60% of the total Roma population were killed during World War II – NGO “ARCA”

On August 2, the world marks the International Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. On the night of August 2 to 3, 1944, 2,897 roma were murdered in the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. In total, over 20,000 of the 23,000 roma deported from 14 countries perished in that camp. The total number of roma killed ranges from 500,000 to 1.5 million. While in Western Europe the exterminated roma were still being counted, as it took place in concentration camps, in Eastern Europe mass killings were more chaotic — roma were killed wherever they were found. This was stated on Ukrainian Radio by Volodymyr Yakovenko, Director of the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA.” Around 60% of the total roma population living in Europe at the time were killed. In Ukraine, around 60 known sites of mass killings of roma have been identified.

The genocide of the roma was not officially recognized until 1971.

In Ukraine, the International Roma Genocide Remembrance Day is marked at the state level. What is the historical significance of this day and what is its relevance under the current conditions of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine?

Ukraine is one of four countries in the world that officially recognized August 2 as Roma Genocide Remembrance Day. This happened in 2005. However, it was mostly a formal gesture, as the resolution of the Verkhovna Rada was practically not implemented at the local level. Only in recent years has it begun to be carried out. This is also connected to the historical recognition of this day, because unlike the Holocaust of the Jews during World War II, which was recognized immediately after the war during the Nuremberg Trials, the genocide of the roma was not recognized until 1971. Only in 1971, after protests and hunger strikes, the German government, through a court decision, recognized the persecution and extermination of roma based on their ethnicity. Later, other countries joined in this recognition.

Only four countries currently commemorate this day at the state level. How can the circle of countries be expanded so that the international democratic community understands what this date means?

This is one of the tasks of Roma civic activists, because one thing is to have the date officially recognized, and another — not all countries have yet acknowledged the persecution and mass killing of roma during World War II based on ethnicity as genocide. So this work remains incomplete. There are a number of countries, including global leaders, that have not yet done so or are only on the path to recognizing the genocide of the roma as a crime against humanity, a crime against the roma ethnic group, the roma minority.

From 500,000 to 1.5 million

Is the actual number of victims of the Roma genocide known today?

Unfortunately, there is no exact number. Estimates range from 500,000 to 1.5 million. This is largely because — especially in Eastern Europe — unlike the mass killings of Jews and roma in Western Europe, which took place in concentration camps where some records were kept and archives survived, in Eastern Europe mass killings were more chaotic. In the territory of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, there were no concentration camps as such. What happened was: wherever a group of roma was captured, they were killed. In Ukraine, we still do not know all the places of mass killings of roma. Based on research, surviving records, and witness testimony, about 60 such sites are known in Ukraine. But in reality, there are more. We simply do not know. Both Roma and non-Roma scholars agree that approximately 60% of the roma population in Europe was killed.

“Look and Don’t Forget”

We know that in Europe, Auschwitz-Birkenau is one of the places where roma were tortured, killed, and experimented on. Annual events are held there, including the youth initiative “Look and Don’t Forget.” What is this initiative?

Every year in Kraków, an event called Dik he Na Bister takes place, which translates as “Look and Don’t Forget.” It is dedicated to honoring the memory of roma who were killed in the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. In fact, August 2 is known as the “Roma Night” at this camp, when the roma section of the camp was liquidated and about 4,000 roma, romni, and children were murdered in one night. That’s why August 2 was adopted in the Ukrainian context as well, although mass killings of roma in Ukraine began a bit later and have their own date. We are currently preparing a guide to be presented to regional state administrations to help implement the Verkhovna Rada resolution on commemorating and honoring roma who were killed during World War II.

“By exterminating an ethnic group, they were solving internal problems”

Why did the Nazis target the roma ethnic group?

The extermination and genocide were the culmination of a policy that had been in place in Germany and Western Europe since the second half of the 19th century, when the ideology of racial classification began to spread in Europe and globally. As early as the second half of the 19th century, Germany began registering roma, tracing family genealogies, conducting anthropological studies on the roma, measuring their skulls, and so on. This became more widespread, eventually leading to the mass killing and extermination of the roma as an ethnic group. The exact reasons are hard to define. In general, weak political leaders tend to look for scapegoats. They often target stateless groups like the roma or the Jews, who are less able to defend themselves. It becomes easier to blame them and, by exterminating them, try to resolve internal problems. That is likely the reason. But no one knows for sure. Why did Germany recognize the genocide of the roma only in 1971? Because the German government claimed that the roma were not persecuted for ethnic reasons, but because they were “criminal elements,” linked to crime. However, there were no court rulings proving that individuals had committed crimes. Children and newborns were killed in camps — clearly, they had not committed any crimes. So that was just an excuse to avoid admitting guilt.

“The historical gap about the Roma genocide in Ukraine must be filled”

Your team from NGO “ARCA” visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held lectures and information sessions on history. Does this mean society needs more awareness? That there is a demand for knowledge about difficult historical events that resonate with today’s war?

For us, visiting Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and giving lectures to diplomats about the history of the Roma genocide during World War II and the current contribution of roma to Ukraine’s defense and European integration was also unexpected. It was a joint initiative of the MFA and our partners from the Babyn Yar National Preserve, who helped organize the meeting. It is indeed important. Ukraine’s EU accession process includes improving the status of ethnic minorities, including the roma. And this historical gap about the Roma genocide in Ukraine must be filled, because these events are deeply important for the roma. There is not a single roma family that did not suffer during World War II. These events are even reflected in the Roma anthem. It is important to raise awareness. Ukrainian roma consider themselves part of Ukrainian society. There is also an ongoing narrative in Ukraine of rethinking national history, of shedding the colonial past. This cannot be done without recognizing the role of roma in Ukraine’s history — past, present, and future. Ukraine will never overcome its colonial legacy without rethinking the place of ethnic groups in its history and future.

“Roma seem to exist among us, but they are invisible…”

At the Babyn Yar National Preserve, the exhibition “The Invisible” has opened at a high level. Tell us about the preparation for these events — what’s happening, and is there a difference from last year?

This year, there will be a commemorative ceremony and a mourning procession to the “Roma Wagon” memorial at Babyn Yar. Ukrainian officials, diplomats, and ambassadors from various countries will take part to honor the memory of the Roma genocide. After the ceremony, attendees will be invited to the opening of the exhibition at the Babyn Yar exhibition center. The exhibition, titled “The Invisible,” is dedicated to the theme of remembrance of the Roma genocide. The title “The Invisible” captures the core idea of the exhibition and the theme of the genocide — for many, it remains unknown. Roma seem to be around us, we see them, but they are invisible — we don’t know their history, and we don’t know about the tragedy they endured during World War II. This exhibition aims to make roma and their history visible to Ukrainian society.

What are you doing — or planning to do — to increase awareness of this historical tragedy?

In the Ukrainian context, we are currently working on establishing a permanent archive, and based on that archive, creating a permanent exhibition open to the public. This would allow people to learn about the Roma genocide not only on August 2, but on a regular basis. We currently have several parallel projects. One is focused on collecting information and compiling testimonies. Another is dedicated to creating a digital and physical archive that scholars, artists, and researchers can access. This will be a center where they can obtain information about the Roma genocide. The ultimate goal is to establish a permanent exhibition. Where it will be hosted — whether at Babyn Yar or elsewhere — is still unknown. For this, we need state support to ensure that the exhibition is permanent.

Material: Ukrainian Radio