Pitter Přemysl

Pitter, Přemysl Přemysl Pitter was born in Prague in 1895. After World War i and the situation it created, he devoted himself to people in need and he established an orphanage in the poorest area of Prague that he called “Milíč House.” When the persecution of Jews started, Pitter immediately placed himself on the side of the persecuted. Among the people Pitter helped was Otta Ginz. Pitter published newspaper articles under a pseudonym to assist Ginz with his financial difficulties. Pitter also used to visit his and other Jewish families to update them with the news, raise their spirits, and bring them much needed provisions. He also constantly supplied milk to the Jewish children’s orphanage on Belgická Street. He did not cease this help even after the Gestapo interrogated him and he continued extending help until the end of the war. Pitter also collected money to distribute among the Jews in need. In his lectures he encouraged his people to help Jews, telling them God would compensate them for their help. He sent food packages to his friends who were deported to concentration camps. When mixed couples were due to be deported, he warned them to find a hiding place, and he himself hid a few of them in his orphanage. Throughout all this time, Olga Fierz*, a Swiss citizen living in Prague, helped him and supplied him with food. Soon after the end of the war, Pitter was appointed as a member of the National Committee. In this capacity, he went to Terezín and transferred the surviving children to different health resorts across the country. He took care of their health needs, education, and nutrition, and found parents to adopt the orphaned children. About 35 of the children he helped moved to Israel. Yehuda Bakon, Magda Bar-Or, and Dan Reim are among those who later thanked this courageous man for his efforts. Following the rise of communism, Pitter was forced to escape. He immigrated to Germany and eventually settled in Switzerland. Pitter died in 1976. A memorialceremony for him took place in 1995, on what would have been his 100th birthday. Karl University in Prague and unesco, among others, sponsored the event. On October 13, 1964, Yad Vashem recognized Přemysl Pitter as Righteous Among the Nations.