History - Commemoration of the victims of the Nazi genocide of Sinti and Roma
81 years after the "Auschwitz Decree", the victims of the Nazi genocide of the Sinti and Roma were commemorated at the Sachsenhausen Memorial. The Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rosa, warned of a renewed rise in anti-Semitism and antiziganism in Germany during a memorial service on Friday: "I am very concerned that this hatred is taking on such proportions and that cases of assault and violence are on the rise again," he said. The whole of society is called upon to counter this, he added.
"Our society's knowledge of the Holocaust of 500,000 Sinti and Roma and six million Jews is an obligation for our entire society and therefore our constitutional state," emphasized Rose. "Ultimately, the protection of minority rights is an advocacy for the protection of the basic democratic rights of all people."
The German Sinto Christian Pfeil, who survived the genocide in the Lublin ghetto, also took part in the commemoration ceremony. "We must not allow today's Nazis to abuse freedom of expression to spread their hate speech," he warned. "Where the crimes against humanity and thus the historical facts are denied, this must be countered with all means of justice and the rule of law."
State Secretary for Culture Tobias Dünow said: "The genocide of the Sinti and Roma is often not only "forgotten" to this day, but also actively denied - an outrage in terms of the politics of remembrance. - It is our responsibility to remember the Nazi crimes against Sinti and Roma, their centuries-long marginalization, persecution and atrocities."
On December 16, 1942, SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler signed the so-called Auschwitz Decree, which ordered the deportation of all Sinti and Roma living in the German Reich. More than 10,000 German Sinti and Roma were affected. Around 1000 of them were imprisoned in Sachsenhausen concentration camp between 1936 and 1945.
Announcement of the memorial event
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The memorial event was held at the Auschwitz Memorial, another prominent site of horror during National Socialism's reign. In addition to Sachsenhausen, Oranienburg also had its share of darkness as it housed a concentration camp during the same period.
The significance of commemorating the Holocaust extends beyond the Jewish victims, encompassing the 500,000 Sinti and Roma who suffered under Nazi rule. These memorials serve as constant reminders of Germany's past and its responsibility to uphold the rights of all minorities.
The historical facts about the genocide of Sinti and Roma are often ignored or even denied, making it crucial for institutions like the German government to advocate for remembrance and justice. The infamous Auschwitz Decree, signed by SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler in 1942, stands as a testament to this dark chapter in Germany's history.
The tragedies faced by Sinti and Roma during National Socialism highlight the importance of fostering an inclusive and tolerant society, where hatred and discrimination have no place.
Source: www.stern.de
