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Vratislav Stula
Vratislav Stula Portrait 1952
Born
Vrátíček Štůlá

(1921-05-13)May 13, 1921
Prague, Czechoslovakia
DiedJanuary 8, 1968(1968-01-08) (aged 46)
New York City, New York, US
Resting placeFlushing Cemetary, NY
NationalityCzech (1921–1945)
United Nations (1948–1968)
EducationAix-Marseilles University
OccupationInternational Economic Development
EmployerUnited Nations Secretariat, NY
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
TitleInternational Development Administrator
Spouse(s)
Rose-Marie A. Cellier
​
​
(m. 1952; div. 1958)​

Elizabeth E. Smith
​
​
(m. 1961; Stula death 1968)​
ChildrenGerard Pierre Stula
Paul Michel Stula
Parent(s)František Štůlá
Májuška Šchejbál Štůlová
RelativesMichel Stula (brother)
Signature
Vratislav Stula 1940 Signature

Vratislav Stula (Czechoslovakia: Vrátíček Štůlá United States: Pierre “Peter” V. Stula; 13 May 1921 – 8 January 1968) was a veteran International Social and Economic Development staff official with the United Nations Secretariat. Following the war, General Charles de Gaulle described Stula's many covert rescue efforts as "courageous, spirited and with initiative to save numerous lives." [note 1]

Early life and Education

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Vratislav Stula was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on 13 May 1921. His father, František Štůlá (b. Plzen in 1892) and his mother, Májuška Šchejbál Štůlová (b. Tabor in 1892) were both professors at the Charles University in Prague. Stula attended the Lycée Français de Prague where he graduated in the spring of 1939.[note 2] He became fluent in French, which later helped to save his life. Eventually, he became proficient speaking English, German, Italian and Spanish. Stula was also a youth member of the Prague YMCA International from 1935-39 where he attended summer camp, physical training and educational classes. International YMCA President, Dr. Donald A. Lowrie, and Stula were in Prague when German troops entered the city on 16 March 1939.[1] Stula was then accepted to the Aix-Marseilles University (d'Aix-en-Provence) in Marseilles, France, and was enrolled in August 1939. With a doctoral thesis (160 pages) entitled “Le Socialisme de Masaryk,”[2] Stula completed his university studies and graduated from the School of Law at Aix-Marseilles University on 19 November 1945.[3][4]

WWII and the French Resistance

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Upon arrival at Aix-Marsielle in August 1939, Stula engaged in military and paramilitary activities due to the imminent war with Germany. Prior to his university studies, he received military training, joining the volunteer Czech Brigade of the French Army (L'Armée Tchécoslovaque en France) on 2 September 1939. On 1 December 1939, Stula was called to active duty, beginning his formal army combat training at the Agde, Herault, military camp. He served as an infantry corporal in military campaigns fighting against Germany during the spring and early summer of 1940. Six months later, following the Battle of France and the second French-German Compiègne armistice on 22 June 1940, Stula was officially demobilized from army service on 26 June 1940.[note 3]

Joining an underground unit of the Free French Forces in June 1941, Stula served as a covert combat member of the French Resistance Movement (La Resistance) through 1945. Thanks to the cooperation of the Aix-Marseille University officials, he was able to obtain two addresses, alias, and dual identity papers to maintain his status as a student while also serving as a soldier undercover for the underground resistance.[5]

Stula was also working as the assistant director of Czech Aid (Centre d'Aide Tchécoslovaque)—a part of the original Nimes Committee[note 4] and the only remaining Czechoslovak organization in existence during WWII in unoccupied (Vichy) France—to provide assistance to hundreds of demobilized Czech and other refugees. Under the auspices of the Czech Aid refugee program, he worked under false identity papers, using the alias “Mr. Thurmond” before the Gestapo raid (see below), in securing shelter, support and food for refugees (including Jews) and allied soldiers.[6] As a covert Czech Aid official, Stula was also able to successfully direct the underground Network Service of the Free French Forces for his Rybacke-Rossi sector in Vichy France.[7] In 1943, the Gestapo raided the offices of the Marseilles Centre d'Aide Tchécoslovaque. They interrogated “Mr. Thurmond” and threatened to execute his family, but Stula narrowly escaped by convincing them that he was just a student and by speaking superb French. The Gestapo later realized their mistake, issuing a warrant for Stula’s arrest with a 50,000 franc reward on his head, and subsequently closed the Czech Aid organization.

However, Stula was able to continue his work for Czech Aid, using a new alias, “Mr. Montagnon,” but now in a covert, underground capacity.[8] Lowrie summarizes Stula's single-handed efforts to re-establish the Czech Aid rescue operations, after the Gestapo raid, in the following The Hunted Children passage:

“Thurmond (Stula) had persuaded the French postal officials to permit him, against all (Vichy) regulations, to copy the lists of earlier Czech Aid payments and was thus able to reconstitute those files, so that the Czechs never missed a month's payment of allowances."[9]

The reconstituted accounts were delivered to Lowrie in Geneva, and under his direction, the original French accountant was able to continue auditing Czech Aid records, thanks to the young two men, "Thurmond" and "Dupont" covert operations.[10] Through additional underground negotiations, Stula, Slavomir Brzak and Pastor Toureille successfully established a new covert committee to aid refugees and fallen allied soldiers. Brzak was named Director and Stula was made Treasurer.[11] Stula apportioned 40 percent of the Czech Center d’Aide money received from Lowrie to provide for the Czechoslovak Jews, which reflected their approximate proportion of refugees in his sector of France. [12] Simultaneously, Stula and Brzak began coordinating their efforts with De Gaulle Free French resistance fighters mediated by Antonín Rybák. The Czechoslovak Government in Exile, Ministry of Defense "Moravec Group" (cipher news unit), led by General František Moravec, sent Rybák into France from the intelligence headquarters in Porchester Gate, London. Their efforts with the Free French fighters followed the destruction of the Old Port in Marseille, which had been a refuge for persecuted resistance fighters, Jews and other refugees being hunted by the Gestapo.[13]

From exile in Geneva, Dr. Lowrie was able to secure 20,000 francs per month for the new “committee” from Hugo Cedergren in Stockholm. The funds were filtered through Foreign Office officials in Vichy and delivered to the committee through the “black market” channels.[14] Thanks to these funds, Stula and Brzak could continue at great personal risk, practically all Czech Aid relief services previously under the guidance of the Nîmes Committee. The funds helped save children, families and refugees, including allied soldiers, until the end of the war.[15]

Following the war, Stula was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Medaille de la Resistance, and was recognized for his active military service by General Charles De Gaulle.[16] The following passage summarizes General De Gaulle’s letter to Stula, acknowledging his WWII resistance missions:

“To the order of the Army Corps Corporal Chief Vratislav Stula, in the mission of the D.G.E.R., has during the past three years and four months, directed the Network Service of his sector. He has accomplished personally, against any danger, dangerous missions. After having fallen three times into the claws of the Gestapo, he succeeded, thanks to his cold blood, to mislead and confuse their research and as soon as he was set free, he alerted the network of possible danger. He was able to save numerous lives thanks to his courage, spirit, and his initiative by organizing their fleet to abroad.” Signed by De Gaulle, 4 September 1945.[17]

In addition to General De Gaulle’s awards and commendations, Stula received letters and awards from the Czech Foreign Minister in exile, Jan Masaryk Jr, while he resided in Paris,[18] and from the President of the International Committee YMCA in Paris, Donald A. Lowrie,[19] each acknowledging Stula’s remarkable missions and courageous war efforts, conducted in a selfless manner.

Post-War Czech Centre d'Aide Criticism

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Following the liberation of France, an investigation was conducted by the Czechoslovak National Liberation Committee (CNLC), under the authority of Bohuslav Ecer in London.[note 5] The investigators accused the covert Centre d'Aide activities of Stula and Brzak as "war crimes" including:

  • Sabotaging the evacuation efforts of refugees.
  • Protection of property Owners to avoid combat.
  • Housing refugees in poor conditions and unfairly.
  • Embezzlement of entrusted Centre d'Aide funds.

CNLC claimed demobilised Czech soldiers (often Communists) wrote letters to London during the war complaining that the Centre d'Aide in Marseille "was issuing passports to Austrian and German Jews."2 Stula and Brzak rejected the accusations. In a five page letter to the Czech Foreign Ministry, Brzak noted (among other evidence) that the CNLC in London had been secretly funding their underground Centre d'Aide operations and rescue efforts, including coordination with Free France forces.[note 6] Funds were delivered to Dr. Kopecký and then to Lowrie in Geneva, following the closure of the Centre d'Aide in Marseilles.[note 7]

The Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry investigated the allegations and determined the charges were all politically motivated, based on rumors and included incorrect evidence. The Ministry sent a two page determination letter to the Czech Embassy in Paris that dismissed the allegations and stated in part:

"The criticisms of Czech d'Aide Marseilles, which emerged after the liberation of France from inside the CNLC, was based on rumors and wrong assumptions. During the war, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs deposited half a million francs every month through the authorities of Free France in London to assist the same Czech d'Aide efforts."[note 8]

United Nations Official

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In January of 1946, Stula moved to 26 Avenue Charles-Floquet in Paris and remained close to Donald Lowrie, also in Paris at the time. After the 1948 Czechoslovak coup d’état, Stula obtained French identity papers for his Czech brother, Michel Štůlá, still living in Prague after the sudden deaths of both of their parents. Stula was skillfully able to re-enter Czechoslovakia to help his brother in Prague escape the Communist coup d’état regime. Stula and his brother safely returned to Paris, France, where they settled and became official citizens. Thanks in part to Dr. Lowrie, who had recently been asked to join the new 1948 UN Convention programs in Geneva, Stula was also hired to work at the newly formed United Nations (UN) on 18 August 1947, in Geneva. While there, he was able to become an official "International Refugee" after the Czech coup d’état and obtained a new United Nations passport.[20]

Stula was part of the first group of administrative staff officially assigned to the newly formed Geneva UN Headquarters, following the ratification of the UN Charter on 24 October 1945. With the support and recommendation from Jan Masaryk, Stula and Brzak began United Nations works as Personal Officers in Geneva and New York, respectively. During his twenty-year tenure at the UN, Stula oversaw many important social and economic development missions in Asia, India, Africa and South America from UN offices in Geneva, Beirut, Bangkok, Shimla and New York City. He was transferred to the UN New York headquarters on 31 March 1952, the same year Dr. Lowrie came out of retirement to lead the UN Children’s Fund in New York City. They worked together at the Secretariat and remained friends for the next decade in New York. Stula’s work at the UN Secretariat included several third world country industrialization projects in Africa and South America. He was also charged with overseeing implementation of the new UN Industrial Development Headquarters program in Vienna.

Marriages and Death

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Stula married three times and divorced twice. His first marriage was while living in Geneva from 1948 to 1950. After the divorce, he was married to his second wife while living in Bangkok from 1951 to 1959. After his second divorce, he was married to Elizabeth E. Smith from the spring of 1961 until his death in 1968. Stula was working in the UN Special Fund (UNSF) agency and Smith was working in the UN Economic and Social Affairs (ESA) department. They had two children together, Gerard Pierre and Paul Michel.

In the autumn of 1967, during the early economic reforms by Ota Šik prior to the Prague Spring, Stula was able to return to Czechoslovakia for the first time in over twenty years. He visited with relatives and was able to collect his own family’s letters, books and photographs, which he gave to his brother Michel who was living in Paris. Shortly after his return to New York City, Stula committed suicide by jumping out of his office window on the 24th floor of the UN Secretariat building on 8 January 1968, just three days after the start of the Prague Spring revolution. The content of his suicide note is unknown.[21][22]


See also

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References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ General de Gaulle" letter, dated 4 September 1945. https://archive.org/details/vratislav-stula-letter-from-charles-de-gaulle
  2. ^ Lycée Français de Prague (LFP, Czech: Francouzské gymnázium v Praze) is a French international school in Smíchov, District 5, Prague, Czech Republic. The school covers pre-maternelle (before preschool), until lycée senior high school ages.
  3. ^ Stula received official Demobilization des Militaires Tchécoslovaque documents (fiche 1406) from D’Agde, France, dated 26 June 1940, which allowed him to officially depart from French army service and return to the Aix-Marseille University along with a student certified identity.
  4. ^ Nimes Committee, Nimes Coordination Committee for Relief Work in Internment Camps, (Comité des Camps Nimes), France, 1940-1945. [1]
  5. ^ Masaryk Institute and Archives of the CAS, fund: Edvard Benes II, box 431, inventory number 3451.
  6. ^ Brzaks letter to the Czech Embassy in Paris, 1945 detailing the entire Stula/Brzak WWII efforts and underground rescue activities from the 1942 Gestapo raid to the end of the war. https://archive.org/details/stula-brzak-rescue-efforts-letter-to-czech-embassy-paris-1945
  7. ^ Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech republic, fund: LA, box 139, file: 10. Marseille Centre d’Aide a Dr Dubina Oldřich.
  8. ^ Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech republic, fund: LA-D, box 4, file: Zast. úřady – Marseille, Report from Czech Foreign Ministry about investigation of embezzlement of funds in Centre d'Aide (23. July 1945).

Citations

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  1. ^ Andy Marino, The Quiet American – The Secret War of Varian Fry (St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1999) page 119.
  2. ^ Gerhard Hanusch, “Osteuropa-Dissertationen 1945-1950 - Nordeuropa, Westeuropa, NordAmerika” (Jstor Journal Article).
  3. ^ Graduation letter to Vratislav Stula for doctoral degree completion, dated 19 November 1945, courtesy Aix-Marseille University, Administrative Public Archives, “[2]” (Department of Political Science)
  4. ^ Official Vratislav Stula academic transcripts courtesy Aix-Marseille University, Administrative Public Archives, “[3]” (Department of Political Science)
  5. ^ Donald A. Lowrie, The Hunted Children (W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1963) Chapter 24, page 242.
  6. ^ Ibid, page 242.
  7. ^ Ministère des Armées, Mémoire des hommes's, French fighting forces (FFC) “[4]” (Historical Department of Defense, Vincennes GR 16 P 558 140)
  8. ^ Donald A. Lowrie, The Hunted Children (W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1963) Chapter 24, page 246.
  9. ^ Ibid, page 244.
  10. ^ Ibid, page 244-245.
  11. ^ Mgr. Adam Hájek, JUDr. Vladimir Vochoc Czechoslovak consul in Marseille 1938 – 1941, Prague 2009 “[5]” (Charles University - Faculty of Arts).
  12. ^ Ibid, page 100.
  13. ^ Ibid, page 104.
  14. ^ Letter from Dr. Lowrie, YMCA, Geneva, to Hugo Cedergren, World Alliance YMCA, Stockholm, dated 15 July 1943.(University of Illinois Archives,Lowrie Papers, in RS 15/35/53, 1943, Box 4.)
  15. ^ Donald A. Lowrie, The Hunted Children (W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1963) Chapter 25.
  16. ^ See attached Vratislav Stula “Medaille de la Resistance” certificate, dated 24 Avril 1946, including images of five medals awards.
  17. ^ See attached Campagne de France, Croix de Guerre Descision No. 1096, General de Gaulle letter, dated 4 September 1945.
  18. ^ See attached letter from exiled Czech Minister of Defense, Jan Masaryk, in Paris, dated 30 September 1946.
  19. ^ See attached letter from Paris YMCA International President, Donald A. Lowrie, dated 12 December 1946.
  20. ^ See attached United Nations Passport and photo, dated 1 September 1948, with UN International Refugee status.
  21. ^ New York Times, 9 January 1968, Announcement of the Vratislav Stula suicide at UN building.
  22. ^ "The Lantern 9 January 1968 — Ohio State University Newspaper Archives". osupublicationarchives.osu.edu.

Works cited

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Vratislav Stula "The Forgotten Czech - Outwitted the Gestapo Three Times" by Adam Hájek, IDNES, Prague. https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/zahranicni/vratislav-stula-francie-odboj-gestapo-druha-svetova-valka-marseille.A210512_141228_zahranicni_aha Vratislav Stula featured article, published on 17 May, 2021, by the national Czech Republic newspaper MF DNES commemorating Stula's 100th birthday. https://archive.org/details/1621865194691-stula

Category:Wikipedians Category:Wikipedians in France Category:Wikipedians in the Czech Republic Category:French Resistance Category:French Resistance networks and movements Category:United Nations Development Group Category:United Nations-related lists Category:World War II

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