About the Image(s)

During World War II, Nazi treatment of the Jewish population is well-known. However, in the spa town of Theresienstadt Czechoslovakia, there existed a ghetto known as the ‘paradise ghetto.’ Here, were sent prominent Jewish personages, such as scientists, musicians and composers, certain community leaders as well as Jewish war veterans from World War I who had won medals for their service to Germany. Hardly a ‘paradise,’ as the residents lived in overcrowded ‘apartments’ and not in the barracks of concentration camps, it was so only to the extent that the people sent there were not exterminated (immediately) or worked as hard as those in other concentration camps such as Auschwitz. But life was certainly not a ‘paradise.’ Theresienstadt had its own satellite concentration camp, called “the little fortress,” adjacent to the ‘paradise ghetto,’ the entrance to which is pictured. The slogan which appears above the entrance is well-known, having appeared at other concentration camps, notably Auschwitz.


Gear: Olympus E-500, Zuiko 14-45 mm open to 45 mm
Data: ISO 100, f 8 1/200 sec.
Metering: Pattern
EV: 0
WB: Auto
Date: June 9, 2007