Julius Dula, son of Samuel Dula and Hanna Grunberger, was born in Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1904. Throughout his youth, Julius worked in the hardware and construction business. In the late 1930s, he met the love of his life, Ruth Blaugrund, and they were married two years later in 1940. By that year, Nazi Germany had occupied Czechoslovakia for over two years. Under the newly installed anti-Semitic regime, a Jewish marriage was strictly prohibited. Life became very difficult for Jews who were being expelled from their properties. As World War II broke out, the Dulas faced insurmountable challenges in avoiding being captured and relocated to concentration camps. Julius, however, had many life-long friendships with non-Jews in the community, most importantly with the Czechoslovakian Catholic Archdiocese, who sheltered and protected Jews in hiding.
Along with the support of their non-Jewish friends, Julius and Ruth helped to shelter, conceal, feed, and transport many other Jews in the same circumstances. Later, Julius joined the partisans in the forests to fight the German Army. Not much is known about his time in the resistance. While Julius was able to ultimately escape death, Julius’ brother and two sisters perished at the hands of the Nazis.
Following the war, and after attaining visas in 1950, Julius and his surviving family immigrated to the United States after living in Vienna, Austria for two years. The Dulas crossed the Atlantic on a U.S. troop carrier and eventually arrived in New Orleans. From New Orleans, they took a midnight train, the Sunset Limited, across Texas to arrive in El Paso. El Paso was the last stop of their journey, as Ruth’s family was already established in the city. Ruth’s El Paso relatives immediately assisted Julius, Ruth, and their son, Thomas, and daughter, Gabriela, in creating new lives for themselves. After years of hard work and dedication, Julius was able to live the American dream and opened his own business, Del Norte Department Store. Following a fruitful life, Julius died in 1972 at the age of 67, leaving fond memories for his wife, family, and community.
Connecting Stories: Ruth Blaugrund Dula, Thomas Dula