Theresienstadt Survivor Tells All

Friday, 4th March 2011

The History Department hosted Anna Flachova on Friday 4th March,  a survivor from the notorious camp at Theresienstadt  who has contributed to a book named “The girls of room 128 “  documenting her experiences, together with the English translator, Gabriel Fawcett.  Anna gave talks throughout the morning to various classes and pupils were be encouraged to ask questions to her about her life  before, during and after the years of living as a prisoner.  
 

Theresienstadt (Terezin) was originally a fortress town near Prague.  During the Second World War, it was a transit camp for thousands of Czech, Austrian and other Jews.   It is known in western Europe mainly because in 1944 it was used by the Nazis to convince the International Red Cross that the Jews were being well looked after; this involved the creation of an elaborate pretence,  “Hitler gives a town to the Jews”.  In reality, it was a concentration camp – or a ghetto, as some historians describe it – which saw much suffering and death, claiming over 30,000 lives and sending on many more to die in Auschwitz and other extermination camps. 

The Girls of Room 28, tells the story of the 13- and 14-year-old girls who were housed in Room 28, a dormitory in Theresienstadt.  It tells a remarkable story of ordinary life – the friendships and difficulties of adolescence – and an extraordinary education.  These young people were taught by members of the Czech Jewish cultural élite – fellow-prisoners – and the art and music created by both children and adults in the camp is celebrated today as a symbol of the triumph of good over evil.