Germany commemorates Sinti and Roma victims of the Holocaust

On January 28, the district of Ebersberg in Bavaria held a remembrance ceremony for the victims of National Socialism, focusing on the Sinti and Roma community. Local officials, including Landrat Robert Niedergesäß, highlighted that more than 500,000 Sinti and Roma were murdered during the Nazi era, with roughly 25,000 of those victims from Germany and Austria. Speakers from the Bavarian Sinti‑Roma association and historians described the persecution of children from the Piusheim institution and stressed the need for vigilance against discrimination.

The same day, the Hans‑und‑Sophie‑Scholl‑Gymnasium in Ulm organized a school‑wide Holocaust‑remembrance event for ninth‑grade students. Teacher Carmen Gerspach invited representatives of the German Sinti‑Roma association and a local priest to present personal stories, historical context, and videos exposing persistent stereotypes. The program aimed to educate young people about the community’s history and ongoing challenges, reinforcing the broader national commitment to remembering the Holocaust.

Both events illustrate continued efforts in Germany to acknowledge the specific suffering of the Sinti and Roma during the Holocaust and to promote tolerance and awareness among the public and younger generations.