A commemoration was held at the former Topovske šupe camp site in Belgrade to mark the European Day of Remembrance for Roma victims of the genocide during World War II.
Key facts
- •The Topovske šupe camp was the first collection camp for Jews and Roma in occupied Belgrade.
- •A total of 1,500 Roma and 5,000 Jews died at the Topovske šupe site.
- •The European Parliament established August 2 as the day of remembrance in 2015.
- •On August 2-3, 1944, 4,300 Roma were killed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
- •Officials are seeking to add a plaque honoring Roma victims at the Autokomanda site.
The European Day of Remembrance for Roma victims of the genocide in World War II was marked today at the site of the former Topovske šupe camp in Belgrade. The site served as the first collection camp for Jews and Roma in occupied Belgrade during the war.
By the numbers
History of the Topovske šupe Camp
The Topovske šupe camp, located at Autokomanda, was a site where 5,000 Jews and 1,500 Roma perished. Victims were also held and killed at the Sajmište and Banjica camps.
Commemoration and Memorial Initiatives
Krinka Vidaković Petrov, director of the Staro sajmište Memorial Center, noted that while the center currently lacks the legal authority to renovate the site, there is an initiative to install a plaque dedicated to Roma victims. This new plaque would be the same size as the existing one dedicated to Jewish victims. Igor Jovanović, Deputy President of the Belgrade City Assembly, stated that the day symbolizes the suffering of the Roma people across Europe and their struggle throughout World War II.
Origins of the Remembrance Day
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on April 15, 2015, declaring August 2 as the Day of Remembrance for Roma victims of the genocide in World War II. The date commemorates the night between August 2 and 3, 1944, when Nazi forces liquidated the 'family camp' at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, killing 4,300 Roma people.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by N1 Info.
