Summer vacation.
- A time for families to unwind.
- Spending time together.
- Do fun activities.
Soon your mind wanders to the sea or the swimming pool, an amusement park that is visited, or a big city with its world-famous sights.
- Ice cream is eaten.
- Or a cold drink is drunk on the terrace.
- Yes, vacation equals fun and enjoyment.
But still, I always take the chance to enrich my holiday with a piece of history or culture.
That's how this holiday in the Czech Republic put me (and my kids) on the path to Theresienstadt.
Photo 1: 84 mm - F2.4 - 1/867s - ISO 16Click here to view larger
I parked my car at the small fortress on a hot August day. That is a part of the Terezin memorial.
At the parking lot, it was immediately apparent that we were not the only ones who thought Terezin was worth a visit despite the heat.
And I was also amazed by the variety of nationalities I recognized on the numerous license plates on the parked cars. I saw Czech, German, Austrian, Dutch, Italian, and even a Danish license plate.
I was pleased that the hunger for history touched more people and not everyone had fled to the swimming pool.
Terezin.
You can visit eight places here, but because of their size, it is impossible to see them all in one day.
So for today, only ''The small fortress'' is on our schedule.
The fortress of Terezin consists of two parts.
The giant fortress and the small fort.
And was built from 1780 to 1790, originally intended to keep the Prussians out of harms way.
Terezin was the largest fortress in the Habsburg Empire at the time.
It was built by order of Emperor Joseph II of the Blessed Roman Realm and Ruler of Germany.
But in 1888, it lost its status as a military fortress and was used as a prison afterward.
Until the Second World War, the fortress had become famous as one of the most notorious prisons of its time.
But his destiny changed again during the Second World War to a closed Jewish ghetto. And was presented to the public as a private spa.
I will not dive into history with you. What happened during the Second World War and what these ghettos or camps were intended for are, I think, generally known. But I'll show you some pictures of places that moved me this day and tell you a little about them.
From the parking lot, you walk along a long avenue toward the small fortress.
Photo 2: 28 mm - F1.8 - 1/120s - ISO 32Click here to view larger
On the right side of this avenue is a memorial site with many monument stones in the grass.
Photo 3: 45 mm - F8.0 - 1/250 - ISO 100Click here to view larger
And behind it, in front of the fortress wall, stands the Star of David.
Photo 4: 28 mm - F1.8 - 1/4000s - ISO 25Click here to view larger
This quickly establishes the vibe for the rest of this visit.
Even though there are quite a few visitors today, it is tranquil. Every visitor walks around here respectfully and is impressed.
You get this distinct feeling which is not gained from history books.
Seeing it with your eyes gives you a glimpse of what happened here.
And even then, it remains surreal and incomprehensible.
After we have bought an entrance ticket and a map, we walk further into the small fortress.
And immediately see bold black letters with the infamous words above the entrance gate. ""Arbeit macht frei."" Work liberates.
Photo 5: 15 mm - F8.0 - 1/2000s - ISO 400Click here to view larger
High fences that extend the walls make it immediately clear that escaping is almost impossible.
Speechless and in awe, I stood there for a while.
All kinds of thoughts went through my mind.
My soul was touched.
Behind the gate was the first courtyard, surrounded by the prison cells and washroom. Three-layer bunk beds filled the cells that housed 60 to 90 prisoners.
Photo 6: 15 mm - F8.0 - 1/2500s - ISO 800Click here to view larger
Photo 7: 16 mm - F8.0 - 1/4000s - ISO 800Click here to view larger
Photo 8: 16 mm - F8.0 - 1/4000s - ISO 800Click here to view larger
Photo 9: 15 mm - F3.5 - 1/200s - ISO 800Click here to view larger
Photo 10: 15 mm - F3.5 - 1/200s - ISO 800Click here to view larger
A sad sight.
Bars on windows and doors and little protection from the cold in the winter or the summer heat.
Everything was set up to house as many prisoners as possible.
We continued our way through the small fortress. Our journey takes us past several cells, showers, an infirmary, and even a swimming pool for the guards.
And finally, to the fourth and last courtyard.
Photo 11: 45 mm - F13.0 - 1/1600s - ISO 1000Click here to view larger
It was only added to the small fortress in 1943.
A watchtower for the guards is high on the wall, and cells can be found on both sides of the courtyard.
On one side, large cells for 400 to 600 prisoners.
Photo 13: 15 mm - F13.0 - 1/160s - ISO 1000Click here to view larger
On the other side, solitary confinement sometimes holds up to 20 people.
Photo 12: 28 mm - F13.0 - 1/200s - ISO 1000Click here to view larger
My children often need to be more enthusiastic about making such historical visits. And I don't blame them, either.
Who wants to be confronted with a black page from our history?
Yet my heart filled with pride today as I saw them walking around with the map and asking questions about anything that caught their eye.
My job as a parent was done for today.
Create awareness among the younger generation so that history does not repeat itself.
I hope you enjoyed my short story about Terezin and the photos I took there.
Attached to a beautiful red rose, I send my love into the world and wish everyone a wonderful life.
(Photos 1, 2, and 4 were taken with an Apple iPhone X and the others with a Canon M50 photo camera. And later edited with Adobe Lightroom.)
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