After the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp in Buchenwald in April 1945, the camp´s survivors pledged in their joint proclamation, known as the Oath of Buchenwald, that until the very last roots of Nazism are eradicated from society the fight against this evil must be carried on. Since then commemorative ceremonies have been annually held in the places of liberated Nazi camps.
The Terezín Commemoration has been held continuously since 1946, invariably on the third Sunday in May. For the year 2020 its date had been set for May 18. However, this large event, traditionally attended by up to several thousand people, had to be moved to the fall months.
Due to the anti-COVID-19 measures, which were eventually in force as long as mid-October, only 6 persons were allowed to attend the Commemoration.
The Terezin Commemorative Ceremony 2020, Terezin Memorial, October 2020. Photo: Radim Nytl. 
The Terezin Commemorative Ceremony 2020, Terezin Memorial, October 2020. Photo: Radim Nytl.
As a result, Dr. Jan Roubínek, Director of the Terezín Memorial, Mr. Miloš Vystrčil, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Mr. Martin Pala, Deputy Mayor of Terezín, Mr. Tomáš Kraus, Secretary of the Federation of Jewish Communities, Mr. Karel Krejza, Deputy Mayor of Litoměřice, and Mr. Zdeněk Pošusta representing the Terezín Initiative gathered in the National Cemetery in front of the Terezín Small Fortress after 10 o´clock in the morning on Sunday, October 18, 2020. They honored the victims of Nazi persecution by moments of silence and by laying flowers.
We firmly believe that the Terezín Commemoration would be held in May 2021 in its traditional format and in the presence of the public.
Naděžda Seifertová
