How dare that stinky Jew do that?

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The family of Anna Hyndráková, née Kovanicová, arrived in Terezín in October of 1942. Mrs. Hyndráková’s sister, who was already in the camp with her husband, took charge of them. The transport that had brought the Kovanic family was a criminal one and in a few days it was to continue further to the east, to Auschwitz. That is why the sister hid the family at one of her acquaintances from the ghetto, so that they would not have to join the transport: “They hid us at this person’s place who had a privileged status. Not because of his office, but rather because of his fishy bargains and businesses...” The family was hidden in a small room which, according to Mrs Hyndráková, “wasn’t that disgusting.” During the first days of their stay in Terezín, they had an unpleasant experience when a man in civilian clothes visited the room they were inhabiting: “Once an SS-man in civilian clothes had entered and my father, as he had good manners, stood up, stretched out his hand and introduced himself to him. The SS-man started to scream and shout, 'how dare that stinky Jew do that?' The man at whose place the family had been hiding ,and whose name Mrs. Hyndráková does not want to reveal, took the SS-man outside: “He probably tried to hush it all up and probably bribed him.”

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Anna Hyndráková, née Kovanicová

Ann Hyndráková was born in 1928 in a Jewish family. She spent her early childhood in the same way as thousands of other Czech children, and, according to her, the Czech identity was equally as important as the Jewish identity for her family. In 1938 came the Munich Agreement and with it the anxiety of what would follow. At the same time, however, there was faith that the present situation would be short-lived. The year 1939 brought the invasion of the German troops and the creation of the Protectorate. From 1941 Jews had to wear the humiliating star on their clothes and many more special regulations and restrictions - the purpose of which was to isolate Jews from public life - followed. Nevertheless, the Jews still believe that all of this has to end soon. Ann Hyndráková - at this point still Kovanicová - experienced bullying in school, was not allowed to run in squares and parks or to greet acquaintances. Eventually, the only remaining place where she could play was Jewish graveyards in Vinohrady, Old town, and the so-called Hagibor. The father of the family lost his job and was forced to paint lamp shades at home - the children helped as well - to provide for the basic living needs of the family. With the advent of 1942 began the tragic story of the Kovanic family. At the end of this story, Anna was the only family member to survive. The family were transported to the Theresienstadt ghetto, (in Czech Terezínské ghetto), in October of 1942 after having spent six weeks in a gathering camp in Prague-Holešovice. They arrived in Theresienstadt on the 24th of October. Ann's pregnant sister, Truda, and her husband Francis were already waiting in Theresienstadt for them. In the summer of 1944, Ann and her parents were chosen for the transport Eastwards to Auschwitz. After the arrival in Auschwitz and a temporary stay in the so-called "family camp" there followed the notorious selection. Ann passed and was sent to the so-called "Frauenlager," i.e. the part of the camp for women, whereas her parents didn't pass and were subsequently - after a short stay in the family camp on the other side of the platform - sent to the gas chambers. Ann's sister Truda and her little daughter arrived in Auschwitz in the autumn and were sent from the transport directly to the gas chambers. Ann Kovanicová, (Hyndráková), was able to get out of the extermination camp after some time and subsequently lived in several other camps that had more favorable regimes. Together with two friends, she later managed to escape from the death march dispatched from Christianstadt to the infamous Bergen-Belsen. After a few days on the run, however, they were caught by the SS and sent back to the labor camp Niesky and later on to Görlitz, which was headed by the sadistic murderer, a professional villain, Hermann Czech. Ann Kovanicová, (Hyndráková), left Görlitz by the beginning of May 1945, when the approach of the Red army led to the disintegration of the camp's administration and guard. She left on horse-drawn cart together with twelve other people that were subsequently leaving for their homes. She reached Prague together with three other people with a poster saying: "From the concentration camp back home." From Ann's family, however, nobody but herself returned home.

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Theresienstadt, die Große Festung

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Die Große Festung von Theresienstadt ist Teil einer Festungsanlage, deren Bau im Jahr 1780 begann, in der Ära von Kaiser Josef II. Die Festung liegt am Zusammenfluss der Elbe und der Eger und wurde ursprünglich zur Verteidigung gegen eine Invasion aus Preußen vorgesehen. Sie wurde aber nie militärisch genutzt, da die Preußen sie einfach umgingen. Theresienstadt erreichte den Status einer Heeresstadt und diente als eine Garnison - die Truppen wurden hier bis zum Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts stationiert. Die Festung besteht aus zwei Teilen - der Großen und der Kleinen Festung. Die Kleine Festung diente schon seit ihrer Gründung als Militärgefängnis. In der großen Festung lebte die Bevölkerung. Die Nazis jedoch beschlossen, hier ein jüdisches Ghetto zu schaffen und vertrieben deshalb am 24. 11. 1941 die Zivilisten aus Theresienstadt und bildeten hier ein jüdisches Ghetto. Beim Ausbau des zukünftigen Ghettos nutzten die Nazis die jüdische Gemeinde in Prag. Sie behaupteten nämlich dass in Theresienstadt ein Lager entstehen würde, in dem die jüdische Bevölkerung des Protektorats interniert, nicht aber in den Osten transportiert werde. Im Jahr 1942, auf der Wannsee-Konferenz, beschlossen die Nazis den Sonderstatus des Ghettos von Theresienstadt. Es sollte ein sogenanntes „Altenghetto“ werden, also ein Ghetto in dem ältere Menschen interniert werden – oft Veteranen des Ersten Weltkriegs nicht nur aus dem Protektorat, sondern auch aus Deutschland und Österreich. Die Nazis schufen sich somit ein Alibi. Sie konnten behaupten, dass sie doch nicht alte Menschen in die „Arbeitslager“ im Osten schickten. Diese blieben doch in Theresienstadt. Das war jedoch eine Lüge, denn manche von den Transporten die aus Theresienstadt in den Osten gingen bestanden ausschließlich aus älteren Menschen. Tatsächlich war die primäre Funktion des Ghettos Juden zu versammeln und sie weiter in den Osten zu transportieren. Die durchschnittliche Zahl der Häftlinge betrug in den vier Jahren der Existenz des Ghettos zwischen 30.000 bis 40.000 (vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg lebten etwa 7.000 Menschen in Theresienstadt, darunter auch die Truppen der Militärgarnison). Im September 1942 war das Lager mit fast 58.500 Häftlingen überfüllt. Zu dieser Zeit starben hier durchschnittlich 127 Menschen täglich! Angesichts der erheblichen Überfüllung des Ghettos gab es sehr schlechte Lebensbedingungen, die in der Folge zur hohen Sterblichkeit beitrugen. Am Ende des Krieges brach im Lager zusätzlich eine Typhusepidemie aus. Insgesamt wurden etwa 155.000 Menschen im Konzentrationslager Theresienstadt gefangen gehalten. Um die 118.000 von ihnen starben im Verlauf des Zweiten Weltkrieges (einschließlich der Opfer der Typhusepidemie). Die Befreiung von Theresienstadt verlief ohne Kämpfe. Am 1. Mai 1945 wurde das Lager an das Rote Kreuz übergeben, am 5. Mai flohen die letzten Nazis vor der herannahenden Front und am 8. Mai 1945 kamen die ersten sowjetischen Truppen.