The Crveni Krst — Red Cross — concentration camp operated from 1941 to 1944 in what had been a Yugoslav army barracks north of the city centre. The Germans interned some 35,000 people here during the occupation: Jews, Roma, Communist Party members, hostages taken from surrounding villages. Many were executed at the Bubanj memorial park on the edge of town; others were sent to camps elsewhere in occupied Europe.
What makes Crveni Krst remarkable is how completely it has been preserved. The watchtowers, the perimeter fence, the barracks blocks, the punishment cells — essentially the entire camp survives and is open as a museum and memorial. The displays are well-documented and honest. This is not a sanitised or softened presentation; it is a place that asks you to reckon with what happened here.
The camp is about 2km north of the city centre, a straightforward walk or taxi ride. It is open daily except Monday; admission is free or very low. Allow at least an hour. If you are also visiting Bubanj memorial park — where the executions took place — set aside a morning for both.