev Prchala, 22.VIII.1958
2, Cleve Rd. London NW6
Vážený pane doktore, drahý příteli!
Srdečný dík za lístek z Bonnu a za Váš ctěný dopis ze dne 17. t.m. ze Ženevy. Je mi opravdu líto, že došlo k nedorozumění ohledně mého zastoupení. Došlo k tomu tak, že po Vašem odjezdu ze Stuttgartu mne navštívil Dr. Höniger, jejž jsem požádal o svědectví ve věci mého pronásledování z politických důvodů. Dr. Höniger byl totiž majorem justiční služby v Košcích a může býti důležitým svědkem v mé věci.
Bohužel Dr. Höniger, který je nyní sám advokátem v Západním Německu (bydlí v blízkosti Stuttgartu), učinil více – ve saze mně prospět. Než jsem od něho žádal. Ukázal jsem mu při osobním setkání odpověď kolínského presidenta a tu Dr. Höniger – ač jsem jej výslovně upozornil, že Vy jste mým právním zástupcem a požádal, aby se s Vámi přími dorozuměl – napsal přímo Regierungspresidentovi dopis z 12.6.1958 o prodloužení lhůty. Při tom – patrně, aby svou intervenci blíže odůvodnil, užil – jak z opisu vidno – rčení, že jsem jej „pověřil péčí o mé zájmy“.
Není pochyby, že tak učinil v nejlepším úmyslu v obavě, aby nebyla promeškána lhůta. Bylo by mně velmi líto, kdybyste se z toho důvodu rozhněval na mne nebo na Dr. Hönigera. Sám Vás prosím, abyste mi laskavě prominul, jestliže jsem snad věc „zbabral“, ale současně, abyste se na Dr. Hönigera nezlobil, že Vám hned nenapsal, jak bylo jeho povinností a oč jsem jej také požádal. Na druhé straně by však bylo opravdu škoda, nepoužít jeho služeb a rozsáhlých styků, které mi nabídl ochotně ze staré známosti. Ostatně si vzpomínám, že po návratu do Londýna jsem se Vám zmínil o Dr. Hönigerovi v dopise, který jsem Vám hned napsal. Nyní napíši Dr. Hönigerovi do Winnenden znovu, aby neopomenul přímo s Vámi se dorozumět o meritu věci. Byl bych opravdu šťasten, kdybyste se dohodli o spolupráci a společném postupu.
Dr. Locherovi jsem vyřídil Vaše vzkazy. Byl však v posledních týdnech opět churav srdeční chorobou, vzniklou z loňského úrazu. Slíbil však, že Vám napíše přímo, jakmile zdravotní stav mu dovolí.
Ještě jednou Vám děkuji za Vaši neúnavnou péči a obětavou činnost za nás všechny a jsem s rukypolíbením milostivé paní
Váš oddaný
Prchala
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Dear Doctor, dear friend!
My sincere thanks for the note from Bonn and for your esteemed letter of the 17th of this month from Geneva. I am really sorry that there has been a misunderstanding about my representation. It happened that after your departure from Stuttgart I was visited by Dr. Höniger, whom I asked to give evidence on the matter of my persecution for political reasons. Dr. Höniger was a major in the judicial service in Košice and can be an important witness in my case.
Unfortunately, Dr. Höniger, who is now himself a lawyer in West Germany (he lives near Stuttgart), has done more – in an effort to benefit me. than I had asked of him. I showed him in a personal meeting the reply of the President of Cologne, and here Dr. Höniger – although I had expressly informed him that you were my attorney and asked him to communicate with you directly – wrote a letter dated 12.6.1958 directly to the Regierungspresident for an extension of time. In doing so, apparently in order to further justify his intervention, he used – as can be seen from the description – the phrase that I had ‘entrusted him to look after my interests’.
There is no doubt that he did so with the best of intentions, fearing that the deadline would be missed. I should be very sorry if you were angry with me or Dr. Höniger for that reason. I would ask you to forgive me if I have perhaps “botched” the matter, but at the same time not to be angry with Dr. Höniger for not writing to you immediately, as was his duty and as I had asked him to do. On the other hand, however, it would be a real pity not to use his services and the extensive contacts which he has offered me willingly out of old acquaintance. Incidentally, I remember that on my return to London I mentioned Dr. Höniger to you in a letter which I wrote to you at once. I shall now write to Dr. Höniger in Winnenden again, so that he may not fail to communicate directly with you on the merits of the matter. I would be very happy if you could agree on cooperation and joint action.
I have conveyed your messages to Dr. Locher. However, he has been sick again in recent weeks with a heart condition arising from an accident last year. But he has promised to write to you directly as soon as his health permits.
I thank you again for your untiring care and dedication on behalf of us all, and I am hand in hand with the gracious lady
Your devoted
Prchala
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
From Lev Prchala, 21.X.1958
Velevážený pane doktore, drahý příteli,
srdečně děkuji za Váš ctěný dopis z 20.X.1958, jakož i letecký lístek, který přiloženě vracím. Velmi lituji, že nemohu vyhovět Vašemu přání a přiletět do Paříže. Jsem opravdu churav a kromě toho zabraňují tomu i jiné překážky. Promiňte!
Milostivé paní uctivě ruku líbá, Vás srdečně zdraví Váš oddaný
Prchala
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Dear Doctor, dear friend,
I thank you very much for your esteemed letter of 20.X.1958, as well as the air ticket (MK – air ticket), which I enclose. I regret very much that I am unable to comply with your wish and come to Paris. I am really sick and there are other obstacles preventing it. Excuse me!
Gracious ladies respectful hand kisses, I greet you cordially
Your devoted
Prchala
[Translation: Miroslav Kamenik / 17.4.2025]
From Lev Prchala, 16.XI.1958 (viditelná změna v rukopisu, těžko čitelný / hard to read handwriting)
L.Prchala
2, Cleve Rd.
London NW6
Vážený pane doktore a drahý příteli,
srdečně Vám, drahý příteli, děkuji za Váš dopis z 13. t.m., jakož i za přiložený šek na Ł100 (GBP), 20 dollarů a 50 swiss francs v bankovkách.
Nevím, čím jsem si tuto Vaši laskavost zasloužil a jak za ni poděkovat. I když tyto peníze považujete za zálohu na eventuální rentu (?) a doplatky, nemohu přece než prozatím upřímně děkovat a obdivovat Vaši důvěru k mé osobě a Vaše dobré opravdu křesťanské srdce.
Snad Bůh se nade mnou smiluje a dopřeje mi, abych se Vám mohl odvděčiti za Vaši laskavost a za Vaši namáhavou a obětavou práci, kterou si dáváte s mou záležitostí. Jsem přesvědčen, že bude korunována úspěchem.
Věřte, že bych se rád byl dostavil do Paříže, ale zaprvé selhalo moje zdraví a zadruhé že to moje sociální závislost na Czech Refugee Trust Fund a na maličké penzi, kterou týdně pobírám, které téměř neumožňují každé moje cestování. Penzi (Ł 2-7-0) bych musel před odjezdem na čas mé nepřítomnosti z V.Br. Vypovědět a Cz.R.T.F., v jehož domě bydlíme, musel by k cestě dáti svůj souhlas. To je moje situace, jež je kromě toho tím komplikovanější, poněvadž mám ženu, která na těchto soc. podporách je závislá stejně jako já. (?) pomoc by byla renta z Německa, která by nám poskytla možnost slušnější existence a trochu větší svobody.
Co se týče doplnění mé žádosti o náhradu za ztracený majetek jsem Vám rád k dispozici, prozatím bohužel jen zde v Anglii. Jsem šťasten, že spojenými silami se nám podařilo zmařit intriky sl. J. (Jenček?). Správně jsme odhadli již v Bonnu, kdo se za (?) touto ….ou skrývá a čas potvrdil náš posudek. Je to lekce pro p. presidenta v Kolíně, ale bohužel i pro Vás, jemuž za dobrotu a šlechetnost se odplatilo strašným nevděkem.
Doufám, že jste se přes tuto nemilou a bolestivou příhodu již šťastně přenesl a že Vaše zdraví tím příliš neutrpělo.
Modlím se za Vás a za Vaši vzácnou pani manželku, za Vaše zdraví a štěstí a jsem
Váš oddaný
Prchala
PS: Žena děkuje a upřímně za Váš milý pozdrav a posílá srdečné pozdravy Vaší choti a Vám, drahý pane doktore a příteli.
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Dear Doctor and dear friend,
I thank you most heartily for your letter of the 13th instant, and for the enclosed cheque for £100 (GBP), 20 dollars and 50 swiss francs in notes.
I do not know what I have done to deserve this kindness and how to thank you for it. Even if you consider this money as a deposit for the eventual annuity (?) and supplementary payments, I cannot but for the present sincerely thank and admire your confidence in my person and your good truly Christian heart.
May God have mercy on me and grant that I may repay you for your kindness and for the laborious and devoted work you are putting into my cause. I am confident that it will be crowned with success.
Believe me, I would have liked to have come to Paris, but firstly my health has failed and secondly it is my social dependence on the Czech Refugee Trust Fund and the tiny pension I receive weekly that make any travel almost impossible. The pension (£2-7-0) would have to be paid to me before I could leave for the time of my absence from Great Britain. I would have to give notice and Cz.R.T.F., in whose house we live, would have to give his consent to the journey. This is my situation, which is all the more complicated because I have a wife who is as dependent on these social benefits as I am. (?) Help would be an annuity from Germany, which would give us the possibility of a moredecent existence and a little more freedom.
I am happy to be of service to you regarding the completion of my application for compensation for lost property, unfortunately for the time being only here in England. I am happy that by joining forces we have been able to thwart Ms. J. (?) intrigues. We correctly guessed back in Bonn who was behind … (not legible) and time has confirmed our assessment. It is a lesson for Mr. President in Cologne, but unfortunately also for you, whose kindness and generosity have been repaid with terrible ingratitude.
I hope that you have got over this unpleasant and painful episode happily, and that your health has not suffered much.
I pray for you and for your precious wife, for your health and happiness and am
your devoted
Prchala
PS: My wife thanks and sincerely for your kind greetings and sends her heartfelt regards to your wife and to you, dear doctor and friend.
Real photo postcard from Dr. Ivan Krno, 22 Feb. 1935, sent from Wengen, Switzerland, to “Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Pavel Fabry, advokat, Bratislava, Hafnerova, Czechoslovakia”. Ivan Krno stands at center, with his wife and three sons. Translation of letter from Dr. Ivan Krno in New York to Dr. Pavel Fabry in Geneva, certified in Geneva on 12 May 1958. Ivan lived in exile from 1948 until his death in 1961.
“New York, 7 May 1958
Dear Friend,
In accordance with your request, I confirm that you have always financially helped my mother, Mrs. Emilia Krno nee Fajnor, when communications between her and me was interrupted. You supported her until her death. Due to my severe nervous illness from which I suffered as a result of Nazi persecution, I only learned of her death a few weeks after her funeral.
You took care of her as a loyal friend and as godfather to my sons.
Vlado with his “Maminka” Olga Fabry, Geneva, circa 1948, after she had fled Czechoslovakia.Letter from World’s YWCA Associate General Secretary Jacq van Stoetwegen, confirming the testimony of Olga Fabry.
“To Whom It May Concern
This is to certify that Mrs. Olga Fabry, of Bratislava, Haffnerweg 4, who is at present a refugee in Geneva, was formerly President of the Y.W.C.A. in Bratislava, Slovakia. Before and during the war, she carried faithfully and efficiently this important office in the Y.W.C.A. in Czechoslovakia. During the German occupation and Nazi domination, she was threatened and was sent away from Bratislava. In spite of protests made by Mrs. Fabry and others, no educational activities were permitted in the Y.W.C.A after the occupation, and although certain other services continued for a short time, the buildings were then confiscated, and the Association dissolved by the Nazis.”
I have received some mysterious emails over the years, but none as mysterious as this one, sent November 26th. I have not included the photos that were attached in the message from Mrs. Anna Hrabovska, a Slovak diplomat working at the Slovak Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, but, if they are legitimate, it shows that the Fabry family grave has been removed and replaced with two very plain crosses made of wood – I don’t know who those crosses are for, but where are our relatives? Victor and I visited the grave in 2009, and 2013 was the last time I visited (I posted the above photo here in 2013). The grave was in Cimetiere du Petit-Saconnex.
This document for Pavel Fabry, and the document below, confirms that the Fabry grave is in Cimetiere du Petit-Saconnex. There are also 3 documents from the designer of the gravestone, Jacques Colliard.Screenshot of the cemetery. When you zoom on the 2013 photo I took of the grave, you can see a large and distinct grave behind on the right. To the right of the grave and across the one-lane road, there is a sign post with a number “5”, and you can see a building further to right. I have circled the building and the location of the Fabry family grave.Zoomed in further, the large and distinctive grave seen in my 2013 photo is circled, and the location of the Fabry grave is circled and marked with an “X”.
I am presenting Anna’s message publicly, to ask for help from friends living in Geneva and in the United Nations – would someone please confirm if the Fabry family grave is missing? How can this even happen?
With good wishes and thanks for detective help! – Tara
………………………………………………………………………………..
Dear Tara,
My name is Anna, and I am a Slovak diplomat currently serving at the Slovak Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the remarkable work you’ve done with the blog about Vladimir Fabry. It’s a beautifully crafted tribute that truly honors his memory and legacy.
As you may know, November 23rd would have marked his 104th birthday. To pay my respects to this brave and inspiring man from Slovakia, I decided to visit his grave and light a candle in his honor. I printed a photo from your blog and went to the cemetery in Petit-Saconnex, only to discover, to my surprise, that the Fabry family grave was no longer there.
The following day, I contacted the Cemetery Administration for guidance. The representative informed me that Vladimir Fabry, listed as being from New York, is buried at the Saint George Cemetery, section 5. However, despite my efforts to locate the grave today, I was unable to find it. Please see in the attachment current photos from both cemeteries.
Since you are close to the family, may I kindly ask if his remains have been relocated or if there is additional information about the exact location of his grave? I couldn’t find any articles or updates regarding this matter.
Thank you so much for your time and assistance. I deeply appreciate any help you can provide.
The following documents and photos are from November 1918 to December 1920, they are in Hungarian and I am not able to translate them – I will return later to transcribe some of these. I hope to give a clearer picture of why Pavel Fabry, and his family, were the target of retaliation and revenge by Hungary and Russia, and why Russia still occupies our home in Bratislava – the house belongs to the city of Bratislava now, my husband and I donated it!
Marked on reverse: “Luhačovice August 1918″. Pavel Fabry sits front and center, Olga Fabry is second woman on the right; the two men standing far left and far right appear to be our relatives, Igor and Miloš Makovický, but I have not identified the others, yet.Unidentified Slovak ladies, with our grandmother Olga Fabry-Palka far right, circa 1918.Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, 1st President of Czechoslovakia, 1918-1935. Photo plate from “Zlata Knihá Slovenska: 1918-1928” (“Golden Book of Slovakia”)Our copy of “Golden Book of Slovakia”; published 1929.From “Golden Book of Slovakia”, Dr. Pavel Fabry.Document from 15 November 1918.Budapest, 16 November 1918.Letter from Budapest, 17 November 1918.Reverse of letter from Budapest, 17 November 1918; with cancellation stamps, December 6 and 7, 1918.Prague, December 10, 1918Letter from Zilina, 24 December 1918.Letter from Prague, 28 December 1918.Political flyer from Presov, 8 July 1919.This photo is marked in pen on reverse “Saris, Tatuskova, slavnost 11 jan. 1920”. Pavel Fabry(Tatuskova) at center, speaking to the crowd; “slavnost” is Slovak for ‘celebration’.Presov, 8 June 1920.
When I think about the lives of my relatives, and spend time holding their personal belongings in my hands, there is a feeling of love so real that expands my heart, that reminds me I am connected to everyone and everything. It is like they are speaking in my ear, encouraging me to learn from their lives, to have a positive attitude in times of trouble, to greet the world with love and not with fear. Love is an energy that is open to the new and the unknown, that wants to know and to understand and heal what is broken, that believes in the best in others, and to love courageously is the greatest goal.
I have attempted in the past to translate the following document in German from Pavel Fabry, but it deserves a better translation, and I am posting it here for those fluent in German to help me.
The mention of Valerian Zorin in this testimony is the one thing that has always stood out for me. Valerian Zorin was the Soviet ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1945-47, and in 1948 he helped organize the Coup d’état in Czechoslovkia; he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union from 1947-1955 and 1956-1965, and also the permanent Soviet representative for the United Nations Security Council from 1952-53 and from 1956-1965. Valerian was not a friend to Pavel and Vlado or any Fabry, and because of his high rank he likely gave the order for the seizure of our home in Bratislava in 1948, making it their Russian embassy; and for ordering the arrest, detention, and torture of Pavel Fabry, on false charges, while he was on his way to Amsterdam to a meeting with the World Council of Churches. I am not sure how it felt for Vlado to work at the UN with Valerian – someone who hurt his family and friends – but good and evil has always existed, in high and low places, we have to work with our enemies and stay focused only on what is in our power to change.
Last August, I took another look through the family collection of books about Czechoslovakia. What I found was a copy of “HISTORY OF MODERN SLOVAKIA” by Jozef Lettrich, which had, sadly, been overlooked in a damp corner of the house.
But in spite of mold damage, I put it in a mylar sleeve and kept it nearby, because the book mentioned Pavel Fabry (Vladimir Fabry’s father) as one of the first to be imprisoned in a concentration camp on March 30, 1939, in the state prison of Ilava.
I recognized the book immediately, since I had seen at least a half dozen photostatic copies in my archive from page 144, underlined in the same places, which Pavel must have referred to in his case for reparations in Germany.
From Chapter Two, “Under the Swastika”, pages 143-144:
“When prisons were no longer adequate, the Slovak Government issued an order on March 24, 1939, “concerning the imprisonment of the enemies of the Slovak State.” […] This order authorized the Minister of Interior to “arrange for the jailing of persons whose past and present activities give reason to fear that they would continue to obstruct the building of the Slovak State.” The Minister of the Interior was further authorized to create “a camp for the detention of such persons in which prisoners would be compelled to perform physical labor.” Vojtech Tuka lost no time in transforming the old state prison in Ilava into a “security camp,” the first concentration camp in Slovak history. The Ilava prison thus became the home of Slovak democrats–of authors, priests, teachers, newspapermen and statesmen, as well as of simple farmers, workmen and students. The first inmates of this camp, brought there on March 30, 1939, were: Anton Štefánek, Ján Ursíny, František Zimák, Ján Pocisk, Ferdinand Benda, Karol Hušek, Ján Paulíny-Toth, Jozef Rudinský, Pavel Fábry, Andrej Djuračka, František Třešnák, Hana Styková, Vinco Mihalus and Jozef Lettrich, three Members of Parliament, two Senators, three journalists, the Chairman of the Slovak National Party, and an actress from the Slovak National Theater. Others soon followed. In the few years of existence of the Slovak State more than 3,000 persons were to pass through the gates of the Ilava concentration camp. Some remained a few days, some for months, and others for several years. They were all sent to Ilava without trial , without judgement, without indictment, merely upon a denunciation and by administrative order of the Ministry of Interior. Tuka, on April 15, 1939, made the following characteristic statement, “Those who spread alarming rumors and false reports are obstructing our way. We have made arrangements to handle all of them in Ilava. Many of them are there now and many others will follow them there. It is your duty to denounce these instigators to the police and the Hlinka Guards, and the Slovak Government will take care of them.”
I now have another copy of this book, in very good condition, signed and inscribed by Jozef Lettrich on the title page. It was only after this that I looked at the title page of the copy I found, and it was also inscribed.
Title page from second copy.
From the copy that belonged to Pavel Fabry.
When I finally started to read it, it dawned on me that this book was written by the same Jozef Lettrich that was in prison with Pavel, and that I had letters from Lettrich – Chairman of the Slovak National Council in Czechoslovakia, who was an exile living in the United States. So I went back to the boxes. I was amazed by how this one book began to illuminate what I had missed before: letters to and from Milan Hodza – Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia; Jan Pauliny-Toth – lawyer and politician; Peter Pridavok – Chairman of the Slovak National Council in London; Juraj Slavik – Czechoslovak Ambassador to the United States; General Lev Prchala; Emil Stodola, and Kornel Filo. Pavel Fabry was seeking reparations for many of these people and others in Berlin, as their lawyer, so I have some of their testimonies, in Slovak, German and French.
But then I found two letters from Franz Karmasin, one of them signed. Franz Karmasin was state secretary for the German Minority, under President of Slovakia and Catholic Priest Jozef Tiso: an anti-semite who collaborated with Hitler and was key in making the Slovak State the first Nazi ally in the Final Solution, deporting tens of thousands of Jewish people to their extermination – he was hanged after WWII; Karmasin was also senticed to death but escaped prosecution and was living in exile in Munich. From what I was able to translate, Karmasin seems to be arguing against something Pavel said about him – and he begins his first letter in praising Pavel on his son Vlado – The Hague and Nuremberg are also mentioned. There were no letters from Pavel to Karmasin. I’ve transcribed the letters here for others to translate.
Dipl. Ing. Franz Karmasin
München 8
Trogerstaße 32
München, den 8-7. 1959
Herrn
Dr. Paul Fabry
14 Chemin Thury
Geneve
Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Fabry!
Unsere gestrige Aussprache hat mich sehr stark an Aussprachen in der Heimat erinnert. Ich glaube, diese angenehme Atmosphäre gibt es nur jenseits der Karpaten. Ich bitte, es nicht als Anmassung zu betrachten, wenn ich Sie zu Ihrem prächtigen Sohn beglückwünsche. Er hat großen Eindruck auf mich gemacht und ich freue mich wirklich von ganzem Herzen, dass die slowakische Sache so einen hervorragenden Vertreter ihrer Interessen besitzt.
In der Kanzlei habe ich mir dann den sehr dicken Akt “Dr. Fabry” vorgenommen. Ich war froh, dass ich dies erst nachher getan habe, ich wäre sonst kaum zu der Besprechung gekommen. Ich habe sehr stark den Eindruck, dass Sie in der Darstellung und Beurteilung der Situation der Deutschen Volksgruppe in der Slowakei sich weniger von Tatsachen, als vielmehr von Gefühlen leiten liessen. Ich kann es verstehen, umsomehr, als die Grenzen zwischen Reichsdeutschen und Volksdeutschen von Aussen her nicht immer sichtbar waren und vor allem die Situation der Volksgruppe und der Volksgruppenführung nicht für eine öffentliche Diskussion geeignet war. Aber in Ihren Ausführungen sind Sie doch etwas hart, ich darf Ihnen das in aller fahrens mit Ihnen und Ihrem Herrn Sohn über diese Dinge diskutieren, jetzt ist nicht der geeignete Zeitpunkt dazu. Ich will Ihren nur zu bedenken geben, dass der deutsche evangelische Bischof Scherer, für dessen Ernennung ich mich übrigens sehr stark eingesetzt habe und fast alle evangelischen u. katholischen Pfarrer Mitglieder der Deutschen Partei waren und dass die Deutsche Partei bei den Nürnberger Verfahren ausgeklammert wurde, obwohl man den Aliierten bestimmt nicht Unkenntnis der Lage vorwerfen konnte. Auch das Dokumentenmaterial, wenn man es vollinhaltlich zur Kenntnis nimmt, spricht eine andere Sprache als Ihre Darstellungen. Die Offenheit, mit der wir gestern gesprochen haben, verpflichtet mich, Ihnen das zu schreiben.
Die Zusatzerklärung habe ich lt. Durchschlag an das Regierungspräsidium, an Dr. Virgano, Herrn Minister Dr. Tiso und Herrn Birkner geschickt. Ich bin gespannt, wie sich die Angelegenheit weiter entwickeln wird.
Hochachtungsvoll!
(Karmasin)
Copy
Dipl. Ing. Franz Karmasin
München 8
Trogerstaße 32
München, den. 8.7.1959
An das
Regierungspräsidium
Köln
Zeughausstr. 2-4
Sehr geehrte Herren!
Betr.: Dr. Paul Fabry
Ich habe die verschiedenen Schriftstücke im Falle Dr. Paul Fabry, soweit sie mir zur Verfügung stehen, nochmals durchgesehen und darf meine seinerzeitige Darstellung wie folgt ergänzen:
Ich habe dargelegt, dass die Behauptung, Dr. Fabry sei durch die Gestapo verhaften worden, falsch sei, da sich auf dem Gebiete der Slowakei keine Gestapo befunden hat. Dagegen hatten z.Zt. der Besetzung des slowakischen Staatsgebietes rechts der Waag während der Tschechenkrise durch deutsche Truppen Organe des Sicherheitsdienst Dienst gemacht. Ich glaube mich erinnern zu können – ohne es allerdings beschwören zu können -, dass durch die deutschen militärischen Kommandostellen Angehörige der Hlinkagarde (HG) und der Freiwilligen Schutzstaffel (FS) diesen Organen als Hilfskräfte zugeteilt wurden. Inwieweit sich diese im Zuge der revolutionären Ereignisse Übergriffe zuschulden kommen ließen, entzieht sich meiner Kenntnis, vor allem aber meiner und meiner Mitarbeiter Verantwortung. Sie unterstanden, falls sie sich in die Dienst der Deutschen Wehrmacht oder des SD begeben hatten, nicht mehr der Befehlsgewalt der Volksgruppe.
Zu dieser Ergänzung fühle ich mich verpflichtet einerseits, weil Aussenstehende die Unterschiede zwischen SD und Gestapo nicht ganz klar waren, andererseits weil mir im Interesse meiner ehemaligen Mitarbeiter selbst sehr viel an der Klärung dieser Angelegenheit liegt. Ich bitte, die Ergänzung in diesem sinne zur Kenntnis zu nehmen.
On Sunday, I watched the documentary of the McCarthy hearings, “Point of Order”, for the first time, and it is a chilling piece of political theater, composed of the 36 days of televised hearings on ABC.McCarthy was obsessed with an imaginary number of Communists and spies in the State Department, and everywhere else – a number that always changed. Because of his crazy methods and complete lack of evidence, he was censured by the United States Senate. After listening to the drone of McCarthy’s voice for an hour and a half, I wondered if he wasn’t drunk through those entire hearings. He died on May 2, 1957, at the age of 48, from acute hepatitis complicated by alcoholism.
In my American public schools, I learned that history was boring and irrelevant – perhaps it was because all of my history teachers were primarily athletic coaches – but history is a thrilling adventure, and a mirror to reflect our times. How can you not be interested in all the great and horrible details?
In connection to the time of the Army-McCarthy Hearings(April 22-June 17, 1954), I present here a letter from Ambassador C.D. Jackson to Dr. Pavel Fabry, dated February 11, 1954. On this date, Jackson was working as Special Assistant to the President for International Affairs under Dwight D. Eisenhower, and this letter was sent from Berlin during the Berlin Four Power Conference; the Conference was held from January 25 – February 18, 1954. Jackson was a busy man and had a long list of important jobs, including Deputy Chief at the Psychological Warfare Division from 1944-1945, Managing Director of Time-Life International from 1945-49, President of the anti-Communist Free Europe Committee in 1951-52, presidential speech writer for Eisenhower’s 1952 campaign, adviser to the President on psychological warfare from February 1953 to March 1954, U.S. Delegate to the Ninth General Assembly at the UN in 1954, and other illustrious titles.
(click images to enlarge)
Dr. Pavel Fabry drew wonderful pictures that he sent in letters to his friends and family, so I can guess that is what he sent to Mr. Jackson. I offer you one of the finest examples of his work from my collection, “You go slowly but surely”, showing the Palais des Nations in Geneva, which he made for his daughter, Olga:
I have this one framed and hung in my office, to inspire me.
I’m curious if Jackson really did keep and frame what Pavel sent to him, and I wonder what it looked like – there is no copy of it here that I can find. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, in Abilene, Kansas, has the collection of Jackson’s letters from 1931-1967, so if anyone has the letter and drawing from Pavel, they do.
Vlado 