Fierz Olga

Fierz, Olga During the German occupation of Bohemia and Moravia, there was an orphanage called Milíč in the Žižkov quarter of Prague and Přemysl Pitter* was the director. The institution also accepted and sheltered Jewish children. Olga Fierz, a Swiss citizen living in Prague at the time, helped Pitter in taking care of the Jewish children. Her status allowed her to get food and other supplies despite the strict rationing. People who knew Fierz personally admitted that without her help it would have been impossible for Pitter to rescue the Jewish children. During the war, Fierz did more than just help in Pitter’s orphanage. Marcela Varady-Klein recalled that Fierz often visited the convalescent home in Mýto u Rokycan where she and other Jewish children were hidden and checked on the well-being of those sheltered there. Fierz also visited other needy Jewish families and supplied them with basic provisions. Fierz continued her work at Milíč even after the Gestapo, suspecting that the orphanage was being used to shelter Jewish children, took Pitter away for interrogation. She continued extending help until the end of the war, and even a bit after. Many of those assisted by Fierz later immigrated to Israel, from where they kept in contact with her. On May 31, 1966, Yad Vashem recognized Olga Fierz as Righteous Among the Nations.