Roma Holocaust Memorial Unveiled at Former Czech Concentration Camp Site

A new memorial honoring the victims of the Roma Holocaust during World War II has been unveiled in Lety, Czech Republic. The memorial stands at the site of a former concentration camp for Roma people that operated during the war, where over 1,200 Roma passed through and at least 335 died, including 241 children. "According to historians, over 1,200 Roma people passed through the Lety concentration camp, with at least 335 dying there, including 241 children," the Museum of Romani Culture stated.

The memorial, which took around two years to build, covers over 100,000 square meters and includes a permanent exhibition with eyewitness testimonies. It features a circular walkway around the former camp site, with metal spokes engraved with the names of those who were imprisoned there. Approximately 540 of the Lety prisoners were subsequently transported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

The site of the former concentration camp had been obscured for decades after the communist regime built an industrial pig farm there. Descendants of the victims and Roma activists fought for nearly three decades to have the pig farm demolished and a dignified memorial erected in its place. The government finally acquired the site in 2018, allowing the memorial to be established.

Why this matters: The Roma Holocaust memorial functions as a significant reminder of the atrocities committed against the Roma people during World War II and the long struggle to properly commemorate the victims. It highlights the ongoing fight against discrimination and the need to preserve the memory of those who suffered and died in concentration camps.

The opening ceremony for the memorial took place on April 23, 2023, attended by the Prime Minister and President of the Czech Republic. "The site of the former concentration camp, where at least 335 people died and many others were sent to Auschwitz, functions as a reminder of the horrors of the past and a way to honor the victims," the officials emphasized. The memorial, designed by the studio Terra Florida, will officially open to the public on May 12, when the annual commemorative event for Lety is held.

Key Takeaways

• New memorial honors Roma Holocaust victims in Lety, Czech Republic.
• Over 1,200 Roma passed through the former Lety concentration camp, 335 died.
• Memorial includes a permanent exhibition and names of imprisoned on walkway.
• Decades-long struggle to replace former pig farm with dignified memorial.
• Memorial opening ceremony attended by Czech PM and President on April 23, 2023.