Authors | Stanislav Kafka

Stanislav Kafka, Christmas in a cell, Small Fortress Terezín, 1942, pencil, paper, 10.5 x 16.6 cm, PT 8327

Stanislav Kafka, Figures of inmates in a cell, Small Fortress Terezín, 1941–1942, pencil, paper, 10.5 x 14.9 cm, PT 8319

Stanislav Kafka, Sketch of a group of inmates in a cell, Small Fortress Terezín, 1941–1942, pencil, paper, 10.3 x 15.2 cm, PT 8326

Stanislav Kafka, Sketch of a group of inmates, Small Fortress Terezín, 1941–1942, pencil, paper, 10.4 x 14.8 cm, PT 8320

Stanislav Kafka, Sketches of an inmate playing cards and of a group of inmates by the stove, Small Fortress Terezín, 1941–1942, 15.1 x 10.6 cm, PT 8322

Stanislav Kafka

Stanislav Kafka was born at Bohuslavice near Nové Města nad Metují on August 7, 1891, to father Karel Kafka and mother Marie. He grew up in the family of his grandfather, a woodcarver. Karel graduated from the Business Academy in Prague and his first job was at the ČKD (Českomoravská-Kolben-Daněk) engineering plant. Later, he worked for the company Josef and Jan Frič Production of Optical Instruments located in Prague’s Vinohrady district. He joined the Czech Sokol Union in Prague as early as 1909, initially serving as a physical training instructor. Over time, he was promoted to the Board of Sports Instructors, became the Regional Head of Youth Teams, and was also appointed member of the Junior Commission. In 1928, he reopened a Sokol fencing group, and as its head he eventually advanced to the International Fencing Commission. In addition to his gymnastic activities, Kafka was also appointed to the administrative committee of the Prague Sokol Union as a deputy archive keeper, and also as one of the leaders of the Czech Sokol Union, while working on the editorial board of the Sokolské besedy magazine.

Artwork figured among Stanislav Kafka’s favorite pastimes. Since his youth he had a passion for drawing and painting that accompanied him throughout his life. He published his pictures in the Sokol magazines and produced illustrations for sports instructors’ handbooks and physical training textbooks for children. Last but not least, he painted just for the pleasure of creating, and often gifted some of his works to friends.

Immediately after the establishment of the Protectorate, Stanislav Kafka joined the anti-Nazi resistance. The genuine nature of his underground activities is unfortunately unknown. It was highly probable, though, that he was involved in the Sokol Union in Resistance, an organization that helped people wanted by the Germans to flee abroad. He stayed in touch with other resistance groups such as the Defense of the Nation, the Political Headquarters, and later, with the Petition Committee We Shall Remain Faithful. Martial law was declared after Reinhard Heydrich (1904–1942) took up the post of the acting Reich Protector. The crackdown on the Sokol organizations by the German security forces, also known as Operation Sokol (Aktion Sokol), was part of the martial law raids. The leading Sokol officials were rounded up on the night of October 7 and 8, 1941. Kafka was among those arrested by the Gestapo, seized in his flat in the early hours of October 8.

Stanislav Kafka and other detained officials were taken to the Petschke Palace for interrogation. He was then kept for some time in the Gestapo Police Prison in the Small Fortress in Terezín. During his time in prison, he managed to send his family several secret messages describing his forced labor deployment and the overall situation in the Fortress. Despite the dreadful living conditions, Kafka kept his passion for art alive, and the Terezín Memorial collection today keeps 14 of his drawings. Most of them are sketches of his fellow inmates or the interior of the cells. These are his last works. He left Terezín on a transport to the Auschwitz concentration camp on March 6, 1942. Moved to the Auschwitz II – Birkenau camp, he died there on April 4, 1942. Stanislav Kafka was survived by his wife Jaroslava, and two daughters, Stanislava and Jaroslava.