What was society in the Nazi ghettos? A new history of Theresienstadt

Terezín, as it was known in Czech, or Theresienstadt, as it was known in German, was operated by the Nazis between November 1941 and May 1945 as a transit ghetto for Central and Western European Jews before their deportation for murder in the East. Today, Theresienstadt is best known for the Nazi propaganda of the International Red Cross visit, cultural life, and children. But these aspects explain little what defined the lives of its 140,000 inmates. The Last Ghetto offers both a modern history of this Central European ghetto and the first in-depth analytical history of a prison society during the Holocaust. In conversation with Professor Eric Gordy (SSEES UCL), the author will discuss how can we write a history of enforced society in the Holocaust. The discussion will also address the question of Jewish Councils and the place of Jewish and Holocaust history in wider Central European history.

Note: This event will be delivered in person on UCL campus. Should circumstances change, ticket holders will be notified in advance.

Image credit: Dr Anna Hajkova