ThDr. Josef Miklík

We were still suffering in Terezín and were comforting our hopes for a better future, but even then numerous friends asked me to write" Memories from Terezín ". I confess, at first I was reluctant, it was a torment for me to remember again the horrors we experienced. I finally promised that future generations will at least see how much we have redeemed their freedom and will appreciate it all more.
From the book Memories from Terezín

Josef Miklík after returning from Terezín, source: Archive of the Redemptorists Svatá Hora

Humanity beyond the instinct of self-preservation and loving respect for the Scripture are qualities that characterize the personality of the priest ThDr. Josef Miklík, CSsR. He was born on March 1, 1886 in Tlumačov and was undoubtedly formed from his childhood for his later career. The mother, her relationship to faith and people, played a major role in his upbringing. He returned to her legacy all his life as an inspiration and as a support in difficult moments. His love for her probably carried over into his lifelong love for the Virgin Mary.

Josef Miklík, sitting at the bottom right, source: archive of the Redemptorists Svatá Hora

He received a deep education not only at domestic church institutes, but also at the Papal Biblical Institute and Charles University, where he obtained the title of Doctor of Theology. However, theoretical work far from the real needs of believers never became his credo, although he devoted his entire life to teaching at the Theological Institute in Obořiště, where he held the position of professor and later also rector. He was also engaged in publishing activities and the list of his works exceeds the number 1300.

Core work:

The life of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Torture of Jesus Christ
Memories of my mother
Fairy tales about Baby Jesus
Satan on the Holy Mountain
Memories from Terezín

In his works, he focused mainly on the interpretation of the Scripture and the restoration of its meaning in theology and in the lives of believers. His life was severely affected by an effort to help those in need. He tried to save the Jewish family of MUDr. Richard Frankl from Dobříš from Nazism.

After a short time, the German authorities began to address the Jewish issue in our country as well, and the family lost everything. I did not leave them even when they were sent to Terezín and sought to moderate their fate as much as possible. In doing so, however, in the eyes of the German authorities, I committed a crime that was also punishable by death. I knew it, so I was very careful. The Gestapo correctly knew who was probably the benefactor of the hated family, but did not have enough evidence to step in.
From the book Memories from Terezín

He enabled them to convert to the Catholic faith and remained close to them even when the weight of Nazi persecution fell on them. For this he was imprisoned himself - first in Prague in Pankrác, later in Terezín. He later elaborated his experiences from this concentration camp in the book Memories from Terezín.

Josef Miklík's prison cards from the Gestapo police prison in the Terezín Small Fortress

Richard Frankl

Richard Frankl was born in Dobříš in 1893, in 1920 he finished his studies of medicine at the Medical Faculty of the German University in Prague and after an internship at the Prague State Hospital he became a state district doctor in his native Dobříš. He was a respected citizen there, he became politically involved, he got married and his daughter Jiřina was born.

After the German occupation and the proclamation of the protectorate, he was one of the few lucky doctors who was allowed to continue medical practice - although they were not allowed to treat non-Jewish patients.

Adolf Schart (mayor of Dobříš 1932-42, executed by the Nazis) tried to help Jewish citizens within his limited possibilities. On 7.6.1939 he issued a certificate to Mr. MUDr. Richard Frankl, in which he writes:

"From the municipal office in Dobříš, pol. district of Příbram, it is true that this is confirmed by the fact that Mr. MUDr. Richard Frankl, born on December 30, 1893 in Dobříš, has lived continuously and permanently in Dobříš No. 106 since August 1, 1923 until today. During this time, he behaved civically with integrity and fairness, and is completely innocent in terms of civil and political. The above mentioned Mr. MUDr. Richard Frankl gained popularity among the population as a regular citizen and doctor. He treated poor and non-profit citizens for free, and willingly contributed to anyone who turned to him and sought help from him with advice and help. Mr. MUDr. Richard Frankl has participated in all charitable events and collections, both financially and through professional work and experience . He was also appointed a member of the municipal council of the municipality of Dobříše and participated in the construction of municipal institutions and thus supported the public interests of the municipality for the benefit of all sections of the population. This document is issued for the application for a service job."

On 4.9.1942, Richard Frankl, his wife Victoria and daughter Jiřina were deported to Terezín. On that day, Jews from Dobříš were forced to gather behind the Heinz Hotel for a total of 79 people. They could carry luggage up to 50 kg. Then everyone walked to the station and got on the train. The youngest of them was only 8 years old, the oldest was 87 years old. Their first trip led to the Terezín ghetto, where another selection took place. Most Jews from Dobříš were abducted under inhuman conditions on September 8th to Minsk in Belarus and then to Malý Trostinec. 12.9.1942 they reached the end of their pilgrimage. 40 young men able to work were excluded from the entire transport. Others, including women and children, were brutally pushed into trucks into which hoses were installed and deadly exhaust fumes were released. The remains of the bodies were then transported to pre-dug graves near Malý Trostinec. It was a purely liquidation camp, in which only 8 people who managed to escape, survived.

The fates of other Jews of Dobříš were also gradually fulfilled. A month later, they were deported to the extermination camps of Treblinka and Auschwitz.

Family Frankl left the Terezín ghetto together on 19.10. 1944 in transport to Auschwitz, where Viktorie and Jiřina were murdered in the same year. Richard Frankl was deported to Dachau, where he died at the age of 51.

Out of the total number of 94 of his Dobříš supporters and patients, only two defended themselves against the Nazi murder machinery: Zdenka Glücková-Luhanová and Leopold Porges.

The conversion to Christianity made possible by Dr. Josef Miklík, unfortunately, did not help him in any way, because according to the Nuremberg Laws he was still a Jew.

MUDr. Richard Frankl

MUDr. Richard Frankl in Dobříš, 1937

The house of MUDr. Richard Frankl in Dobříš, 1910, then owned by his father

Although the Frankl family was not saved by Dr. Miklík, he was awarded in 1947 in Stará Boleslav with the Czechoslovak War Cross for his humanity and dedication.

He died suddenly on November 9, 1947, but his work has not lost its significance even today. The Marian song "Fly to Heaven Today, Song", which he composed together with Vladimír Juráš, found a permanent place in the repertoire of Czech sacred music.

Today, when there is still an echo of his last steps in our vicinity, we recall the example of his quiet life and the magnitude of his rich work. And that is beautiful and strong in the personalities of Miklík's format: that they also teach with their departure and that they deny and strengthen with their suffering. In today's times, when there are so few spiritual people and when soulless interest is attached to earthliness and barren vocabulary, we are deeply grateful.

In Memoriam Dr. Josef Miklík, Václav Zíma, People´s democracy, 1947