Belgrade marks European Day of Remembrance for Roma Victims of Genocide at former camp site

Belgrade marked the European Day of Remembrance of the Roma Victims of Genocide on Sunday at the site of the former Topovske šupe camp, a historical location of immense suffering during World War II.

The Topovske šupe camp, situated in Autokomanda, served as the initial assembly point for Jews and Roma in occupied Belgrade. Historical records indicate that approximately 5,000 Jews and 1,500 Roma lost their lives at this camp, with many others also perishing in the Sajmište and Banjica camps.

Krinka Vidaković Petrov, director of the Staro Sajmište Memorial Center, stressed the significance of fostering an inclusive culture of remembrance. She noted the initiative to erect a new plaque at the site, dedicated to the suffering of Roma, to complement the existing one honoring Jewish victims.

Igor Jovanović, deputy president of the Belgrade City Assembly, stated that the day symbolizes the enduring struggle of the Roma people throughout World War II and their fight for a better position within Serbian society. He acknowledged the widespread suffering of Roma across Europe during the genocide.

The European Parliament officially recognized August 2 as the Day of Remembrance of the Roma Victims of Genocide in 2015. This date commemorates the night between August 2 and 3, 1944, when German Nazis systematically murdered approximately 4,300 Roma, including women, children, and the elderly, in the "family camp" at Auschwitz-Birkenau, first by gas and then by cremation.