Barbara Retz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barbara Retz
Barbara Böger
Born	c.1885 Stuttgart
Died	25 May 1948 New York city
Nationality	Irish, German
Other names	Barbara Baker

Barbara Retz (born around 1885 – died 25 May 1948) was an interesting woman who lived in Dublin, Ireland. She was an early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Barbara was also one of the women arrested during the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916. Later in her life, she was even arrested by the Nazis in Germany.

Early Life and Family

Barbara was born around 1885 in Stuttgart, Germany. Her birth name was Barbara "Babette" Böger. Her father, John Böger, was a forester.

Her family later moved to Dublin, Ireland. There, they changed their last name to Baker. The family was originally Lutheran. However, they became interested in the Latter-day Saint movement. Missionaries from England baptized them into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They helped start a local church group in Dublin.

In 1904, Barbara married George Retz, who was also German. They had two children together. Unlike her brothers, Barbara and George did not become British citizens. This became important when World War I started in 1914.

Life During Wartime

Because George Retz was still a German citizen, he was held in a special camp. This camp was on the Isle of Man and he stayed there until 1919.

While her husband was away, Barbara ran butcher shops in Dublin. One shop was on South Circular Road and another was in Rathmines. At the start of the war, one of her shops was attacked by an angry crowd. This happened because people were upset about the war. The shops were even mentioned by the famous writer James Joyce in his book Ulysses.

Her Activism

Barbara Retz was involved in important historical events.

The Easter Rising

There are not many details about how Barbara was connected to the Easter Rising. This was a major rebellion in Dublin in 1916. She might have been friends with Padraig Pearse, a leader of the Rising. Barbara was arrested and held with other women at Richmond Barracks in 1916. She was released on May 8, 1916, along with the other women.

Helping During the War

Barbara continued to be involved during the Irish War of Independence. This war happened after the Easter Rising. She helped by finding safe places for people who were hiding. She also arranged medical care for those who needed it.

Arrest by Nazis

Barbara sometimes returned to Germany to visit. In 1938, she was arrested in Berlin. This happened because she took part in a protest against the Nazi government. The British embassy helped her. She was released after 14 days.

Later Life

Barbara Retz died in May 1948 in New York city. She was on her way to visit family members who had moved to the United States. She is buried with her family in California.