Database of victims of the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“
Project objective
The project „Database of victims of the national socialist persecution of ‚gypsies‘“ contributes to the documentation of the identity and lives of those who were persecuted as so-called „Zigeuner“ on racial grounds by the National Socialists and whose fates were connected with the territory of the contemporary Czech Republic.
By systematically collecting and making available data and documents, photographs and further materials about individuals, who were persectued on racial grounds due to them being Roma or Sinti, the project aims to strenghten awareness about the genocide of Roma and Sinti in the context of Central Europe‘s modern history. Beyond that, the project aims to stimulate a broader discussion about the meaning of commemorating the events of World War II, especially taking into consideration their roots and consequences for the formation of identity of all groups in our region – as well of those belonging to society‘s majority as well as those part of minority communities – and supports the improvement of mutual relations among all groups.
1st phase
Duration
1. 6. 2016 – 31. 5. 2018
Project activities
- Processing of the materials made available or created by the historian Ctibor Nečas on the victims of the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“
- Research of relevant archival materials in Czech archives (The National Archives Prague, Moravian Provincial Archives in Brno, State Regional Archives in Třeboň).
- Development of a methodological framework for the documentation of victims of the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“ - in cooperation with members of the advisory board.
- Development of the basic structure of the database of victims of the national socialist persecution of „gyspies“, including rules for the assignment of permissions for the access to the data, archival sources and further materials to be implemented into the database; consultation of the advisory board and the project partners Museum of Roma Culture (MRK) and Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance (DÖW) and subsequently, implementation of the results into the structure of the database.
- Systematic research for further relevant archival materials, processing of the found materials and beginning of the integration of those documents into the database.
Project outputs
- A basic structure for the database of victims of the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“, including model datasets of victims and archival materials (documents and photographs).
- Overview of archival records containing materials related to the project‘s subject.
- Establishment of a working group consisting of experts and advisers to assure the quality of the project and its further development regarding the impartation of the project‘s outputs into society‘s majority as well as into the Roma-community.
2nd phase
Duration
1. 6. 2018 – 31. 5. 2020
Project activities
- Continuation of systematic research in the National Archives in Prague, the Moravian Provincial Archive in Brno and the State Regional Archives in Třeboň.
- Systematic research in further archives within the Czech Republic and abroad (State District Archives Liberec, State District Archives Břeclav and Mikulov, The Archives of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim, Federal Archives Berlin).
- Digitalization of the CT Lety records in the State Regional Archives Třeboň.
- Implementation of the lists of inmates of the „gypsy camps“ in Lety u Písku, Hodonín u Kunštátu and Auschwitz-Birkenau published by Ctibor Nečas into the database.
- Compilation of selected family histories on grounds of the available archival sources and including the memories of surviving dependants and descendants of victims of the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“.
Planned project outputs
- Database containing datasets on the victims of the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“ including name, family name, date and place of birth, date and place of internment, date and place of death etc., depending on the availability of data in the archives and other sources.
- Completion of the digitalization of the CT Lety records in the State Regional Archives Třeboň.
- Several viable family histories of victims of the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“, which will serve as a means to give the public an understanding of the fate of those who fell victim to the national socialist persecution of „gypsies“.
Applicant
- Terezín Initiative Institute, Prague, Czech Republic
Project partners
- Museum of Roma Culture, Brno, Czech Republic
- Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance, Vienna, Austria
In cooperation with
- Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti und Roma, Germany
- Fritz Bauer Institut, Germany
- KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau, Germanny
- KZ-Gedenkstätte Flossenbürg, Germany
- Pedagogical University of Krakow Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Poland
Members of the advisory board
- Karel Holomek, Association of Roma in Moravia, Czech Republic
- PhDr. Jana Horváthová, Museum of Roma Culture, Czech Republic
- Dr hab. Slawomir Kapralski, Prof. UP, Pedagogical University of Krakow – Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Poland
- Mirjam-Angela Karoly, OSCE ODIHR, Poland
- Petr Lhotka, historian, Czech Republic
- Rudolf Murka, member of the second generation, Czech Republic
- Dr. Jörg Osterloh, Fritz Bauer Institute, Germany
- Frank Reuter, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Germany
- Čeněk Růžička, Committee for the compensation of Roma-victims of the holocaust, Czech Republic
- Helena Sadílková, Ph.D., Department for Romani Studies, Chair for Central European Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, Charles University Prague, Czech Republic
- Marek Szilvási, Europen Roma Rights Centre, Hungary
The Project is supported by
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The MA Theater would love to cordially invite you to the Prague premiere of the theatre play Address Unknown, based on the 1938's best selling book by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor. The MA Theater's performance is taking place on the 28th of January at 7:30 PM at Divadlo Na Prádle, Besední 487/3, Prague 1. The play is performed in English.
You can learn more about the play here or in the attachment.
The year is 1933. Two childhood friends, the German Martin Schulse and the Jew Max Eisenstein, bound by student fraternity in Germany and then a gallery business in America, are now separated by the Atlantic. Max continues the Schulse-Eisenstein Galleries in San Francisco, while Martin and his wife and young children move back to native Germany.
Letters fly back and forth, from the Bavarian mansion, across the ocean, to San Francisco, to dear Maxel, and others are sent back to dear Martin. They are full of tenderness, common memories, and hope for Germany's happy future...
Direction: Marianna Arzumanova
Cast: Mario Baas, Jiří Valeš, Eva Alner
The original script, direction, scenography and soundtrack are work of Marianna Arzumanova, the director and founder of Prague's Theatre MA. The show premiered on 18th July 2022 in Verbier, and was shown again in London, New York, Geneve and Schloss Elmau, starring world-renowned pianist Evgeny Kissin and baritone Thomas Hampson.
From December 6 to 8, 2024, we hosted the seminar Antisemitism and Us in Terezín for teachers and peer educators from the Anne Frank Youth Network (AFYN). The event was organized in collaboration with European Practitioners against Antisemitism (EPNA), and with support from the German Federal Foreign Office.
Program and Key Speakers
The seminar offered a rich program focused on how to teach about antisemitism and the Holocaust in a way that has a tangible impact while avoiding unintended antisemitic outcomes. We were honored to welcome outstanding speakers:
- Tomáš Kraus, who guided participants through the authentic environment of the Terezín ghetto, sharing his family’s stories to enrich the educational experience.
- Jakub Drábik, who gave a lecture titled What is Fascism?, exploring its origins, manifestations, and methods of prevention.
- Peter Weisenbacher, who presented FRA research and additional data on how antisemitism is perceived and experienced by members of the Jewish community in Slovakia.