Rita von Gaudecker facts for kids

Rita von Gaudecker (born Rita von Blittersdorf: 14 April 1879 - 18 March 1968) was a German author. She wrote many books for children and young people, and also about religious topics. She was also involved in social work, starting the "Helferbund Rita von Gaudecker" welfare group in 1945.

Early Life and Writing

Rita Margarethe Klara Alexandra von Blittersdorf was born in Molstow. This village was near Greifenberg in East Pomerania. She was the eighth of her parents' nine children. Her father, Carl Freiherr von Blittersdorf, was a minor noble. Her mother, Ada Freiin von Behr, died in March 1885 when Rita was almost six years old. Rita and her siblings still had a happy childhood. She later wrote about how peaceful life was for a child in the countryside.

After her Confirmation, Rita helped manage her family's home until 1906. In 1914, she took charge of the "Kapellenverein Youth Association". She also ran its magazine, called "Wir wollen Helfen!" ("We want to help!"). From these beginnings, she started writing more and more. She especially wrote for children and young people.

Her book for children, "Unter der Molstower Linde" ("Under the Molstow Linden Tree"), was published in 1920. It was about her own childhood and became very popular. It was still being printed in the 1960s! Her religious books for children and young people preparing for Confirmation were also well-liked. Some of these included:

• "Weißt du, wieviel Sternlein stehen? Fünfzig Kinderandachten" ("Do you know how many little stars there are? 50 children's devotions") from 1930.
• "So nimm denn meine Hände. Fünfzig Kinderandachten" ("So take my hands: fifty children's devotions") from 1933.
• "Jesu, geh voran! Fünfzig Kinderandachten" ("Go forth Jesus: fifty children's devotions") from 1936.

She also helped the "Kapellenverein" in general. This was a religious welfare group started in Berlin in 1885 by Bertha von Kröcher [de]. It helped poor workers from eastern Germany. The Kapellenverein also worked to help children who were forced to work, or who were homeless or treated badly.

Family Life and Helping Children

On 13 April 1914, Rita von Blittersdorf married Gerhard Jobst August Moritz von Gaudecker. He was a naval officer. They did not have children. After living in Kiel, Constantinople, and Wilhelmshaven, the couple moved back to Pomerania.

Here, Rita von Gaudecker managed several orphanages. These homes were run by the Kapellenverein. The first orphanage moved from Berlin to Kolberger Deep in 1916/17. A second home opened in 1920/21 for children whose fathers had died in the recent war. Rita von Gaudecker also ran a children's home in Kolberg. This home was for children from villages who needed to be in town to go to school. For younger children, the home had its own school. Rita von Gaudecker directed the school, helped by young volunteers. She spent a lot of time raising money for these homes. Her husband, Captain von Gaudecker, kept track of the money.

Challenges and Later Years

In January 1933, the government in Germany changed. It became a one-party dictatorship. It was very hard to keep running a private Christian children's home. They had a strong Christian focus and regular worship. One senior Nazi official had once been a young helper at the home. This person was able to offer some protection. However, the older children had to join the Hitler Youth. After war started in 1939, they had to become soldiers. Many soldiers would visit the home in Deep when they had leave from the army. But by the end of the war in May 1945, many had died in the fighting.

In early 1945, many people were being forced to move from eastern Germany. The children from the home were able to escape to Mecklenburg. However, they were later sent back. They survived for a few more months in Deep. This area was now full of refugees. These refugees were also being forced out of eastern Germany to make space for Polish refugees. In Deep, the Soviet armies took over the region. The von Gaudeckers, who were in their mid-sixties, faced even more danger. This was because of their noble background and because Captain von Gaudecker was a retired army officer. They had to leave Deep. Until October 1945, they struggled with hunger and sickness in the Berlin area of Treptow.

From Berlin, they moved to Holstein. They stayed there until 1950. Then they moved to live with distant relatives in Allmendingen, south of Ulm. Captain von Gaudecker, who had been unwell for some time, died there in 1954. At the same time, Rita was in the hospital with a broken hip. After this, she could never use stairs again.

Even with these difficulties, Rita had already started the "Helferbund vom Kapellenverein" in 1945. This group continued the work she had always done. Even though there were no longer children's homes, she still organized food packages. After 1954, she rarely left her room in Allmendingen. But she kept writing with lots of energy. In 1965, she finally stopped being the head of the Helferbund. Soon after, the group was renamed "Verein in Helferbund Rita von Gaudecker e. V.". It still exists today under this name.

Rita von Gaudecker died at the hospital in Ehingen on 18 March 1968.

Published Books

(This is not a full list)

Awards

• 1964 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany