Transport III/2, Train Da 76 from Koeln, Köln (Köln), Rhine Province, Germany to Theresienstadt, Ghetto, Czechoslovakia on 27/07/1942

In June and July 1942 two speical trains (Sondrzüge) went to Theresienstadt. This was the second transport to leave Cologne for Theresienstadt that year. It was named Da 76 by the Reichsbahn. The transport consisted of 1171 Jews, of whom 725 were women and 441 were men. The average age of the deportees was 63 and a half. The oldest deportees were in a group of six persons aged 90-98. The youngest deportees were three babies, aged six to eighteen months. They arrived from Luxemburg, Trier, Koblenz, Bonn and Cologne and several smaller towns in the area. One of the deportees reported: "[...] On Sunday (9.7.1942) I got my order for evacuation. I have been expecting it for a long time. This last transport consisting of sick war invalids and elderly people will leave on the 27th of July 1945 to Theresienstadt. Then the Rhineland will be free of Jews." A few days before she was deported from the assembly camp Much near Cologne to Theresienstadt Fanny Walter wrote to her children: "Beloved children! And so I also bid you farewell. Hopefully everything will be fine even though the journey will be very unpleasant. The hope that we will see you again keeps us going. As you can imagine, we are on edge. Aunt Bille is on our transport as well but it's not a given that we will meet her on the journey. As sad as it is, she is happy to see us, that is to be with us again. Uncle Simon also sends his sad regards. Dear children, we will be brave, and you must be as well. We hug and kiss you dearly. Stay healthy, and hopefully we will too. Hoping for a happy reunion. We have just received notification that we are leaving for Theresienstadt on Monday morning, the 27th.”...