Christina Smith

ENG 102H CRN 14268

Research Paper
11 April 2016

On my quest to learn more about the Roma, or Gypsy lifestyle, I came across a man
named Johann Kalitsch Horvath. He endured so much hardship in his lifetime and still was so
positive. Born in Burgenland county town Oberwart in Austria in 1912, he was a writer and
storyteller. The small town he came from was full of Romani culture, tales and history held by
the older people and passed down through generations. In such a crucial time in the worlds
history, this culture could have been completely lost. Thanks to Kalitsch, at least the knowledge
he had was documented and can now be passed on forever. There are so many stereotypes and
false stories of Romani or gypsy cultures and their lifestyle, and his knowledge helped dispel at
least a few of these unfair judgements.
While not much is known about his parents and early life, it is very apparent that Kalitsch
was always a family oriented man, marrying his first wife Juliana at the age of 23. They together
had three children: Johann, Theresia, and Irene. He was a man of small stature, but very outgoing
and hard working. Everyone who knew him, knew his family meant everything to him, and that
he was so excited to be a father. As fate would have it though, their time together was tragically
cut short when they were all deported to Auschwitz. Kalitsch was the only member of his family
to survive the camp. There were somewhere around 300 people in this small gypsy colony, and
only 20 including Kalitsch, made it back home. The conditions they returned to were terrible,

their homes, stores, everything, had all been destroyed. Where most people may have given up,
Kalitsch was determined to make a new life for himself. He had no home and no job, but was
diligent in finding work and becoming the person her once was again. In the 1950s, he saved up
enough to buy a small piece of land and built a house. At this time, he was working in Vienna on
building sites as an unskilled worker. Although he did not particularly care for this line of work,
he did what he had to, to support himself and the life he was trying to rebuild.
Also during this time, Kalitsch reconnected with and was living with his late wifes sister,
Elizabeth, whom everyone called Lulu. They eventually married in 1966, and had five children
of their own: Karl, Helene, Alexander, Johann and Ludwig. Just when he was beginning to feel
that his life was coming back together, tragedy struck his family again. His daughter Helene died
and left five young children behind. Kalitsch and Lulu cared for their grandchildren until the end
of their lives. Kalitsch faced every challenge, setback, and obstacle in his life with courage and
faith that everything happens for a reason and he could make the best out of it all.
Those who knew Kalitsch personally would always speak of his amazing hospitality and
how much he loved children. He and Lulus home became a meeting point for everyone in the
community, no matter what age they were. Children loved to come over his home and play, while
the adults just enjoyed his company and him sharing his wisdom. Their home became the true
center of the Roma settlement over decades. According to one man, there was always a pot of
coffee on the stove, and their many guests always felt at home and helped themselves. Kalitsch
also served brandy too, which became a tradition of their home. They would sit around the living
room and just share stories and have a good time. The children who were around at the time,
grew up and went on to recount these times, and said during these talks, Kalitsch was in his
element. He was a very passionate storyteller who captivated the audience with funny or

instructive, sometimes vulgar and lewd stories. He had a great sense of humor and was very
witty also. People spoke of him always being in high spirits and loving being surrounded by his
community. Although he never intended to, and wasnt even fully aware of this fact, Kalitsch
made a great contribution to the preservation and passing on of Romani (Romani specific to the
Burgenland-Roma community) and the oral tradition to younger generations.
Kalitsch also had another passion besides his family and writing. Music was one of these,
and when he had extra money, he liked to buy new instruments. He and his son Johann
maintained the tradition of the "Neujahrsspiele", a New Years Concert, with a few of his old
friends. They sang old songs of their culture, and he even sang songs about his time in the
concentration camps. His insight into this horrific time was well documented also. In addition to
music, his long stays in the inn "Zambo" and his love and skill in card games became legendary.
During the 60s and 70s, research was conducted on the condition of life of the
Burgenland-Roma community. A journalist by the name of Mirjam Wiegele met with Johann
Horvath, and while most Roma people tend to be more introverted and shy away from the public,
Kalitsch made no secret of all of his experiences. His honesty and openness towards outsiders,
especially in this case, was unheard of. Through Mirjam Wiegeles profile on him, Kalitschs
accounts reached the general public. Her articles appeared in a variety of different newspapers
and magazines, and really resonated with the public. His accounts started a process of critical
examination of the fate of "Austrias long-forgotten minority", and shed light on a greatly
overlooked people. After their work together was done, Kalitsch and Mirjam Wiegele kept in
touch and from their professional relationship, a life long friendship grew. Wiegele spoke so
highly of Kalitsch and how much his friendship affected her life in such a positive way. Through

their talks and interactions, she learned how to be more optimistic, and truly appreciate life and
family.
In spite of the tragic experiences during National Socialist persecution, this man kept an
amazing sense of optimism and his love of life. He was a warm, welcoming person, and
everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him, loved him. Despite all of the terrible experiences
he had to deal with, his familys well-being was always his reason to keep going. He was a man
who didnt know what it meant to give up, and wouldnt allow those around him give up either.
He loved his children and grandchildren very much and was always there to help anyone who
needed it, no questions asked. He was a prominent figure in his community, and whenever
someone needed advice or wisdom, Kalitsch was the go-to guy. His opinion held so much weight
in his community, because they all knew he deserved that much. He had also earned the Gade,
or Non Romani, peoples respect. Everyone who came into contact with him realized that he
played an important role in the re-settlement of Oberwart, and he was even called "mayor",
referring to an old tradition. Kalitsch passed away in March of 1983 after battling lung cancer.
He was 71 years old.
Even after his death, Kalitsch is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Over 30 years
ago, he met with an Austrian linguist by the name of Mozes Heinschink. A respected and
internationally known figure in his own right, Heinschink was an expert on Romani dialects, and
recorded a variety of Kalitschs favorite fairy tales and songs, and basically saved them from
being lost forever. These were made into a collection and published in 2000 by the Romani
Project Graz. While Kalitsch is still a lesser known figure, he has a great story that anyone could
benefit from hearing. There are many accounts of life in concentration camps, and of people
losing family, but Kalitsch played a major part in saving the history of a whole community. An

entire culture could have very well been lost and forgotten if he had decided to keep to himself
after all he had been through. But being a man who was so determined to make a life for himself
and his family, he never gave up even in the worst of situations. He did not dwell on the past or
become bitter, but used it as motivation to keep going. He lived through something as terrible as
the holocaust and come out with a new outlook on life, which he shared with his community, and
eventually people all over the world through his writing and profiles. you Kalitsch is a perfect
embodiment of perseverance in hard times, and making the best of the worst situations. The fact
that a man who had been through such horrible situations could still be so happy, is a testament
to the idea that happiness is truly a choice. Kalitsch chose to be happy despite all the negativity
in his life, and dedicated his life to his family and his community.
Works Cited
"Johann "Kalitsch" Horvath." N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.
Molleja Martinez, Juan. "Johann Kalitsch Horvath." Porrajmos: Te Bisterdon Tumare Anava. N.p., 16
Feb. 2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.