“Rudolf Frastacky – chief representative of the Union of Small Farmers’ Mutual Savings Banks and one of the significant figures in the Agrarian Movement from the end of the thirties and first half of the forties, was one of the personalities from Slovak economic and political life, who spent the rest of his life in exile, because of the changed political conditions after February 1948.”
[…]
“His position in companies representing Slovak sugar abroad enabled him to make regular business trips abroad, especially to Switzerland. As one of the representatives of the civil wing of the anti-fascist struggle during the Second World War, he used his legal trips abroad to establish courier contacts with foreign resistance elements. Together with Jaromir Kopecky, a member of the Czechoslovak legation to the League of Nations in Geneva, he built on Swiss soil one of the most intensive and widest links between the leadership of the domestic resistance on one side and the Czechoslovak government in exile in London on the other.”
The undersigned Rudolf Frastacky, elected Vice President of the the Slovak National Council and the National Government, and President of the Official Slovak-Swiss Society, currently exiled in Toronto, where he is President of the Council of Free Slovakia in Canada, willingly declares:
I have known Dr. Pavel Fabry through his public activities since my younger years. His self-sacrificing contribution to the consolidation of the situation after World War 1, especially in the eastern part of Slovakia, was widely recognized, and this fact is also highlighted in books from this era. The Slovak encyclopedia (page 37) also commends this activity.
In particular, in the suppression of the Hungarian-Communist invasion under the leadership of Bela Kun and the notorious Rakosi, Dr. Fabry rendered great service as plenipotentiary commissioner of the government at the Eastern High Command of Slovakia, and since that time he has been considered an eminent enemy of communism.
After leaving government service, he devoted himself to his legal career, particularly representing industry, especially the agricultural sector. As Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Industrial Federation, he endeavored to comply with the wishes of the Swiss delegation in the trade agreements, particularly with regard to quotas for industrial agricultural products.
For the industry under his leadership as President of the association, he always imported the machinery, refrigeration systems, boilers, etc., from Switzerland.
When I founded the Slovak-Swiss Society, my ambition was to win Dr. Pavel Fabry’s cooperation, not only for the reasons mentioned above regarding his economic activities, but mainly because it was generally known that he was actually of Swiss descent, as his ancestors immigrated to what was then Upper Hungary – now Slovakia – and they themselves, as well as their descendants, played a considerable role in economic life, as well as spiritual and ecclesiastical life.
Dr. Fabry naturally took on this role with enthusiasm and self-sacrifice and was spontaneously elected as active vice president of this society – again for the reasons stated above. He hosted the society free of charge in his own premises in Tolstojgasse [Tolstoy Lane, Vienna, Austria], and the society’s written agenda was maintained by him or one of his employees. He contributed large sums (tens of thousands) to the budget. During visits by prominent Swiss personalities from the economic and scientific world, he made his house and his property available to the guests in Slovakia in order to fully achieve the goals of their trips, as these personalities always acknowledged with gratitude.
He placed particular emphasis on economic relations and supported them with all his might. I will give one example among others. When a shortage of malt arose in Switzerland in 1946/47, he ensured that the Slovak breweries provided large quantities of malt and malted barley from their own reserves in order to supplement the quotas for Switzerland.
Even if I cannot cite all his deeds, which he carried out in the context of his above-mentioned activity, I can declare with a clear conscience that Switzerland can be proud of this loyalty to the homeland of his ancestors.
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
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.
Text of the telegram sent to the President of UNO.
10th January, 1946
The Slovak National Council, 8, Wilton Crescent, London, S.W.1., solemnly protests against the so-called Czechoslovak Delegation pretending to represent the Slovak nation at the United Nations General Assembly.
Czechoslovakia ceased to exist on March 14, 1939, when the elected representatives of the Slovak people declared Slovakia’s independence. The newly created structure, also called Czechoslovakia, the representatives of which will try to pretend representing the Slovak people, does neither territorially nor constitutionally, correspond with the defunct Czechoslovak Republic. Moreover, it has been set up against the will of the Slovak people. Contrarywise to all pledges given by the Allies to the nations of the world, the Slovak people are not permitted to [choose] the State and the form of government under which they desire to live. We claim freedom for our people and independence for our country. We demand a free, unfettered and internationally controlled plebiscite to ascertain whether the Slovak people are in favor of Czechoslovakia or whether they wish to retain their nationhood regained after one thousand years of subjugation in 1939. Slovakia cannot be represented at this Conference by a clique of usurpers, foisted on our people by foreign powers. Any commitments entered into by Mr. Benes’ emissaries in the name of the Slovak people are not binding. The Slovak people will never give up the struggle for their freedom and independence of which they have been deprived in the name of freedom for all nations.
At this opportunity we also protest against the extradition for trial to Mr. Benes‘ impostor Government of the President and members of the Government of the Republic of Slovakia by the Allied military authorities in Austria. The main “crime” of these people, according to Mr. Benes, is that they stood for the freedom and independence of Slovakia. If they or any other Slovaks are guilty of real war crimes they should be tried by independent Slovak Courts or by an impartial international Tribunal, not by a mob calling itself “People’s Court”.
Unless justice is done to the Slovak nation, living in the very heart of Europe, as well as to other nations of Central Europe, there is little hope that either the UNITED NATIONS or any other international organization will succeed in solving the problems of the European Continent in a just and lasting manner and in creating real peace.
Peter Pridavok, Chairman
Karol Vycnodil, Secretary
Vlado 