Tag Archives: Holocaust

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.

Germany News Western Europe

Exhibition

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Exhibition

The exhibition “The Thread That Holds” by Romnja artist Luna De Rosa opens on July 22, 2026, at Halle 116, focusing on exclusion, discrimination, and anti-Roma stereotypes.

This is the first art exhibition in the newly created space, commemorating the Porajmos, the genocide of Sinti and Roma during the Nazi regime, which remains underrecognized.

The event includes a moderated discussion with the artist and musical accompaniment, and the exhibition runs from July 22 to October 4, 2026, with free admission during regular hours.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Commemoration

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Commemoration

A joint commemoration for the Roma genocide during the Holocaust is organised by the Józsefváros Municipality and the Roma Municipality, taking place on August 2-3, with events at Teleki László Square and the Roma Municipality theater.

The article details the historical context of the persecution of Roma during the Nazi regime, including the implementation of the Nuremberg laws and mass deportations.

The program includes speeches, music performances, and a flower-laying ceremony to honor the victims of the Roma genocide.

Austria News Western Europe

Forced Labour

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Forced Labour

Historical evidence shows that Roma from Burgenland were forced to work on the Reichsautobahn during the Nazi era, with new research pinpointing specific locations of these labor camps.

Writer Ludwig Laher has been investigating Nazi forced labor and the persecution of Roma and Sinti, utilizing new archival sources to shed light on these historical events.

Events organized by Roma-VHS Burgenland aim to raise awareness about the history of forced labor and keep the memory of the victims alive, highlighting the ongoing relevance of this topic today.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Auschwitz Commemoration

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Auschwitz Commemoration

The 82nd anniversary of the liquidation of the so-called Gypsy camp at Auschwitz will be commemorated on August 2, 2024, with events organized by the Center for History and Culture of the Roma in Oświęcim. During World War II, approximately 500,000 Roma and Sinti were murdered by the Nazis, with many being exterminated at Auschwitz.

August 2 is recognized in Poland as the Day of Remembrance for the Roma Genocide and is observed in the EU as the European Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust of Roma and Sinti.

Germany News Western Europe

Germany and Post-War Discrimination

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Germany and Post-War Discrimination

Historian Stefanie Schüler-Springorum discusses the ongoing discrimination and persecution in post-Nazi Germany, highlighting that groups such as Jews, Sinti, Roma, and homosexuals continued to face significant challenges and societal exclusion.

She emphasizes that while the end of the Nazi regime in 1945 marked a liberation for some, it did not equate to freedom for all, as many groups remained marginalized and subjected to ongoing discrimination.

Schüler-Springorum points out that remnants of these prejudices persist in contemporary German society, with issues of antisemitism, racism, and homophobia still prevalent, reflecting a deep-rooted notion of who is considered a “true German.”

In paralle, the German government has established an independent commission to address the injustices faced by Sinti and Roma in Germany and East Germany after 1945, implementing a key recommendation from the Independent Commission on Antiziganism.

The commission aims to comprehensively document the injustices, include unheard perspectives, and integrate the experiences of affected individuals and their descendants into German memory culture.

This initiative is part of a broader European movement towards state-led processes of historical reckoning, acknowledging Germany’s unique historical responsibility regarding the genocide of Sinti and Roma.

Germany News Western Europe

Remember

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Remember

The Karlsruhe city council has named a square near Kapellenstraße as Familie-Reinhardt-Platz to honor the Sinti and Roma victims of the Nazis. There was consensus on the need for a memorial, but disagreement on the location, with some council members finding the chosen site inadequate.

The proposal was supported by multiple political parties, while the CDU suggested an alternative name and location for the memorial.

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