Honors and Remembrance: The Tragic Holocaust Victims of the Sinti and Roma Community During the Nazi Era in Düsseldorf
Remembering the Roma and Sinti Victims: Commemorative Events in Düsseldorf on August 2
On August 2, 2025, Düsseldorf and other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia will commemorate the Holocaust Remembrance Day for Sinti and Roma. This day is a solemn occasion to honour the victims of the Roma genocide, particularly those who were deported and murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The memorial event in Düsseldorf took place at the foot of the Ehra monument in the city's old town. Otto Pankok's bronze figure, a poignant reminder of more than 100 Düsseldorf Sinti who were murdered, stood as a testament to the tragic past.
Hugo Franz from the Landesverband Deutscher Sinti and Roma spoke at the sidelines of the memorial event, paying tribute to the lost lives. The day began with a wreath-laying ceremony, accompanied by a musical initiation, to remember the genocide by the National Socialists.
In Cologne, the association Rom organized a remembrance cultural city walk, shedding light on the stories of Sinti and Roma. Many Roma in Cologne came from former Yugoslavia.
The commemorations in Germany are part of a broader effort to remember the Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust and raise awareness about ongoing discrimination against these communities. The National Holocaust Memorial Day for Sinti and Roma honours victims like those deported and murdered at Auschwitz, and similar commemorations take place regionally and nationally to promote education and remembrance.
These days often include ceremonies at memorial sites, educational programs, and public statements condemning racism and hate speech directed at Roma and Sinti people. The events in Düsseldorf followed this pattern, with speeches following the white rose laying ceremony.
Today, over 30,000 Sinti and Roma live in Düsseldorf, and it is crucial that their history is not forgotten. The city's participation in these commemorations aligns with Germany’s commitment to Holocaust remembrance and efforts by organizations such as the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) that emphasize the importance of teaching about the genocide to prevent ongoing prejudice.
NRW Integration Minister Josefine Paul and Peter Rummel from the cultural association "Roma Carmen" were present at the remembrance event, underscoring the importance of this day in the city's calendar. On this solemn day, people who came to honour the murdered Sinti and Roma laid a white rose at the Ehra memorial in Düsseldorf, a symbol of hope and remembrance.
- Given the commemorative events in Düsseldorf for the Holocaust Remembrance Day for Sinti and Roma, one might find news coverage focusing on politics and general-news topics such as talks about ongoing discrimination against the Roma community, efforts to raise awareness, and the role of various organizations in promoting education and remembrance.
- As the Holocaust Remembrance Day for Sinti and Roma commemoration in Düsseldorf concluded, discussions and debates in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms could delve into the ongoing discrimination faced by the Roma community, underscoring the importance of ongoing efforts to ensure their history is accurately remembered and prejudice is prevented in the future.
