The Czech Republic - Terezin (Theresienstadt)

An early morning start but somehow negated by a wrong turn leaving us an extra half hour of driving! Our plan was to get past Prague (I can hear you ask why? - been before and saving for another visit) - and head toward Northern Bohemia (northern Czech). 

Also the day was about catching up on many housekeeping tasks and emails etc. 

After lunch we drove around Prague - not its best aspect! - and headed north to Terezin (Theresenstadt). 

Having just read the book 'The Girls of Room 28' this visit was a must. Plus a book I had read a year or so ago detailing  Australian and New Zealand soldiers who were prisoner of war here in the 1940's.

The house to the right of the church- fourth window at the top is room 28.

Theresenstadt was an infamous concentration camp during the Nazis regime during WWII. It was a transition point for the 'final solution' of the Nazis in relation to the Jews.

Theresenstadt was originally built as a military barracked by the Hapsburg in readiness for defences against the Prussian in the 18th century. 

More than 150000 Jews were sent here readying for further transportation east - about 30000 died here whilst waiting to be moved on! Today a population of 3500 people is small group in comparison.

The other buildings near the  Theresenstadt ghetto was the Small Fortress, a Gestapo prison. This is where the Australians and New Zealanders spent the last years of the war. These men were never recognised as prisons of war until the Hawke government accepts their proof in the 1980s. The small fortress was the worst of the worst!

We walked around the ghetto area a d spent time in the Ghetto Museum. It becomes very emotional seeing what has taken place all those years ago. It is difficult to explain how you feel seeing and reading the stories - how could this have happened! It is a very emotional experience - and the world should never forget that this can happen even in a considered advanced society. It is so difficult to understand that we are wandering around the ghetto where so many suffered so much!

We are staying here at Terezin for our overnight!

The area was much drier north of Prague - with crops already harvested and landscapes considerably more brown in colour. It has been interesting to see the hundreds if hectares planted out in poppies! Tassie look out!