Johannes, 1896-1977 and Gertrude, 1898-1977

Johannes Urzidil was born in Prague on February 3, 1896, the youngest son of a railroad official ( Eisenbahnbeamter ) who was also an inventor. His mother, Elisabeth von Steinitz, was his father’s second wife and died when Johannes Urzidil was 4 years old.

From 1914 through 1919 Urzidil studied German studies, Slavic studies, and art history at the University of Prague. A schoolfriend of his introduced Urzidil to the Café Arco, where he became acquainted with the members of the "Prager Kreis," including Franz Kafka, Franz Werfel, and Max Brod. His studies were interrupted from 1916-1918 when Johannes Urzidil served in the Austro-Hungarian military during World War I. From 1918-1922 he worked as a translator for the German Consulate in Prague, also writing during the same time period for the the Berlin Börsen-Courier and the Wolffsche Telegraphen-Bureau . In 1922 Urzidil was appointed to the position of press attaché for the German Legation in Prague, a position he held until 1933. In 1922 Johannes Urzidil also married his wife, the poet Gertrude Thieberger, daughter of a rabbi and sister to the writer Friedrich Thieberger. In 1924 Franz Kafka died, and Johannes Urzidil spoke at a memorial for him. By 1933 Urzidil had lost his position as press attaché as Nazism rose to power in Germany. He was arrested by the police on suspicion of espionage but was freed, and shortly thereafter registered with the American Consulate in Prague for visas for himself and his wife to go to the United States. After the Gestapo began searching for Johannes Urzidil, they fled Prague using false papers, still awaiting word from the American Consulate. While the Urzidils waited in Italy, Gertrude Urzidil's sister in London placed their names on a list of politically endangered persons, and they were able to receive visas for Britain. The English writer Bryher (Anne Winnifred Ellerman), with whom Johannes Urzidil had exchanged letters, assisted them in affording the voyage to England and a place to stay while residing there. They would remain there until 1941 when the Urzidils emigrated to the United States.

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