Centropa Stories: Season 9 Four stories of survival in Terezin

Edward Serotta's welcome to the Centropa Podcast Season about Terezin.

Jan Fischer, who became one of Prague’s most creative postwar theatre directors and memoirists, fell in love with the stage while a prisoner in Terezin. He and his fellow cellmates performed dramas, musicals and comedies, until one by one, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. A compelling story of tragedy and resilience. 

Jan Fischer was interviewed by Silvia Singerova in Prague in 2003. You can read the interview by clicking on his picture.

Narrated by Peter Moreton.
 

Antonie grew up in Brno, where her family lived on the grounds of the Jewish community’s sports club. When the deportations began, her 12 year old brother went into hiding, her father was taken into forced labor, and Antonie, 16 years old, looked after her mother in Terezin. A story of incredible bravery, heartbreak and commitment.

Antonie Militka was interviewed by Barbara Pokreis in Brno in 2004.

narrated by Jilly Bond.

Born into a completely assimilated home in Prague, Alena Synkova didn’t understand what it meant to be Jewish until Germany’s invasion and occupation. Her mother died young, her father was sent off to his death, Alena was called up for a transport to Terezin and her brother fled to the resistance. Alena spent three years in Terezin and after the war became a well known poet, journalist and screenwriter. 

Alena Munkova was interviewed by Zuzana Strouhova in Prague in 2005 and 2006.

Her story is read to us by Shelley Blond.
 

Ludmila Weinerova grew up in Prague and was deported to Terezin with her parents and brothers when she was 22 years old. Ludmila paints a vivid picture of what life was like in the ghetto: grim and frightening on the one hand, but on the other, she performed in operas and in choirs that the prisoners performed. Lubmila Rutarova was interviewed by Daniela Greslova in Prague in 2007.

Her story is read to us by Jeni Barnett.