Terezin Concentration Camp
Star of David, National cemetery.
Friends whoever know me well understand my interest in Jewish stories, especially about what happened to them during WW II. Millions of victims were killed because of they looked different from the Germans and because they were considered as inferior persons. There shall be some other reasons behind this huge murder plan, however, I really think no matter what meaningful reason it could be, no one could take away so many people's lives. Due to millions of lives were gone during the WWII, the term 'Holocaust' is referred to this huge lose. I must also clearify that not just Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust but some other minority races. The reason why we only remember that Jewishs were the victims probably because that the Jewish people are trying really hard to spread the stories of what happened to them and let the world and young generation know about this unforgettable history.
The key purpose for my trip to East Europe is finding out more information about the Holocaust and visiting the concentration camps myself. Terezin concenrtation camp is located in Cezch Republic, 60 kilometers from Prague. The feeling of walking toward the concentration camp is quite complicated with a bit scary and sad. I have been reading a lot fiction and non-fiction about what happened to those victims and how did the concentration camps look like. However, seeing is believing. When everything I read in the books or watched from the films and television programmes are currently show up in front of your eyes--that would be another true shock. The tiny barracks, the underground passage which would lead victims to death and all these made me sob and could not help crying.
There were 15000 children brought to Terezin concentration camp during the war time. Children knew nothing about the war but they had to suffer so much transportion, mapping and registration while the other children were playing, studying or being with their families. They could only be here, at the concentration camp. In this concentration camp, children needed to experience the world of hunger, fear and horrow which may seem to us like a cruel fairy tale abuot step mother, witches adn cannibals---but it really happened to those innocent children.
These 15000 children were transported to some other concentration camps later and only 100 of them came back. During their stay, they did some art work or poem writing. Here, I would like to share one with you and you would realise how potenial these children were and how much they lost in their short life.
"When a new child comes everything seems strange to him.
What, on the ground I have to lie?
Eat black potatoes? NO! NOT!
I've got to stay? It's dirty here!
Th floor-why, look, it's dirt, I fear!
And I'm supposed to sleep on it?
I'll get all dirty!
Here the sound of shouting, cries,
And oh, so many flies.
Everyone knows flies carry disease.
Oooh, something bit me! Wasn't that a bedbug?
Here in Terezin, life is hell.
And when I'll go home again, I can't yet tell."
Home, go home to these children was the simplest and the only dream, however, most of them would never make it. There must be something us, as human beings could do to make the world better than that. As long as we start to accept the others, accept someone of being different and try to love or at least not hate someone. Then there won't be any tragedy in the world.
posted by Jennifer tae @ 8:14 pm
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