Theresienstadt


Theresienstadt was established on Nov. 24, 1941 near Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Nazis used it as a model ghetto for propaganda purposes. The Nazis also created Theresienstadt to fool the outside world into believing that they were treating the Jews well. But soon the camp was one of the worst in Europe. Of the 140,000 Jews who were sent to Theresienstadt, over 33,000 died there, 88,000 were deported then killed, and about 20,000 survived.
Jakob Edelstein, who was a member of the Czech-Jewish community, believed that it would be better for his community to be concentrated locally rather than sent to the East. Edelstein hoped that the ghetto would be in a section of Prague, but the Nazis chose the town of Terezin. Terezin is located about ninety miles north of Prague and just south of Litomerice. Terezin consisted of The Big Fortress and The Small Fortress. The Big Fortress was surrounded by ramparts and contained barracks. The Small Fortress was used as a prison for dangerous criminals. Terezin changed when the Nazis renamed it Theresienstadt and sent the first Jewish transports there in 1941.
The Nazis sent about 1,300 Jewish men on two transports to Theresienstadt on Nov. 24 and Dec. 4, 1941. These workers, made up of the Aufbaukommando (construction detail), later known as the AK1 and AK2 in the camp. These men were sent to work on the garrison town. The largest problem they faced was changing a town that needed to hold about 35,000 to 60,000 people. The camp lacked housing, bathrooms, water, and electricity. To solve these problems, the Nazis selected Jakob Edelstein Elder of the Jews, or Judenalteste. They also made a Juderant, or a Jewish council.
What many people didn't know that within this calm facade lay a concentration camp. With nearly 60 thousand Jews in an area that was supposed to hold 7 thousand. It had extremely close quarters, a lot of disease, and lack of food were also serious concerns. Some people like Norbert Troller had enough information in advance to know how to hide his valuables. Others, especially the elderly, were fooled but the Nazis. They believed that they were going to a resort or spa. Some of the elderly actually paid large sums of money for a decent location within their new home. When they arrived, they were housed in the same places where the other people were. To get to Theresienstadt, thousands of Jews, from Orthodox to Assimilated, were deported from their old homes. At first, many people going to Theresienstadt were Czech, but later German, Austrian, and Dutch Jews arrived in the camp. These Jews were crammed into cattle cars with little or no food, water, and sanitation.
The trains were unloaded at Buhsovice, the nearest station to Theresienstadt. It was about 2 km away. the Jews were then forced to walk the rest of the way, carrying all of their luggage. Once the Jews reached Theresienstadt, they went to a checking point (called a flood gate or Schleuse in camp slang). The Jews then had their personal information written down and put in an index. Then, they were searched. Mostly, the Nazis and Czech gendarmes were looking for jewelry, money, cigarettes, as well as items not allowed in the camp such as hot plates and cosmetics. During the initial process, the Jews were assigned to their housing.	These are the suitcases of the Jews. The suitcases had valuables in them. The Nazis guarded them, sorted them, and stole them form the Jews.
One of the many problems with pouring thousands of people into a small space has to do with housing. Triple-tired bunk beds were made and every available floor space was used. The living/sleeping areas were covered with vermin. These pests included rats, fleas, flies, and lice. Another problem was food. In the beginning, there weren't enough cauldrons to cook food for all of the people. In 1942, the inhabitants who worked at hard labor received the most food. Usually the elderly received the least food and it affected them the most. Lack of nourishment, medicines, and general susceptibility to illness made their fatality rate extremely high.
Of the thousands of people that died, 15,000 children died, and only 132 survived. Those who died were usually wrapped in a sheet and buried. But the lack of food, medicines, and space made the bodies outgrow the possible locations for graves. In Sept. 1942, a crematorium was built. The crematorium could dispose up to 190 bodies a day. Once the ashes were searched for gold, usually from gold teeth, they were put in a cardboard box and stored. Near the end or the war, the Nazis tried to cover their tracks by disposing of the ashes. They dumped 8,000 boxes into a pit and 17,000 boxes into the Ohre River.	This is a picture of a crematorium used at Theresienstadt. When the Jews died, the Nazis burned the bodies to make room at the camp because burying the bodies took up too much room.