On the walls of the Pinkas Synagogue in Prague, there are about 78,000 names of Holocaust victims, their dates of birth, and of death, if known. These Jewish victims were from “The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia”, which was the name given to the western part of then Czechoslovakia when it was occupied by Nazi Germany in March, 1939.
Soon after the occupation began, Jews were made to wear a Jewish badge (see photo). They were fired from their jobs, their children expelled from school, and their property seized. Of the 110,000+ Jews living there, about 26,000 managed to emigrate, legally and illegally, before emigration was completely banned in October, 1941.
The Jewish Badge.
Terezin and Auschwitz Concentration Camps
About 73,000 Jews were sent to Terezin, which was a concentration camp. From this concentration camp, about 60,000 were sent to extermination/death camps such as Oświęcim (Auschwitz). By the time Czechoslovakia was liberated on May 5th, 1945, there were only about 14,000 Jews left alive here.
The Nazis used Terezin in its propaganda, pretending that Jews who were “resettled” there lived normal lives. When the Red Cross visited, things were strategically placed in otherwise deserted shop windows. Some prisoners were dressed up to make it look like they were just living normal lives.
There were up to 60,000 prisoners at Terezin at one point. They found ways to secure paper so that the children could draw. About 6,000 hidden children’s artwork were later found. Some are on display in the Pinkas Synagogue. The two that haunt me the most are one under “Memories of Home” and one under “Transport”. I can’t begin to imagine what the six million Jews, and the millions of non-Jewish victims went through.
Males were given a yarmulke to wear when entering the Pinkas Synagogue, and were reminded to put it on before entering the cemetery. “Transport” by Jiri, who died when he was 14, two years after being transported to Terezin. “In a Meadow” by Marianne R., who thankfully survived.
78,000 Names
As we looked at the 78,000 names on the wall in the synagogue, we tried to calculate their age when they were killed, or last known to be alive. I tried to imagine what they looked like. How could I ever come up with that many faces? And millions more?
The KRASA twins stood out. Blanka and Vera Krasa were born April 4th, 1926, and died June 13th, 1942. They were 16. I imagine they were identical twins, and hope they were at least with each other, if not with their entire family, when they were killed.
#NeverAgain #NeverForget
Blanka and Vera Krasa were just 16. There were much younger victims, no one was spared.
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