The Lecture Series

Theresienstadt, 31.7.1945

The Lecture Series in Theresienstadt

The lecture series began in the summer of 1942 and ended in May 1945. It took place entirely within the framework of leisure activities (Freizeitgestalltung).

The demand for lectures was very high. 40-50,000 ghetto inmates, among them many thousands of intellectuals, begged for mental stimulation. The young people, who had been without schooling for years, urgently needed further education. The various experts exchanged their experiences, etc. It was very aggravating when it became clear that the superior authority had banned any form of teaching and independent scientific research. Therefore, camouflage had to be used again and again in formulating the program descriptions and responsibility for managing the events themselves had to be taken over. A special word of thanks goes to the youth workers, the vast majority of whom are dead today. They selflessly took on great personal risk again and again to give the young people at least a bit of education. Even the language courses, which seemed desirable in hope of future emigration, could only pass under the flag of lectures. Furthermore, since publications of any kind were prohibited, it was only possible to communicate the results of scientific or artistic work in the form of lectures or recitations. Thus, the lecture series in Theresienstadt had a much wider function than it would have had under normal circumstances and was divided into the following departments:

Scientific Lectures:

Various scientific societies made up its core, e.g. the legal society, the medical education system, the technical department, the scientific circle, which tried in 14-day sessions to scientifically examine all the problems of Theresienstadt existence.

Language Lectures:

In addition to the German language, the only one permitted by the authorities, we were able to hold numerous Czech lectures, as well as lectures in English, American, French, Italian, Hebrew and Yiddish.

Jewish Lectures:

Of course, special emphasis was placed on bringing the Jewish problem with all its possibilities to the forefront for discussion.

Recitations:

Partly written here, partly existing poetry and verse. It seems to us a guilty act of filial piety to commemorate the young native writer Georg Kafka. He brought his first verses, which attested to his high gifts, to lectures here. He had to leave here by transport in May 1944 and soon met a miserable end.

Social Clubs:

Small circles of people with similar interests, held in the form of lectures with speeches, e.g. socially educated women, nature lovers.

Entertainment Lectures:

Lighter fare for relaxation and recreation. Attendance, which began from nothing, increased so much that even in the winter of 1943/1944 a lecture cycle on serious philosophical problems, despite the bitter cold and inhospitable nature of the room, had about 400 devoted listeners. In some weeks nearly 100 lectures took place.

Despite all the obstacles, the constant threat to existence and the miserable poverty of existence, the strong urge for serious mental sustenance remained unbroken. It was moving, indeed uplifting when, on the eve of catastrophic transports, the organizers and the audience sought solace and composure and was rewarded with performances of a genuinely artistic or scientific nature.

Lecture Series

Leader:

Univ. Prof. Dr. Emil Utitz m. p.

Secretary:

Käthe Goldschmiedt m. p.

Za Dokumentační akci přijal:

Za archiv přijal:

Opis: R. Brammerová

Praha, dne 16. února 1946.