Information for Press and Media

80 years ago, on 2 August 1944, the remaining 4,300 Roma and Sinti were murdered by the SS in the German Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. In memory of all 500,000 members of the minority who were killed in Nazi-occupied Europe, the European Parliament declared this date to be the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti in 2015.

On 2 August 2024, the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust against Roma and Sinti will be commemorated with the last survivors at a central international commemoration at the site of this crime against humanity.

The SS had already attempted to dissolve camp section B II e on 16 May 1944 and murder thousands of members of the minority in the gas chambers. This extermination operation was cancelled due to the fierce resistance of the Roma and Sinti – probably also to prevent the resistance from spreading to other sections of the camp.

Remembering history always means taking responsibility for the present. If we remember the Nazi crimes and the Holocaust today, nearly 80 years after the end of the war, we must also stand up for the rule of law and a vibrant democracy. That is why the anniversary also addresses the rise of antigypsyism, antisemitism and racism in Europe and around the world. The states of the world are called upon to do justice to the legacy of Auschwitz and to stand firm against these developments.

The commemoration is organised by the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and the Association of Roma in Poland in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. It will take place at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial on 2 August 2024 at 12 PM and is followed by a wreath-laying ceremony. The 80th anniversary will be accompanied by an extensive programme of political, cultural and academic events in Krakow and Oświęcim from 31 July to 2 August 2024. Further details on the participants and high-level guests as well as the detailed programme will be announced in due course.

Press invitation:

Your editorial team is cordially invited to attend and report on our programme on 2 August 2024. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information and contacts. Please note that a press release will be sent out at the end of July with information on accreditation.
Further information about the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti can be found here: www.roma-sinti-holocaust-memorial-day.eu/

Note to editors:

The majority of Roma and Sinti families in most European countries lost relatives in the Nazi extermination camps. This was not spoken about, especially after the end of the Second World War, and certainly not reported. The 80th anniversary of the SS action in the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp could therefore be the occasion for local or regional stories about the Holocaust of the minority or about the lives of Roma and Sinti today – especially young people. We therefore encourage the outreach to Roma and Sinti organizations from across Europe and are available to facilitate contacts. The commemoration on 2 August will be streamed live on the website www.roma-sinti-holocaust-memorial-day.eu/. The video will then be permanently available there, along with a wide range of information (DE/EN/PL/Romanes) on the Holocaust against Roma and Sinti.

Further information here: https://www.roma-sinti-holocaust-memorial-day.eu/press/