Terezin - the history of the fortress and the ghetto

The city of Terezin dates back to the 18th century, when an Austrian fortress was built in its place for state defense. However, the city gained a loud and sad fame during the Second World War, when the Germans created on its territory a model ghetto for Jewish prisoners - Theresienstadt. More than 140,000 people were held in the ghetto. The Red Cross expeditions were invited here, which demonstrated a beautiful facade – local government, cabaret, football matches and even specially issued local money, which was never in real circulation. However, behind the ostentatious well-being hide the real horrors of the constant deportations to the Auschwitz death camp, many deaths from illness and hard work. Soviet troops liberated Terezin on May 9, 1945, after which a memorial museum was created in the fortress.