Ota Ginz (1896–1976)

Ota or Otto Ginz was born to a Jewish family in Ždánice, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (present-day Czech Republic). He and his wife Maria Ginzová were both Esperanto language experts. They had two children, Petr and Eva (later Chava Pressburger). Ginz was the co-editor of a five-language dictionary and a prolific translator of works between Esperanto and several other languages. After Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in World War II, the family was torn apart. Petr and Eva were deported to the concentration camp at Terezín (Theresienstadt), and Ota eventually followed them in February 1945. Ota and Eva survived, and returned to their home in Prague at the end of World War II. Later, another young Terezín survivor who had hidden Petr’s art and writings gave them to his father. Many years later, Chava Pressburger arranged for their publication.