Tag Archives: Holocaust

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Ustaša and Roma

Published by:

Ustaša and Roma

The article discusses mass crimes committed against Roma by Ustaše and Chetniks during World War II, highlighting their genocidal intent to exterminate the Roma population using brutal methods such as shootings and burning alive.

It details a specific crime in Križpolje where seven Roma families (38 individuals) were taken by German and Ustaše forces in early 1944 and subsequently murdered on a nearby hill.

The perpetrators were part of the 392nd Legionary Infantry Division, known as the Blue Division, which operated in Croatia and was responsible for numerous civilian deaths and atrocities during the war.

Germany News Western Europe

Hermann “Mano” Höllenreiner

Published by:

Hermann “Mano” Höllenreiner

Hermann “Mano” Höllenreiner, a Holocaust survivor and witness to Nazi atrocities, passed away in Mühldorf, Bavaria, at the age of 92.

He survived Auschwitz-Birkenau and the death march from Sachsenhausen, later sharing his experiences to educate others about the suffering of the Sinti and Roma during the Holocaust.

Höllenreiner was recognized for his contributions to remembrance work and was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in Germany.

Te avel I phuv lokhi!

News Switzerland

Stumbling Stone

Published by:

Stumbling Stone

The first Stolperstein in Switzerland dedicated to a member of the Sinti community was installed in Koblenz, commemorating Anton Reinhardt, a victim of Nazi persecution.

Reinhardt, who sought asylum in Switzerland, was arrested and deported back to Nazi-occupied territory, where he was executed by the SS in 1945.

The memorial highlights the historical accountability of Swiss asylum policies during WWII and the specific vulnerabilities faced by Roma and Sinti.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Józef Merstein Jochymczyk

Published by:

Józef Merstein Jochymczyk

Józef Merstein Jochymczyk, a Sinto musician from Poland, shares his life story, including his early experiences with music and family roots. The family moved through Switzerland, Germany, and wartime Krakow ending up in Chrzanov, where he was born.

He highlights the cultural differences and common  roots between Sinti and Roma and reflects on the historical persecution faced by his community. He continues to perform and compose music in the language he learned before Polish, emphasizing the importance of his cultural identity.

Germany News Western Europe

Reparations

Published by:

Reparations

Historian Joey Rauschenberger presents a nuanced analysis of post-war reparations for the Genocide for Sinti and Roma, revealing surprising findings.

A 1956 ruling by the Federal Court of Justice exemplifies judicial error, stating that the racial persecution of “Gypsies” began only in March 1943, dismissing earlier actions as mere police measures.

The ruling reflects a persistent anti-Romani stereotype, equating “Gypsies” with “primitive humans,” highlighting deep-seated prejudices in legal interpretations.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Resistance Day

Published by:

Roma Resistance Day

The article discusses the debate surrounding the commemoration of the Roma Resistance Day on May 16, which some historians question as a historically verified event.

Proponents, including Roma politician Béla Radics, argue for the establishment of a memorial in Budapest to honor the Roma heroes who resisted Nazi forces during the Holocaust.

Critics, including historians, assert that there is no evidence of a rebellion on that date, suggesting that the commemoration may be based on myth rather than historical fact.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Auschwitz Conference

Published by:

Auschwitz Conference

An international conference titled “Roma and Sinti – Between Historical Memory and Modernity” will take place on November 24-25 in Auschwitz, organized by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Council of Europe.

The conference aims to reflect on the historical memory of the Roma and Sinti genocide during World War II and its impact on contemporary identity and culture.

Participants will include educators and museum professionals, with discussions on the persecution of Roma and Sinti, and workshops on teaching without perpetuating stereotypes.

France News Western Europe

Rivesaltes

Published by:

Rivesaltes

Rivesaltes, a town in Roussillon, is home to a former military camp that served as an internment site during World War II for Spanish refugees, Jews, and Roma, highlighting multiple narratives of exile and forced displacement. From there many were deported to extermination camps.

The Rivesaltes Memorial emphasizes the importance of individual stories over mere statistics, providing a somber reflection on the past while acknowledging the town’s rich historical context dating back to 923.

The article also notes a historical riot in 1873, illustrating Rivesaltes’ long-standing political and social tensions, and suggests that visitors should appreciate both the memorial and the town’s broader historical significance.

Austria News Western Europe

Vienna Memorial

Published by:

Vienna Memorial

A memorial for the victims of National Socialism from the Roma and Sinti communities is set to be completed in Vienna by spring 2029, with a focus on engaging youth through social media.

The National Fund aims to maintain project funding despite a decreasing budget and emphasizes the importance of education in combating hate and Holocaust denial.

The chairman, Peter Haubner, advocates for a clear stance against controversial terms like “remigration” in political discourse, stressing the need for sensitivity in Holocaust remembrance. 

Europe News Eastern Europe Poland

Auschwitz Paintings

Published by:

Auschwitz Paintings

 Dina Gottliebova Babbitt was forced to create watercolors of Roma prisoners for Nazi physician Josef Mengele during the Holocaust, and she spent her life trying to reclaim these artworks from a museum.

Despite her efforts, the museum has refused to return the paintings, citing their historical significance and legal acquisition.

Babbitt’s daughters are now pursuing legal action to retrieve the artwork, highlighting the ongoing debate over art created under duress during the Holocaust.

Germany News Western Europe

45 Years Ago

Published by:

45 Years Ago

On September 1, 1981, a group of Sinti gathered at the University of Tübingen to reclaim documents related to the Nazi persecution of their community, including photographs and records from the ‘Racial Hygiene Research Center’.

The term “Zigeuner” (Gypsy) is historically loaded and considered derogatory; the article uses “Z*” to avoid perpetuating this stigma while discussing the historical context of the genocide known as Porajmos.

The involvement of scientists in legitimizing the persecution of Sinti and Roma is highlighted, with calls for recognition and justice continuing to this day, as the community seeks to reclaim their narrative and history.

France News Western Europe

France and the Camps

Published by:

France and the Camps

During World War II, many Romani and other traveler groups faced severe discrimination in France, leading to their displacement and imprisonment in internment and extermination camps.

The article marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the last travelers from these internment camps in France.

Reporters Antonia Kerrigan and Valentine Erba interviewed a French survivor of the internment camps to share their experiences.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Hatred

Published by:

Hatred

Edita Stejskalová, Czech Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs, addressed the ongoing discrimination and violence against Roma children during a commemorative gathering at the former g*psy camp in Hodonín u Kunštátu, marking 83 years since the transport of Roma to Auschwitz.

She highlighted recent incidents of violence and racism against Roma children, emphasizing that hatred towards them is not just a historical issue but a current reality.

Stejskalová called for awareness and action against both overt and systemic discrimination, particularly in housing and education, stressing that no child should suffer due to their ethnicity.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Commemoration

Published by:

Commemoration

A commemorative ceremony was held on August 20, 2025, at the Hodonín u Kunštátu Memorial to honor the Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust, particularly those deported to Auschwitz in 1943.

The event will feature speeches from descendants of survivors and officials, and will include floral offerings and prayers at the memorial and mass grave site.

The Hodonín concentration camp, operational from 1942 to 1943, primarily held Roma families and is a significant site for remembering the genocide against the Roma and Sinti during World War II.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary, Roma, and Commemoration

Published by:

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

Published by:

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

Published by:

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

Published by:

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

Published by:

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 …

Published by:

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.

rroma.org
en_GBEN
de_DEDE fr_FRFR en_GBEN