THE SINTI AND ROMA Victims of the Holocaust Assignment By: Ashley, Deena, Sofia, Tre and Yashar

Overview

Origins  Northern India  Europe in 1400s  Craftsmen, blacksmiths, cobblers, musicians, dancers  in German- occupied Europe  Culturally different  Discrimination predates the Nazis USHMM. Holocaust Encyclopedia: Roma (Gypsies) in Prewar Europe — Map. duleId= &MediaId=359 (Dec. 8, 2010). duleId= &MediaId=359

“the science of improving a population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics.” –Oxford Dictionary Eugenics

Laws  Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Defects (July 1933)  Sterilization of Gypsies  Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour (15 September 1935)  Non-Aryans prohibited from marrying Aryans

Dr. Robert Ritter  Directed genealogical research on Roma  Physical separation of the Roma to protect racial purity in Germany  Tried to link criminal behaviour to genes  Roma were “naturally inclined” to be criminals USHMM. Holocaust Encyclopedia: DR. ROBERT RITTER: RACIAL SCIENCE AND "GYPSIES”. Photograph. (Dec. 8, 2010).

“the theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals; that some races are superior to others.” -Oxford Dictionary Social Darwinism

Laws  Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution  Viewed as inferior therefore equal rights of citizenship, but more discriminatory laws  Combating Gypsies, Vagabonds and the Work Shy (16 July 1926)  Registration, restricted movement, internment camps  Law Against Dangerous Habitual Criminals (November 1933)  Roma arrested and interned  Reich Citizenship Law (15 September 1935)  Defined Roma as “racially distinctive”, stripped of civil rights

Himmler’s Declaration  First-hand account from Himmler (Dec )  “Gypsy problem” = racial issue  Suited only for nomadic life  Registering Gypsies at the Reich Criminal Police Office USHMM. Holocaust Encyclopedia: Genocide of European Roma (Gypsies), — Photograph. uleId= &MediaId=1565http:// uleId= &MediaId=1565 (Dec. 8, 2010).

Treatment of Children  Subhuman, animals needing to be trained  Roma children became wards of the state  Experimented upon  Interned in camps  Inability to speak German = mental problem = “special school” USHMM. Holocaust Encyclopedia: Genocide of European Roma (Gypsies), — Photograph. (Dec. 8, 2010).

Deportation and Camps  “resettlement to the East” = mass deportation  Hierarchy within camps  Green = professional criminal  Black = “asocial”  Treblinka, Auschwitz, Buchenwald, USHMM. Holocaust Encyclopedia: Classification System in Nazi Concentration Camps — Artifact. n/media_da.php?ModuleId= &MediaId= n/media_da.php?ModuleId= &MediaId=5037 (Dec. 8, 2010). USHMM. Holocaust Encyclopedia: Sinti & Roma: Victims of the Nazi Era- Photograph. (Dec. 8, 2010).

Personal Story

Karl Stojka: Roma during WWII  Roman Catholic Roma family (Lowara Roma)  Deported from Vienna to Birkeneau then Buchenwald for forced labour  Avoided gassing, sent to Flossenbürg camp  Liberated by Americans in 1945 (age 14) USHMM. Holocaust Encyclopedia: Karl Stojka- Photograph. leId= http:// leId= (Dec. 8, 2010).

Darwinism and Eugenics ?  Darwinism  Initially forced to adopt “superior” way of life (settling in one place)  Considered inferior by Germans  Deported  forced to work, horrible conditions  Eugenics  Separated from the rest of society  Eliminated from gene pool

Conclusion  Action taken reflected Hitler’s philosophy  Laws became more restrictive  “alien blood”  Mainly Social Darwinism  Considered inferior because of nomadic lifestyle  Keeping small group interned to study