The last day we were in Prague we took a day trip out to the town of Terezin. The town was the site of the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp and Ghetto during World War II. The ghetto was used as a transit camp for Jews being sent to extermination camps. It was also used as a "model Jewish settlement" for propaganda and even a few visits from the International Red Cross. Approximately 150,000 Jews (including tens of thousands of children) came through the camp and about 33,000 died at the camp mainly due to malnutrition, disease, and horrific living conditions. At the end of the war, 17,742 prisoners survived the camp.
We actually didn't get a chance to go to the main exhibit (a representation of the barracks) since we missed the bus stop, but we were able to spend the day walking through the town. Looking back, we think it was a blessing that we actually missed the stop since I don't think JJ would have been able to understand the devastation and why both his parents were emotional and crying. As it was, we were emotional experiencing what we were able to see. We are grateful that we were able to take this day of remembrance.
This was the crematorium.
Towards the end of the war, Hitler ordered that the ashes of about 3,000 deceased prisoners be thrown into the river so that no one would know what really happened at the camp. This represents the boxes of ashes.
The town did have this strange wildlife. They were like weird river rats.
The gravestones in this cemetery didn't have any names, just stones laid on them. It was very moving.
Across the river was the main ghetto.
Well, I'm finally done posting about Prague! I'm sure you can tell that we absolutely loved our trip there : ) I'll start posting more recent events soon.
