Finding Wolf

There’s so much that I want to write about Otto and Felicitas Wolf. I wanted to write a proper biography on them. The only things I know have been written in the book Salvaged Pages by Alexandra Zapruder. I want to know more about what happened after the war. What was the view on Otto and was he spoken about? Was it too painful for the family to speak about him or Kurt Wolf (1915–1943) (the oldest son)? What were the family dynamics like? I know Felicitas was close with Otto, but what about Kurt? Kurt left the Czech Republic to go to Russia, he thought it was safer than the Czech Republic.

In 1942, the Wolf family received their deportation notices. They didn’t board the train to Terezin. If they did, they would be history, never to be seen from or heard from again. Felicitas said they “declined this invitation” and went into hiding instead. They were living in Trsice, and with the help of a local farmer and painter, Jaroslav Zdařil( also known as Slavek). For two years, they were hidden under his protection. But in 1944, their relationship got so toxic and demeaning with Slavek, that they sought refuge with their former maid Marenka (Maria) Zbořilová. She hid them in the attic of her house. Her husband was always hesitant of having them there, and in March of 1945. After that, the family were hidden by strangers, the Ohera Family in Zakrov. They seemed happy there until April of 1945. On April 19, 1945, Otto was mistaken for a partisan by the Vlasov Troops, Russians fighting for the Germans.

Otto was murdered on April 20, 1945 by bullets and fire. Felicitas was the only Wolf sibling to survive. Kurt also died. He was shot in action fighting the Germans. He fought for the Czech Army as their doctor.

Felicitas and her parents survived the war. As Otto is known for his diary, Felicitas picked up his diary and completed it for him. She wrote what happened to him and how they were all in danger.

Felicitas who had turned twenty-five began to rebuild her life. Otto’s diaries were saved by Felicitas and she kept them with her. The Wolf’s moved back to Olomouc where they lived in an apartment.

After the war, Felicitas opened a clothing store in Olomouc. She had obtained a trade license. She supported her parents with her work. She also cared for her seriously ill mother until she died in 1952. She had suffered a massive stroke after hearing the news of both of her sons deaths, which she received on the same day.

She married a man named Otto Gratzer. They already knew each other from primary school.

When the Communist came to power in 1948, the clothing store was nationalized without compensation. Felicitas continued to work, but slowly became uncomfortable with the new regime. After she married her husband, she moved to Ostrava where it was easier for her husband to find a job.

She gave birth to two daughters, one who is named Eva. After Berthold’s death, Felicitas became the guardian of brother Otto’s diaries.

In 1968, she became so uncomfortable with the Commiunist and decided to move to the United States, changing her last name from Gratzer to Garda, They settled in Miami, Florida. She was forty-eight at the time. She worked exclusively in clothing stores.

She took Otto’s diaries with her and in 1995, she donated all four volumes of Otto’s diaries, as well as photos of Otto, her, her parents and Kurt to the new United States Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, stating that she could no longer handle the diaries. His memory haunted her and she needed to be sure that after she was gone, that it was going to be taken care of. Otto’s death remained very painful for her and she did not bring him up much. Kurt’s death was also painful for her to talk about. She was seventy-five when she donated the diaries. The diaries are still at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today.

She did not realize that by donating her brother’s diaries to the museum that she would be saving and preserving him, and giving him a new life. She did not realize that with this, she was giving him a legacy. With this, she gave us the gift of her brother.

Everything the Nazis tried to destroy, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is trying to save. Felicitas donated to the museum when it was just two years old and survivors were still donating their belongings to the museum for preservation.

Otto’s diaries remain to be the only connection we have to Felicitas.

Felicitas died on June 7, 2006 at the age of eighty-six.

I don’t know much after that. I only one one of her daughter’s names, I know she had two. But I can’t find any obituary for Felicitas or anything. I have written her daughter, Eva and have heard nothing. I will try writing her again and hope she replies the second time I send the letter. Otto and Felicitas are people who I want to write about and find out about their stories other than what I have found in research.

If anyone has any information on Felicitas or the family, I’d love to know what you have! Please reach out to me at findingottowolf@gmail.com