Minute's silence in the Federal Council - Commemoration of the Roma, Sinti and Yenish murdered by the Nazis
On Friday, the Bundesrat held a minute's silence in memory of the Roma, Sinti and Yenish murdered by the National Socialists. Several hundred thousand Sinti and Roma in Europe were victims of the racist extermination policies of the National Socialists, said Bundesrat President Manuela Schwesig (SPD). More than 25,000 of the 40,000 German and Austrian Sinti and Roma were murdered. "Prejudices against Sinti and Roma still exist today. Little knowledge about the Yenish group is part of this", said the Minister President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Sinti, Roma and Yenish who returned to Germany after the war experienced the same prejudices as before. "They were humiliated and rejected," said Schwesig. There was no room for their independent traditions and needs - "neither in the former GDR nor in the former Federal Republic".
Schwesig emphasized that remembering the victims was not just about looking back. "A dignified remembrance of the suffering of the previous generation is the basis for good, equal coexistence today." This also includes a willingness to come to terms with the history of the Sinti, Roma and Yenish and to respect their special characteristics. "Because they belong to Germany."
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- Despite returning to Germany post-war, Sinti, Roma, and Yenish continued to face the same prejudices, as noted by Manuela Schwesig in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- The National Socialist extermination policies resulted in the deaths of over 25,000 German and Austrian Sinti and Roma, representing more than half of their population at the time.
- Political leaders in Europe, including the Federal Council in Germany, commemorate the victims of the Roma, Sinti, and Yenish genocide through moments of silence, recognizing the persistent implications of National Socialism.
- Manuela Schwesig, the SPD President of the Bundesrat, advocated for a willingness to confront and understand the past experiences and special characteristics of the Sinti, Roma, and Yenish to contribute to fair and harmonious coexistence in Germany and Europe.
- In a show of solidarity and remembrance, the Federal Council in Berlin held a minute of silence to honor the lives lost and the discrimination suffered by the Sinti, Roma, and Yenish during the era of National Socialism.
- The history and plight of the Sinti, Roma, and Yenish in Europe and Germany serve as a reminder of the destructive power of prejudice and discrimination, which have persisted even in the post-war era.
- Recognizing and acknowledging the unique struggles faced by the Sinti, Roma, and Yenish in Europe and Germany is essential to promoting understanding, equality, and harmony in the democratic societies we currently inhabit.
Source: www.stern.de
