Two small engravings on mica made by Ani Lenhart, who was held by the Nazis in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp and Ghetto. Ani was arrested because she was Jewish and used as a forced labourer splitting mica which had been mined in the locality. These engravings depict Ani's time in Theresienstadt, which had been known as Terezin prior to the arrival of Nazi forces.

Ani had lived in Prague, and was held by the Nazis in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp and Ghetto, being imprisoned around the end of 1943. Ani had been arrested because she was Jewish, however her arrest came late as her husband was not Jewish and had protected her for as long as he could. Once taken to Theresienstadt she was used as a forced labourer and had to split mica which had been mined in the locality. Had Ani been caught stealing small pieces of mica she would have faced severe penalties, including possible execution. The engravings were a form of resistance by Ani and a record of her being held in the camp. They show the Star of David, representations of the camp including its barbed wire, and are dated 1945. The engravings contain the name ‘Terezin’ as this is the original Czech name for the town which became the Theresienstadt Ghetto. The Nazi regime renamed Terezin to Theresienstadt on their arrival. Ani survived Theresienstadt, and was liberated in May 1945. 

Ani is a distant relative of Bob Norton.

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What might have been Ani's motivation for creating these engravings? Why would she take the risk?

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Find out more about Bob Norton

Find out more about Theresienstadt

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