Gitta Mallasz stands as one of the 20th century’s most intriguing spiritual figures, whose claims of angelic communication emerged from the darkest period of European history. Born in 1907 to a Hungarian military family, Mallasz became known worldwide for documenting purported conversations with angels during the Nazi occupation of Hungary. Her published work, Talking with Angels, chronicles these extraordinary dialogues that allegedly occurred between 1943 and 1944, offering spiritual guidance during a time of unprecedented suffering. This essay examines Mallasz’s life, the nature of her angelic claims, analyzes the credibility of these experiences, and traces how her spiritual legacy has evolved in the decades since her death in 1992.
Biography
Mallasz’s early life provided little indication of the spiritual path she would eventually follow. Born in Ljubljana (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), she was raised in a secular household and showed exceptional athletic talent, eventually becoming a champion swimmer who represented Hungary in international competitions. Before the war, Mallasz established herself as a successful graphic designer and illustrator in Budapest, working alongside her close friend Hanna Dallos. She maintained a creative partnership with Hanna and two other Jewish friends, Lili Strausz and József Kreutzer, forming a tight-knit social circle whose relationships would become central to the angelic narratives that later emerged. Their comfortable, artistic pre-war existence stood in stark contrast to the spiritual urgency that would characterize their wartime experiences together (Langley-Dános, 2000).
The angelic communications reportedly began in June 1943, when Hungary was under increasing pressure from Nazi Germany. According to Mallasz’s accounts, it was Hanna Dallos who first became the vessel for angelic messages during group meetings held at a small house outside Budapest. In these gatherings, Hanna would allegedly enter a trance-like state and speak in a different voice—what the group came to believe were angels communicating through her. Mallasz, as the only non-Jewish member of the group, diligently recorded these sessions, transcribing what she described as profound spiritual teachings delivered by distinct angelic entities. The messages focused on inner transformation, divine love, and maintaining spiritual integrity amid the surrounding darkness, offering what the group interpreted as divine guidance for surviving spiritually during the Holocaust (Kürti, 1998).
Talking with Angels
The content of these angelic communications was notably sophisticated in its spiritual depth. According to Mallasz’s transcripts, the angels spoke of humanity’s divine potential, the illusion of separateness, and the power that transforms love. Messages frequently emphasized personal responsibility for spiritual growth, with statements like “Your angel stands behind you, but you must turn around to see it.” The communications also contained warnings about humanity’s collective direction and the consequences of abandoning spiritual values. Particularly striking was the angels’ reported emphasis on embracing rather than escaping suffering, suggesting that the greatest spiritual growth comes through facing life’s darkest challenges. Throughout these dialogues, Mallasz maintained that she was merely the recorder of these transmissions, not their author or interpreter (Mallasz, 1988).
The circumstances surrounding these angelic communications add layers of complexity to their interpretation. The dialogues occurred against the backdrop of the Holocaust, with three of the four participants (Hanna, Lili, and József) being Jewish and under direct threat. In 1944, when the situation for Hungarian Jews deteriorated dramatically, Mallasz used her military connections to establish a factory under Swiss protection, employing and thus temporarily saving approximately 100 Jewish women from deportation. Tragically, Nazis eventually captured and killed Hanna and József, while Lili managed to survive in hiding. Mallasz herself escaped to France after the war, carrying with her the transcripts of the angelic communications, which remained unpublished for decades. This historical context raises profound questions about the psychological and spiritual dimensions of trauma, resistance, and hope in extreme circumstances.
Analysis
Analyzing Mallasz’s claims requires consideration of multiple perspectives. Skeptics point to the extreme psychological stress of the wartime period as a natural catalyst for dissociative states or psychological coping mechanisms that might manifest as spiritual experiences. From this viewpoint, the angelic communications could represent a collective psychological response to impending genocide—a way of finding meaning and transcendence amid horror. Others have suggested that Mallasz herself may have embellished or created the dialogues retrospectively, particularly since the material remained unpublished for over thirty years after the events. Yet those who find merit in her accounts note the consistent philosophical sophistication of the messages, their prophetic elements regarding world events, and the dramatic transformation these experiences effected in Mallasz’s own life, as she dedicated herself to preserving and eventually sharing these teachings (Wolff & SALZDETFURTH, 2007).
The evolution of Mallasz’s story took a significant turn in 1976, when the transcripts were finally published in French as Dialogues avec l’ange (Talking with Angels). The book emerged at a time when Western interest in Eastern spirituality, mysticism, and alternative religious experiences was flourishing. Initially received with limited attention, the work gradually gained a devoted following among spiritual seekers drawn to its unique combination of Judeo-Christian angelic tradition and more universal spiritual principles. Mallasz herself became something of a reluctant spiritual teacher in her later years, giving talks and seminars about the angelic communications throughout Europe. She consistently maintained that she was merely a witness to these events, not their originator, and expressed concern about being personally venerated rather than having the messages themselves appreciated for their spiritual content.
In the decades following her death, Mallasz’s work has been interpreted through various spiritual and religious frameworks. Some Christian commentators have embraced her accounts as authentic angelic communications consistent with biblical tradition, while others remain skeptical due to elements they consider theologically unorthodox. New Age spiritual communities have incorporated aspects of her work into broader syntheses of mystical thought, sometimes detaching the messages from their specific historical context. Jewish scholars have noted the significance of these purported divine communications occurring during the Holocaust, with some seeing parallels to prophetic traditions within Judaism. The academic study of new religious movements has also examined Mallasz’s case as an example of how spiritual narratives emerge and evolve in response to historical trauma and are later institutionalized through publication and community formation.
The continuing fascination with Mallasz’s angelic dialogues raises broader questions about the nature of mystical experience and its relationship to human suffering. Throughout history, claims of divine communication have often emerged during periods of extreme societal stress—wars, persecutions, and social upheavals. Mallasz and her friends’ case serves as a contemporary example of this pattern, where historical catastrophe contextualizes spiritual breakthrough. Whether one interprets these experiences as genuine divine communications, psychological responses to trauma, or some combination of both, they illustrate humanity’s persistent search for transcendent meaning when confronted with the darkest aspects of existence. Mallasz’s own life—from athlete to graphic designer to wartime rescuer to spiritual messenger—demonstrates how extraordinary circumstances can catalyze unexpected spiritual dimensions in seemingly ordinary lives.
Gitta Mallasz’s legacy continues to evolve as new generations encounter her work and interpret it through contemporary spiritual frameworks. Translations of Talking with Angels now exist in over twenty languages, and groups dedicated to studying these texts have formed across Europe, North America, and beyond. Documentary films, scholarly articles, and spiritual commentaries have added layers of interpretation to the original narrative, creating a complex tapestry of responses to Mallasz’s claims. For some, she remains a credible witness to genuine spiritual phenomena; for others, her story represents a powerful example of how humans create meaning through narrative in response to trauma. What remains undisputed is the profound impact these purported angelic communications had on Mallasz herself, transforming her from a secular artist into someone dedicated to preserving and sharing what she believed was divine wisdom meant for humanity during its darkest hours (Bremner, 2023).
Conclusion
Gitta Mallasz and her angelic claims represent a fascinating intersection of mystical experience, historical trauma, and spiritual resilience. Emerging from the catastrophe of World War II, her documented conversations with angels offer a unique case study in how humans seek and construct spiritual meaning amid extreme suffering. Whether approached as authentic spiritual transmissions, psychological phenomena, or literary creation, the dialogues recorded by Mallasz continue to speak to fundamental human questions about divine presence during times of darkness. Her life’s journey—from recording these messages in wartime Hungary to eventually sharing them with the world—demonstrates how personal spiritual experiences can evolve into broader cultural and religious phenomena that transcend their original historical context. As humanity continues to face its own existential challenges, Mallasz’s legacy invites us to consider the possibility that profound wisdom may emerge from the most unlikely circumstances, challenging our understanding of the boundaries between human consciousness and potential realms beyond ordinary perception.
References
Bremner, M. S. (2023). The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy: Imagination, Creativity, and the Great Work. Simon and Schuster.
Kürti, L. (1998). Talking With Angels. A Document from Hungary, Transcribed by Gitta Mallasz.
Langley-Dános, E. (2000). Prison on wheels: From Ravensbrück to Burgau. Daimon Verlag.
Mallasz, G. (1988). Talking with Angels: newly revised and expanded fifth edition. Daimon.
Wolff, U., & SALZDETFURTH, B. (2007). The Angels’ Comeback. Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature; Yearbook.
Leave a Reply