Brundibar: How The Nazis Conned The World

Used A Children's Opera To Deceive International Observers

(CBS)  How did the Nazis manage to kill six million Jews and keep so much of the world in the dark? Part of the answer can be found when looking at the history of a concentration camp called Theresienstadt, in what was Czechoslovakia. Near the end of the war, the Nazis used the camp to con the world.

Reports had begun circulating in allied capitals that the Nazis were exterminating Jews. The Nazis wanted to refute those reports, so they took this one camp and turned it, if ever so briefly, into a model town. They shot a movie there to prove how good they treated the Jews and invited the Red Cross to inspect it.

Central to the deception was the performance of a children's opera called "Brundibar." The opera survived the war and so did a few members of its cast. They are in their mid-70s now and a few months ago, they invited 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon to spend some time with them.

---

Every summer, a remarkable reunion takes place in the Czech Republic. A group of friends come together from all over the world, who all have one thing in common: they grew up in the shadow of death in a concentration camp in the lush mountains outside of Prague. They grew up quickly.

Helga Kinsky couldn’t speak about the horror for a full 40 years. "Because actually whatever you did, you didn't have the right to live. You were sentenced to death. And it is something you can't get over," she explains.

The survivors' friendship began in Theresienstadt, a transit camp. From here, a garrison town before the war, Jews were sent off to the gas chambers of Auschwitz. Nearly 140,000 Jews from all over central Europe passed through the camp, including many of Europe’s most prominent artists who left a record of what it was like. Much of the art has survived, some of it by children. They portrayed how cold and crowded they were, sleeping 30 to a room, how typhus epidemics swept through the camp. The dead were brought to catacombs before being incinerated. Bodies were carried on the same wagons used for bread. Jews weren’t gassed at Theresienstadt but more than 30,000 died of disease and hunger.

Music flourished in the camp—it was like a Julliard for Jews. There were classes and concerts in cellars and attics. The hottest ticket in town was Brundibar, written by a Czech Jew and smuggled into the camp.

"It wasn't easy to get tickets," remembers Dita Krause, who was in the choir in Brundibar. She says tickets were printed for every performance and were maybe the most difficult to get.

The opera was performed 55 times by children in Theresienstadt. It’s a fairy tale of sorts, the story of a young brother and sister who with the help of a cat, a dog, a bird and the children of the village defeat an evil organ grinder named Brundibar. The opera ends with a victory song.

Back in the camp, the Nazis filmed the performance in 1944. The lead role, the part of Brundibar, was played by a boy named Honza Treichlinger, who wore a fake mustache.

"Everybody loved him. And everybody adored him," remembers Ella Weissberger, who played the cat.

"I wore my sisters ski pants and my mothers sweater. Black sweater, this was my costume," she recalls.

Wearing a costume was a relief from what Ella and the other kids had to wear all the time in the camp. "This was the only time that they said we don’t have to put on the Jewish star. A couple of minutes of freedom," she explains.

A couple of minutes of freedom for Ella the cat.

[shannyfox]

Hello,
I am an English teacher and teach an Anne Frank unit. Over the years, you have had wonderful stories about the holocaust. In February you ran one called the Mascot. I was wondering if you could send me that show (I have been having consider trouble accessing it on my computer). Also, if it not too much trouble, would you please send me any other stories that relate to the holocaust? Thank you for your time. Shannon Fox, Braham Area High School, 531 Elmhurst Ave. S.W., Braham, MN 55006

[patrick_moll]

Please explain what your hispanic heritage has to do with the anything, and how do you assume anything about my background. Having your child married into another heritage does not bestow upon you wisdom. And yes racism IS a serious problem in the world, but it is only worsened with having an obsession of one's ancient tribal heritage. Such an obsession is what is making one genocide paramount over all other genocidal suffering. Suffering becomes narrowly defined. If it doesn't appear on 60 Minutes then it is not "suffering." Get it?

You throw that word "ignorant" so carelessly into the discussion at your own risk as it comes back and hits you in the face.

[nydavebflo]

As an American of Hispanic heritage that was the most ignorant statement I heard in a long time. Many people today live their lives oblivious to what is happening in the world around them, often trying to convince themselves that racism is not a problem in their world. I hope your children married into anything other than what you are. Then , maybe YOU%u2019LL UNDERSTAND.

[lars008-2009]

The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Theodore Roosevelt

[lars008-2009]

Appeal for Redress
Sign this Appeal.
This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealforcourage.org/

[themooniac]

truckerndfw/Mel Gibson: when I said the holocaust never happened that was SARCASM, I'm sorry you chose not to acknowledge that. My comments were in response to your jew-baiting rant...and as far as "the underlying question" what question??? I saw no question in your post just the usual anti-semitic David Duke/Iranian-Ahmadinejad horse$hit. You guys should form a club, you can call it the KKK.

[santomaurom]

Dear Bob Simon,

"Deep down, I believe that a little anti-Semitism is a good thing for the Jews - reminds us who we are." --Jay Lefkowitz (NYT Magazine. Feb.12, 1995. Page 65).

Jay Lefkowitz is now Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.

A sick man! Don't you think?



Peace.

Michael Santomauro
Editorial Director
253 West 72nd street #1711
New York, NY 10023

http://www.tadp.org

Call anytime: 212-787-7891

[emhawks]

To bluestardad: Good posts; how very true!
"If you tell a lie big enough & keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
- Joseph Gobbels (Nazi Propaganda Minister)
How well this quote describes the Bush/Cheney adm. & their never ending lies; especially the War on Terror (a War of Terror against the American people) & the North American Union ( read about this--I am very alarmed by this--it could mean the end of the USA--I intend to write my Congressmen & tell him to vote against any further legislation directed towards the formation of the North American Union, which is scheduled to exist by 2010--the Bush/Cheney adm. is handling this very quietly).

[pepperwood2]

Will History Repeat Itself? New gun legistration introduced by Democrats from New York, taken from the Dictator's own play book.


"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun control. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!" ---Adolph Hitler, 1933

[zendigity]

CBS please stop boring us with these articles demonstrating how a government could manipulate public opinion away from the atrocities it's committing...Aren't any stories about Brittany or Anna Nichole you could focus on.........oh wait.

[bluestardad]

Bush is playing all of us against each other! In one hand he is touting the Red White and Blue war on Terror against everyone who attacked us on 911 and on the other hand he is funding Al Qaeda to destabilize an counter other governments in the Middle East! The recently resigned terrorist Czar ask for a demotion to deputy Secretary of State Because he did not want to be tangled up with another Iran Contra style Funding Fiasco that is going on in Lebanon. Here is the stream read it yourself!

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

Just copy up to the Hersh on the news stream this web site is adding a n on the end of the paste!

[bluestardad]

Bush is playing all of us against each other! In one hand he is touting the Red White and Blue war on Terror against everyone who attacked us on 911 and on the other hand he is funding Al Qaeda to destabilize an counter other governments in the Middle East! The recently resigned terrorist Czar ask for a demotion to deputy Secretary of State Because he did not want to be tangled up with another Iran Contra style Funding Fiasco that is going on in Lebanon. Here is the stream read it yourself!

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

Iran Contra, al Qaeda Lebanon same oh same oh! The Bush Administration is covertly supporting a minimum of three Sunni al Qaeda organizations in Lebanon to act as a buffer against the Shiite Hezbollah. Yes and the money is coming from the billions of dollars unaccounted for from Iraq! This support is not regulated by Congress, is in direct contravention to the WAR on TERROR the NEOCONS expound, and is under the same pretext as the Iran Contra Scandal of the late 1980s! This was reported by Wolf Blitzer yesterday on CNN and again tonight!

Email your senators and representatives and tell them your views! LET THEM KNOW YOU KNOW OF THIS DIRTY LITTLE SECRET!

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in
formation/senators_cfm.cfm OR http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

[santomaurom]

Dear Bob Simon,

"Deep down, I believe that a little anti-Semitism is a good thing for the Jews - reminds us who we are." --Jay Lefkowitz (NYT Magazine. Feb.12, 1995. Page 65).

Jay Lefkowitz is now Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.

A sick man! Don't you think?



Peace.

Michael Santomauro
Editorial Director
253 West 72nd street #1711
New York, NY 10023

http://www.tadp.org

Call anytime: 212-787-7891

[santomaurom]

Dear Bob Simon,

"Deep down, I believe that a little anti-Semitism is a good thing for the Jews - reminds us who we are." --Jay Lefkowitz (NYT Magazine. Feb.12, 1995. Page 65).

Jay Lefkowitz is now Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.

A sick man! Don't you think?



Peace.

Michael Santomauro
Editorial Director
253 West 72nd street #1711
New York, NY 10023

http://www.tadp.org

Call anytime: 212-787-7891

[bluestardad]

Come on guys and gals, I really do not care on what side you come down on as long as it is American! One hand Bush is funding al Qaeda and patting you all on the behind while he shoves in the salami! Read Below! This is so freaky I can not even make it up!

Iran Contra, al Qaeda Lebanon same oh same oh! The Bush Administration is covertly supporting a minimum of three Sunni al Qaeda organizations in Lebanon to act as a buffer against the Shiite Hezbollah. Yes and the money is coming from the billions of dollars unaccounted for from Iraq! This support is not regulated by Congress, is in direct contravention to the WAR on TERROR the NEOCONS expound, and is under the same pretext as the Iran Contra Scandal of the late 1980s! This was reported yesterday on CNN!

Email your senators and representatives and tell them your views! LET THEM KNOW YOU KNOW OF THIS DIRTY LITTLE SECRET!

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in
formation/senators_cfm.cfm OR http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

[bluestardad]

Gunner, Read the AIPAC ad then come back and talk!

It seems that from time to time the media runs these types of articles in order to ensure America does not forget how badly the Jewish People had it in Europe and how America should continue to give special treatment to Israel because of past wrongs. Israeli lobbying groups are selling access to American elected as you can see in their lobbying group advertisement below.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/joi
n_aipacClubs.htm

Blind support of Israel is hurting American interest abroad. For years no one would say anything against promoting the Israeli agenda for fear of being labeled an anti-Semitist but now America is learning it is also acceptable to disagree with Israeli promoters like these AIPAC members who would gladly sell thousands of American soldier%u2019s lives to promote Israeli interest! America did not perpetrate the wrongs of Europe against its people over 70 years ago and are not responsible for correcting them now! There is starting to be a backlash against Israel and other Middle Eastern countries among the American Public for meddling in the politics of our nation and fighting their proxy wars. The longer we interject American military and money in the Middle East the longer the problems will exists. Who cares if a country does not recognize Israels right to exist? For years America did not recognize Peoples Republic of Chinas right to exist either!

[gunnerv1]

Just why in the hell should Isreal give up land that It took by right of conquest. If America did that, America would not exist!(or is that what you really want)

[gunnerv1]

I made my point "Paleolibs". I don't care who is in office, just finish the da*n job. A few thousand up against how many hundred thousand complaining or signing petitions, your are pathetic. I ******* when I was in and I protested at Golden Gate park but I still did my job! What did you do, there wasn't any blogs then.

[gunnerv1]

Can anyone honestly tell me how President G. W. Bush or Admin. policys has hurt/betrayed/forfited an American citizen or property? I'm not talking about travel on an aircraft or an airport. Screening to keep the nut cases off the aircraft is a good thing, and I don't care if it takes 3 or 4 hours to do it.

[stevex47]

hahahaah gunnerv,

C'mon, blame Clinton on this lost war, go ahead, you want to sooo bad.

Your king had the congress, the house, the courts all on their side, and still screwed everything up. Your funny loser. Ain't it funny watching Mccain backstab your hero rumsfeld. What about the thousands of soldiers against the war now? hahahaha, blaming the libs is truly funny. Show's your true ignorance and pompous reality.