Key Points
Establishment
Theresienstadt was established in 1780 as a military fortress by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II and named in honor of his mother, Empress Maria Theresa. During World War II, the Nazis transformed it into a ghetto and concentration camp for Jews, officially opening in 1941.
Ghetto Conditions
The Terezin ghetto was home to approximately 155,000 Jews (including 15,000 children), primarily from Czechoslovakia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The living conditions were harsh, with overcrowding, inadequate food, and poor sanitation. Disease and malnutrition were rampant.
Propaganda Tool
The Nazis used Terezin as a propaganda tool to deceive the world about their treatment of Jews. To lull victims, many “prominent" Jews, whose disappearance in an extermination camp could have drawn attention from abroad, into a false sense of security, the SS advertised Theresienstadt as a "spa town" where elderly Jews could retire, and encouraged them to sign fraudulent home purchase contracts, pay "deposits" for rent and board, and surrender life insurance policies and other assets. The deportations to Theresienstadt were, however, part of the Nazi strategy of deception. The ghetto was in reality a collection center for deportations to the killing centers or forced labor camps in Nazi-occupied Poland, Belorussia (present-day Belarus) and the Baltic States.
Cultural Activities
Despite the dire conditions, Terezin became a center for artistic and cultural expression among its inmates. Many educated Jews were inmates of Terezin. Unlike other camps, Terezin’s detainees included scholars, philosophers, scientists, visual artists, and musicians of all types, some of whom had achieved international renown, and many of these contributed to the camp's cultural life. The Nazis kept a tight rein on the world’s perception of activities within Terezin. In a propaganda effort designed to fool the Western allies, the Nazis publicized the camp for its rich cultural life. The ghetto maintained a lending library of 60,000 volumes. Many artists, musicians, and writers created works that reflected their experiences, including plays, poetry, and visual art. Some of these works have become significant historical artifacts, such as the collection of children’s poetry and artwork (I Never Saw Another Butterfly) or Brundibár, a children's opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása.
“Operation Embellishment” (German: Verschönerung)
In late 1943 Christian X, king of Denmark, requested an inspection of Terezin to determine the condition of the 466 Danish Jews. The Nazis permitted two Swiss delegates from the International Red Cross and two representatives of the government of Denmark to visit Terezin to dispel rumors about the extermination camps. The Germans immediately engaged in a “beautification” program; a ruse intended to mollify the king’s concerns. Weeks of preparation preceded the visit. The area was cleaned up, and the Nazis deported many sick, elderly, and disabled Jews to Auschwitz to minimize the appearance of overcrowding in Terezin. The Nazis directed the building of fake shops and cafés to imply that the Jews lived in relative comfort. On June 23, 1944, hosted by Adolf Eichmann, the inspection occurred. The Danish Jews whom the Red Cross visited lived in freshly painted rooms, not more than three in a room. The Red Cross representatives conducted a tour following a predetermined path. The representatives apparently did not attempt to divert from the tour route on which they were led by the Germans, who posed questions to the Jewish residents along the way. If the representatives asked residents questions directly, they were ignored, in accordance with the Germans' instructions to the residents prior to the tour. Despite this, the Red Cross apparently formed a positive impression of the town. The Nazis created a façade of normalcy, showcasing cultural and artistic activities to create the illusion of a thriving community. The Nazis staged social and cultural events for the visiting dignitaries. Once the visit was over, the Germans resumed deportations from Theresienstadt.
Deportations and Extermination
Terezin was primarily a transit camp for Jews being deported to extermination camps such as Auschwitz. Between 1941 and 1945, approximately 87,000 Jews were deported from Terezin to Auschwitz, where most were murdered. By the end of the war, around 33,000 Jews died in Terezin mostly due to the appalling conditions arising out of extreme population density, malnutrition and disease.
Liberation
The camp was liberated by Soviet forces on May 8, 1945. By that time, only 17,247 Jews remained in Terezin, many of whom were in poor health. Only 132 children were known to have survived.
