Tag Archives: Genocide

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary, Roma, and Commemoration

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Hungary, Roma, and Commemoration

The Hungarian Parliament held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Roma Holocaust, following a controversial incident where members of the Mi Hazánk (Extreme-Right) party remained seated during a previous commemoration.

Mi Hazánk’s leader, Toroczkai, criticized the political exploitation of the Holocaust remembrance and expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the upcoming presidential election. He claimed it violated house rules and that the Tisza party was exploiting the situation for political gain. Ábrahám Barnabás, a leader of the Mi Hazánk party, criticized the increasing influence of Roma in Hungary, suggesting that the focus should be on crime rather than the Roma Holocaust

The Prime Minister, other officials, as well as members of the Jewish community condemned Mi Hazánk’s actions, emphasizing the importance of honoring the victims and calling for an apology from the party.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary and the Extreme Right

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Hungary and the Extreme Right

István Gyöngyösi, a representative from the Tisza Party, commemorated the victims of the Roma Holocaust during a parliamentary session, emphasizing the need to remember the Roma victims who were deported and murdered in Auschwitz.

The Mi Hazánk (our house – an extreme right) party members remained seated during the commemoration, leading to accusations of racism and disrespect from other political figures, including Prime Minister Péter Magyar.

Minister Zoltán Tarr acknowledged ongoing discrimination based on ethnicity and stressed the importance of remembrance and combating hate to prevent future atrocities.

Moldova News Eastern Europe

Moldova and Memory

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Moldova and Memory

On the eve of the memorial date for the genocide of Roma during World War II, vandals painted over a memorial in Moldova, changing its colors to a toxic red, which shocked community members.

The Roma community in Moldova, estimated at 12,000, is advocating for recognition of their genocide during the war, with many more living abroad, and they commemorate the tragedy annually on August 2.

A memorial panel was created to honor the victims, but the community fears it may be vandalized again, highlighting ongoing issues of intolerance and historical neglect regarding the Roma Holocaust.

Austria News Western Europe

Lackenbach

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Lackenbach

Commemorative events in Vienna and Lackenbach honored the Roma and Sinti persecuted and murdered during the Nazi regime, with speeches emphasizing the local impact of these historical crimes.

Historian Gerhard Baumgartner highlighted the inhumane treatment of Roma, including wrongful deportations based on misconceptions about them not wanting to work.

The events aimed to preserve the memory of the victims and promote the importance of maintaining the language, culture, and identity of the Roma and Sinti community in Austria.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Racial Persecution

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Racial Persecution

Accodting to the article, the roots of Nazi persecution of the Roma can be traced back to changing perceptions of the group during the modernization of European societies, as discussed in Sławomir Kapralski’s book “Naród z popiołów”.

In the 19th century, racial theories emerged that interpreted social and cultural differences as inherent biological traits, leading to the ‘naturalization of difference’ and viewing Roma as biologically distinct and unchangeable.

This perspective shifted the view of Roma from a social problem to a biological one, resulting in their increasing exclusion and eventual persecution, including sterilization and extermination.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Silence …

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Silence …

On August 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar and Speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer remained silent about the Roma Holocaust, which the Roma Press Center criticized, stating that silence is also a stance.

They emphasized the importance of acknowledging the historical tragedy of the Roma community, particularly the extermination of nearly 3,000 Roma individuals at Auschwitz in 1944.

The article highlights the historical responsibility of the Hungarian state in the persecution and deportation of Roma people, calling for public acknowledgment and reflection on this dark chapter of history.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia Commemoration

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Slovenia Commemoration

The President of the Roma Community in Slovenia, Jožek Horvat – Muc, emphasized that discussions about the genocide against Roma are crucial for understanding human rights and the current status of the Roma community.

He highlighted the dangers of marginalization and the persistence of anti-Roma sentiment in Europe, which is rooted in historical prejudice and exacerbated by contemporary socio-political issues.

The memorial event served as a reminder of the systematic extermination of Roma during the Nazi regime and underscored the importance of preserving historical memory to combat discrimination and promote social equality today.

Bosnia News Eastern Europe

Roma in Bosnia

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Roma in Bosnia

Dervo Sejdić highlights the historical persecution of Roma during the Nazi occupation and the ongoing discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly regarding the unimplemented Sejdić-Finci ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

Sejdić, a prominent Roma rights advocate, gained recognition for his role in a landmark case that challenged the ethnic-based political system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which excludes minorities from political representation.

Despite facing numerous obstacles, including nationalist opposition and a lack of international support, Sejdić continues to fight for the rights of minorities and the democratization of the country.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Jasenovac / Uštice

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Jasenovac / Uštice

The International Day of Remembrance of the Romani Victims of Genocide (Samudaripen) was commemorated in Uštica near Jasenovac, with the opening of the ‘Amare, amale’ Peace and Friendship Park for Roma.

Minister of Labor Alen Ružić emphasized Croatia’s support for the culture of remembrance, stating that the suffering of the Roma must never be forgotten as it is essential for a society of tolerance and equality.

MP Veljko Kajtazi reminded attendees of the suffering of Roma during World War II and the importance of remembrance as a responsibility of the living.

Austria News Western Europe

Lackenbach

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Lackenbach

Approximately 4,000 Roma and Sinti were deported from the Lackenbach detention camp during the Nazi era, with only a few hundred surviving, most of whom were murdered.

The commemoration event emphasizes the importance of remembering these atrocities, which occurred within local communities, and the need to confront the past to ensure a peaceful future.

Political leaders stress the necessity of protecting minority rights and combating hate and discrimination as part of honoring the memory of the victims.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Liberec

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Liberec

The City of Liberec commemorated Romani and Sinti victims of Nazi persecution by flying the Romani flag and emphasizing the importance of tolerance and respect in society.

The Liberec Regional Authority and local officials met with Romani community representatives to honor historical memory and promote dialogue against hate and racism.

The article highlights the tragic history of the Romani and Sinti during the Holocaust, including their deportation and murder in concentration camps, and calls for ongoing recognition and commemoration of this genocide.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Commemoration in Slovakia

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Commemoration in Slovakia

The Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Roma Holocaust emphasizes the importance of remembering historical events that should not be forgotten and should be included in history education.

The Ministry of Education in Slovakia highlighted that remembering the Roma Holocaust is a sign of respect for the victims and contributes to preserving historical memory, promoting a society based on respect and understanding.

The commemoration marks the events of August 2-3, 1944, when nearly 3,000 Roma were murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau, with an estimated half a million European Roma and Sinti killed during World War II, and around 1,000 Roma victims in Slovakia alone.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Commemoration in Serbia

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Commemoration in Serbia

The Topovske Šupe camp was the first concentration camp for Jews and Roma in occupied Belgrade during World War II, where 5,000 Jews and 1,500 Roma perished.

Krinka Vidaković Petrov, director of the Staro Sajmište Memorial Center, emphasized the need for an inclusive culture of remembrance, advocating for a memorial plaque for Roma victims alongside the existing one for Jews.

Igor Jovanović, deputy president of the Belgrade City Assembly, highlighted the significance of August 2 as a day to remember the suffering of the Roma people during the war, as recognized by the European Parliament in 2015.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Commemoration in Hungary

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Commemoration in Hungary

A memorial event for the Roma Holocaust was held in Hódmezővásárhely, attended by government, municipal, religious, and civil representatives, emphasizing the importance of combating hate and exclusion today.

Minister Zoltán Tarr highlighted the need to acknowledge past wrongs and promote social reconciliation during his speech.

Mayor Péter Márki-Zay noted that Hódmezővásárhely was the first city in Hungary to publicly commemorate the victims of the Roma Holocaust, warning that genocides result from long-term exclusionary processes.

Europe

August 2nd.

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August 2nd.

The European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti is officially observed on August 2, recognizing the genocide of approximately 500,000 Roma during the Nazi regime, with various countries in Central and Southeastern Europe participating in memorial events.

Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have established official commemorations, while other countries like Bulgaria and Serbia observe the day informally or do not recognize it officially.

The memorial events often address not only historical atrocities but also contemporary issues of anti-Roma sentiment and discrimination in these regions.

Germany News Americas News Western Europe

Memory

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Memory

Frieda Daniels, a 93-year-old former high-wire artist, shares her experiences during the genocide at the time of the Holocaust to educate younger generations about the atrocities faced by the Sinti and Roma community.

She and her family were persecuted by the Nazis, with an estimated 500,000 Sinti and Roma murdered during the genocide.

Now living in California, Frieda continues to travel and speak about her past, recently reflecting on her experiences during a visit to an exhibition in Heidelberg, Germany.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia Memorial

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Slovenia Memorial

The Maribor synagogue held a memorial event for the International Day of Remembrance of the Roma and Sinti genocide, emphasizing the need to remember and warn against rising intolerance in Europe.

Jožek Horvat Muc highlighted that the genocide, which claimed around half a million Romani lives during WWII, is often overlooked in history, and that current discrimination and hate speech against Roma persist in many European countries.

Slovenian officials acknowledged progress in integrating the Romani community but stressed the need for ongoing dialogue and responsibility to combat prejudice and protect human rights.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary Commemoration

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Hungary Commemoration

August 2 is recognized as the international memorial day for the Roma Genocide during the Holocaust, marking the liquidation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Roma camp in 1944, where over 3,000 Roma were killed by the SS.

A remembrance event will take place in Miskolc, Hungary, including a mass for the victims and speeches by notable figures, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Roma Holocaust Memorial.

The Roma Holocaust remains a lesser-known aspect of World War II, with ongoing efforts to ensure its recognition and remembrance in historical narratives.

Austria News Western Europe

Vienna Memorial Service

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Vienna Memorial Service

A memorial service for Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust will take place on August 2 at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, led by Auxiliary Bishop Franz Scharl, with a wreath-laying ceremony to follow.

Austria officially recognizes August 2 as a National Holocaust Remembrance Day for Roma and Sinti, commemorating the murder of approximately 4,300 individuals in Auschwitz in 1944.

The 30th Roma Pilgrimage to Mariazell is scheduled for August 9, celebrating faith and culture, with participation from Roma communities across Europe.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and the Holocaust

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Slovenia and the Holocaust

The article discusses the violent actions of communist partisans in Sodražica during May 1942, including the murder of 16 Roma and other locals, highlighting the impact of these events on the community.

It references the historical context of the region, including the rise of communism and the experiences of local families during the war, particularly the Kozina family.

While it is true that partisans executed Roma and others during the war, this is aprt of a new narrative in Slovenia whereby all crimes during the war were committed by others …  As a reminder, let’s just say the mayor of Ljubjana vetoed the transfer of Roma victims to the local cemmeraty devoted to victims of World War Two.

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