A “Model” Concentration CampA “Model” Concentration Camp

TheresienstadtTheresienstadt

As part of the “final solution” to rid Europe of Jews, Hitler As part of the “final solution” to rid Europe of Jews, Hitler established concentration camps.established concentration camps.

““Concentration” means bringing together, and in these Concentration” means bringing together, and in these camps Hitler brought together Jews from all over Europe.camps Hitler brought together Jews from all over Europe.

In some of the camps, gas chambers were constructed.In some of the camps, gas chambers were constructed. The Nazis gassed to death hundreds of non-Jews and The Nazis gassed to death hundreds of non-Jews and

Jews all at once – men, women, babies, children, old and Jews all at once – men, women, babies, children, old and young.young.

There was no place to bury all of these people, so the There was no place to bury all of these people, so the bodies were burned.bodies were burned.

In some camps, the Nazis built crematoriums – ovens In some camps, the Nazis built crematoriums – ovens where they could burn hundreds of bodies at one time.where they could burn hundreds of bodies at one time.

Although smoke came from the camps with Although smoke came from the camps with the odor of burning bodies, people who lived the odor of burning bodies, people who lived near the camps paid no attention.near the camps paid no attention.

TheresienstadtTheresienstadt The village of Terezin, in Czechoslovakia The village of Terezin, in Czechoslovakia

was chosen by the Nazis as the spot for a was chosen by the Nazis as the spot for a special concentration camp. Because special concentration camp. Because Terezin was a town surrounded by a wall, Terezin was a town surrounded by a wall, the Nazis felt that it would be simple to the Nazis felt that it would be simple to guard. There was also a nearby railway guard. There was also a nearby railway station from which transports of people station from which transports of people could be sent to the gas chambers in could be sent to the gas chambers in Auschwitz. Auschwitz.

Rumors were spread by the Nazis that Rumors were spread by the Nazis that Terezin would be an ‘old folks home,’ a sort Terezin would be an ‘old folks home,’ a sort of resort for privileged Jews. The Nazis of resort for privileged Jews. The Nazis propaganda was effective. Some Jews propaganda was effective. Some Jews even paid to be sent to Terezin because even paid to be sent to Terezin because they believed the Nazi lies.they believed the Nazi lies.

Hitler decided that Terezin would become the model camp, Hitler decided that Terezin would become the model camp, the camp he would show the Red Cross. The surroundings the camp he would show the Red Cross. The surroundings were beautiful. It was build on green meadows, and were beautiful. It was build on green meadows, and nearby there were fruit trees.nearby there were fruit trees.

The Nazis took the Red Cross on a tour and said, “See our The Nazis took the Red Cross on a tour and said, “See our prisoners do not have it so bad. Even the food is good; prisoners do not have it so bad. Even the food is good; taste it for yourself.”taste it for yourself.”

The Red Cross, of course, did not know that the food they The Red Cross, of course, did not know that the food they ate was not the food served to prisoners.ate was not the food served to prisoners.

The menu of the Jews in Terezin was always the same: The menu of the Jews in Terezin was always the same: bread and unsweetened black coffee for breakfast; watery bread and unsweetened black coffee for breakfast; watery soup for lunch; soup and bread for dinner.soup for lunch; soup and bread for dinner.

Many artists were shipped to Terezin. For a time Many artists were shipped to Terezin. For a time they were allowed to work as draftsmen and in they were allowed to work as draftsmen and in similar jobs. But when they began sketching what similar jobs. But when they began sketching what they saw around them, they were beaten and they saw around them, they were beaten and tortured. Most of them were imprisoned and then tortured. Most of them were imprisoned and then sent on to be murdered at Auschwitz.sent on to be murdered at Auschwitz.

However, the pictures that these artists produced However, the pictures that these artists produced survived and tell us better than words how horrible survived and tell us better than words how horrible life was in Terezin.life was in Terezin.

The greatest tragedy of Terezin surrounded The greatest tragedy of Terezin surrounded the children. Thousands of children were the children. Thousands of children were brought there. brought there.

A few children in this camp lived with their A few children in this camp lived with their parents, but most were orphans and were parents, but most were orphans and were housed together in huge barracks, 20-30 housed together in huge barracks, 20-30 children in a room.children in a room.

A school was organized and classes were held.A school was organized and classes were held. From the age of 14 kids had to work long hours. From the age of 14 kids had to work long hours. The younger kids secretly studied and drew pictures.The younger kids secretly studied and drew pictures. The children drew the things they saw around them – The children drew the things they saw around them –

hunger, starvation, illness and people being murdered. hunger, starvation, illness and people being murdered. They drew these things into their pictures and wrote about They drew these things into their pictures and wrote about

them in their poetry.them in their poetry. More than 15, 000 children stopped off at Terezin for a More than 15, 000 children stopped off at Terezin for a

short time. Of this number only about 150 lived.short time. Of this number only about 150 lived.

The The ButterflyButterfly

The last, the very last,The last, the very last,So richly, brightly, dazzlinglySo richly, brightly, dazzlingly

yellow.yellow.Perhaps if the sun's tearsPerhaps if the sun's tears

would singwould singagainst a white stone...against a white stone...

Such, such a yellowSuch, such a yellowIs carried lightly 'way up high,Is carried lightly 'way up high,

It went away I'm sure because it wished toIt went away I'm sure because it wished tokiss the world good-bye.kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I've lived in here,For seven weeks I've lived in here,Penned up inside this ghetto.Penned up inside this ghetto.

But I have found what I love here.But I have found what I love here.The dandelions call to meThe dandelions call to me

And the white chestnut branches in the court.And the white chestnut branches in the court.Only I never saw another butterfly.Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.That butterfly was the last one.Butterflies don't live in here,Butterflies don't live in here,

In the ghetto.In the ghetto.

"Children were neither just the mute "Children were neither just the mute and traumatized witnesses to and traumatized witnesses to this war, nor merely its innocent this war, nor merely its innocent victims; the war invaded their victims; the war invaded their imaginations and the war raged imaginations and the war raged inside them."inside them."

Power Point presentationPower Point presentation byby

Shani AbedShani Abed Hebrew/Judaic Teacher Hebrew/Judaic Teacher

San Diego Jewish AcademySan Diego Jewish Academy