Karl Olma (24 June 1914 – 23 February 2001), rendered Päuesch Karl in his native Halcnovian, was a writer, journalist, Aphorism and poet.
Life
Early years
Olma was born in the village of Alza, today a suburb of Bielsko-Biała known as Hałcnów, in what was then the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria to ethnic Alznovian parents Johann and Marianna . After graduating from a school in Bielsko-Biała he found employment at the
Schlesische Zeitung newspaper, and became involved with the
Verband deutscher Katholikenan, an association representing the interests of Germans of Catholic faith. Due to his family's Alznovian ethnicity, at the end of WWII Olma was forced to emigrate from Alza while his parents, Johann and Marianna, were interned in a labour camp where they perished.
Emigration
After leaving Poland Olma settled in the American administered town of
Ingolstadt, where he helped organise a group for expelled refugees from Alza. In 1960 he published his first novel
Pfüger im Nebel, a semi-autobiographical story about a family from Alza. In the proceeding decades he authored many collections of stories and poems about Alza and its unique language. His work was published under the
pen name of Michael Zöllner in order not to prejudice members of his family who remained in Hałcnów.
Death
Olma died in Ingolstadt on 23 February 2001.
Work
Olma is the only known speaker of the Halcnovian dialect to have used the language in a literary capacity. Among his works, he produced compilations of Halcnovian folk songs and poems, a local chronicle, and the novel
Pflüger im Nebel, considered his
magnum opus.
Other works by Olma include the collection of Halcovnian poetry and song
ALZA - wu de Putter wuor gesalza (1988),
the historical book
Heimat Alzen. Versuch einer Chronik (1983) in which he described the shelling of Hałcnów's church by the
Red Army,
and the collection of short stories
In den Fängen der „Eule“ und andere Erzählungen aus Oberschlesien (1991).
