According to Kocze, the Roma community has been conspicuously absent from mainstream historical accounts, with their testimony denied or marginalized, and their credibility questioned. They have been deemed unworthy of attention and remembrance as fellow human beings.
Recognizing this gap, Kateřina Čapková, a researcher at the Institute of Contemporary History Prague, took the initiative to create a database of Roma testimonies. This project, associated with the Prague Forum for Romani Histories, was the first of its kind and served as a centralized collection point for the experiences of Romani individuals. Čapková began this endeavor eight years ago.
Renata Berkyová, a Roma historian originally from Slovakia, played a crucial role in the development of the website. Prior to the establishment of this database, Romani testimonies were scattered across various archives, making them difficult to find. The centralized platform now offers profound insights into the persecution of the Roma community by the Nazis.
Berkyová further explained the significance of the database, stating, “It enables us to trace the survivor experience, compare testimonies, and identify the common threads that define their collective ordeal.”
Čapková highlighted the impact of Nazi propaganda on the perception of Romani people, which depicted them as uniformly nomadic, impoverished, and averse to work. This dehumanizing portrayal contributed to the failure of many to recognize the Roma’s arrest, incarceration, and execution as acts of genocide.
“The imprisonment and murder of the Roma and Sinti communities were deeply rooted in racial discrimination,” emphasized Čapková. However, the Nazis often justified their actions by citing alleged criminal activities or a refusal to work.
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