Terezin - Small Fortress Mala pevnost

The Small Fortress (Mala pevnost) at Terezin is outside of the town on the east bank of the River Ohre. It was built in 1780 as a prison, which it was used as until after the Second World War. During World War II the German SS used the Small Fortress to imprison political opponents, prisoners of war, and basically anyone opposed to, or caught committing acts against, the Nazi Regime. This included Jews who, if sent to the Small Fortress, were subjected to hard work and torment by the Nazi guards. Approximately 250 to 300 prisoners were executed here.

After the end of the war, the Small Fortress was used to contain German war criminals. The building opposite the Commandant's quarters served at one point as the barracks for the SS guards and later as the barracks for the police guarding the German war criminals. The building was labeled a Memorial of National Suffering by the Czech government and is now a museum.