How does eastern Europe commemorate the Roma Holocaust?

The recognition of the Nazi genocide against Roma and Sinti has taken decades to materialize, with Germany finally acknowledging the atrocities in 2015. This acknowledgment led to the establishment of the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti, observed annually on August 2nd. The day marks the liquidation of the Roma camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, which took place during the night of August 2nd to 3rd, 1944. At that time, thousands of Roma and Sinti had already been killed due to starvation, disease, and other causes before the mass execution. During this operation, many were murdered by being gassed, shot, or beaten. The commemoration of these tragic events began in earnest in 1994, when Polish Roma organizations initiated a ceremony at the Auschwitz memorial site. This was part of a larger event commemorating the “liquidation of the Gypsy camp” in Birkenau. Over the years, efforts have grown to include official remembrance across Europe. Since 2015, following an initiative by the European Parliament, the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti has become an officially recognized observance in Germany and other parts of Europe. Government representatives often participate in ceremonies at Auschwitz, though many such events take place within the countries themselves, particularly in Central and Southeast Europe, where Nazi policies targeted Roma communities more directly. These nations also frequently highlight contemporary anti-Roma prejudice and its consequences during their commemorations. In Poland, where approximately 30,000 Roma reside, August 2nd has been an official memorial day since 2011. Regular participation includes parliamentary and government officials traveling to Auschwitz for remembrance activities. Notable among these events is the annual commemorative act held by Austrian artist and Roma survivor Karl Stojka at the entrance of the former “Gypsy camp” in Auschwitz-Birkenau, beginning in 2001. Since 2011, the day has been officially observed in Poland, with continued involvement from political figures. Another key event takes place each year in the village of Szczurowa, east of Kraków, on July 3rd, marking a German massacre of Polish Roma in 1943. A monument was erected there in 1956, making it the first in Europe dedicated to victims of the Roma genocide. Similar memorials occur in small towns and villages throughout southern Poland, remembering the murder of Roma during the German occupation. In the Czech Republic, home to around 250,000 Roma, the 2nd of August has been an official memorial day since 2015. The main ceremony occurs in the town of Lety, south of Prague, where Roma organizations have long remembered the genocide. The Nazis established a concentration camp in Lety in 1940, into which Roma families were deported starting in 1942. After the war, the site was used as a pig farm until a lengthy dispute led to its closure in 2018 and conversion into a memorial site. The opening of the memorial in April 2024 saw attendance by President Petr Pavel and former Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Another significant location is Hodonín, north of Brno, where a German concentration camp for Roma existed in 1942–43. Here, the deportation of Roma to Auschwitz on August 21, 1943, is remembered. In Slovakia, where roughly half a million Roma live, the 2nd of August has been an official memorial day since 2005. The central commemorative event takes place on the grounds of the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) in Banská Bystrica. These ongoing efforts reflect a broader commitment to preserving historical memory and addressing present-day challenges faced by Roma communities.