Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and Association of Roma in Poland Commemorate 80th Anniversary of Execution of Roma and Sinti in Auschwitz
On Friday 2 August, the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and the Association of Roma in Poland joined together to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the execution of the last remaining Roma and Sinti in Auschwitz. This somber anniversary serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed against the minority group during the Holocaust.
The execution took place on the night of 2 to 3 August 1944, when 4300 women, children, and elderly members of the Roma and Sinti communities were forced into the gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. In 2015, the European Parliament declared 2 August as European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti, in honor of the 500,000 victims of the Nazi regime.
In a moving speech given in Auschwitz, Holocaust survivor Alma Klasing, who lost close relatives in the camp, expressed her concern about the rise of right-wing parties. She urged young people to reject the false promises of these parties and defend democracy.
The Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose, spoke about the legacy of those who were killed in Auschwitz. He stressed the importance of defending human dignity and rights, in light of the atrocities committed during Nazi dictatorship. He also called on democracies to prioritize universal human rights in their actions.
The President of the Polish Senate, Małgorzata Maria Kidawa-Błońska, attended the commemoration as the highest-ranking Polish government representative to date. She stated, “After what happened at Auschwitz, we believed that the slogan ‘Never Again!’ would become a guideline for all countries and politicians. Today, after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we see that nothing is guaranteed forever – not peace, democracy, trust, or even memory. This is a bitter realization, but it also compels us to take action.”
In her speech, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas acknowledged the significance of Auschwitz as a symbol of the greatest crime ever committed by humans against humans. She also acknowledged the responsibility of Germany in this tragedy and expressed her sorrow for the lives lost. She is the first senior representative of the Bundestag to attend a commemoration at Auschwitz, honoring the victims of the Nazi regime.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Alexander Cramer
alexander.cramer@sintiundroma.de
Phone: +49 6221 981101
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.