Between October 16 and November 3, 1941, five transports left Prague to the ghetto in Łódž, Poland, and on November 16, a transport went from Brno to the ghetto in Minsk, Belarus.

The first transport of Czech Jews left the Bubny railway station in Holešovice on October 16, while the Terezín ghetto was established on Nov. 24, 1941.

After that, the occupying German authorities decided that the Jews would be sent to a ghetto in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The former military fortress town of Terezín was chosen.

A total of 140,000 people arrived in Terezín in transports, and over 15,000 came in forced marches at the end of World War II. The largest group of deportees, more than 70,000, were Jews from Bohemia and Moravia.

Today’s commemoration

The annual commemoration Bubnování pro Bubny (“Drumming for Bubny Station”) will start today at 17:00. Traditionally, descendants of deported citizens will also take part.

The organizers will distribute cardboard drums to the guests, which they will have to beat to the rhythm set by the drummers of the Tam Tam Batucada band. Entrance is free, and everyone is welcome to attend. You can also bring your own drums.

In this way, the authors aim to symbolically break the passive silence of modern society, which only observes the suppression of human rights and genocide. The event serves as a reminder that the Holocaust was possible for the same reason – because of the silent inaction of the majority, which is tantamount to complicity.

The action is supported by the Embassy of Israel in the Czech Republic and will also include a music concert, poetry readings, and performances by students of art schools.