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View all events 1939–1941

November 24, 1941


First Prisoners Arrive at the Theresienstadt Ghetto

In fall 1941, German authorities establish the Theresienstadt (Terezín) ghetto in the Czech town of Terezín in the German-controlled Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The first prisoners arrive on November 24, 1941. Initially, Theresienstadt serves a transit site for Czech Jews being deported to German-occupied eastern Europe. Later, it serves as an "old age ghetto" for certain categories of German and Austrian Jews.

The Theresienstadt ghetto would exist for three and a half years, between November 24, 1941, and May 9, 1945.

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