Sered was a forced labor and concentration camp located in Slovakia. During the spring and summer of 1942, the authorities began using Sered as a labor camp. In fact, the idea of establishing such camps came from the Jews themselves. During the height of mass deportations, the Slovak Jewish rescue organization call the "Working Group", came up with a plan to save the Jews from being deported by sending them to work in forced labor camps instead. However, not all the Jews were spared.
During that summer, some 4,500 Jews from Sered were sent to Poland on 5 transports. After the last transport, the conditions at Sered greatly improved. The laborers produced an impressive number of quality goods, and as a result they received more food and even leave passes. There were school services for the children, and cultural activities for all. A Jewish Council under Alexander Pressburger even helped run the camp.
During the August 1944 Slovak National Uprising, the camp was opened and many prisoners left to participate in the revolt. However, after the Germans put down the uprising, Sered was taken under their control. From Oct. 1944 to March 1945, 13,500 Jews were transported from Sered to Theresienstadt and Auschwitz. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army April 1, 1945.
