The Slovak National Uprising (SNP) is one of the most significant moments in the history of Slovakia, when the Slovak people stood up against the authoritarian regime and the German occupation. This armed resistance, which broke out on August 29, 1944, is a symbol of courage and national pride. However, as ethnographer and historian Zuzana KumanovĂĄ points out, the important role that the Roma played in the uprising is often forgotten. âThe Roma, just as they were part of Slovak society, were also part of the resistance movement,â says KumanovĂĄ. According to her, some Roma joined the army directly, while others joined the partisans, where they fought with weapons in hand. âMany communities became involved in the effort, whether by providing shelter, helping with supplies, or assisting injured and sick partisans,â she adds. This assistance undoubtedly had enormous significance for the course of the uprising, but it also brought cruel consequences for the Roma communities themselves.
KumanovĂĄ further explains that it was during this period that Roma communities were being massacred, often unjustly accused of aiding the insurgents. âThere were massacres of Roma communities, especially those accused of providing help, whether real or imagined,â she emphasizes.
LOSSES AND VICTIMS
The exact number of Roma who actively participated in the uprising is unknown, as records were not kept based on ethnicity. However, KumanovĂĄ estimates that âin central Slovakia, almost every settlement saw young people, especially young men, leave for the mountains to assist the insurgent army.â The estimated number of Roma victims after the suppression of the uprising is tragic. âThese victims are estimated to be around 1,000 people,â states KumanovĂĄ, referring mainly to victims from large communities such as Ilia and Äierny Balog, as well as individual executions, where âthey were either transported to mass execution sites in the German-controlled KremniÄka or DolnĂœ TurÄek,â KumanovĂĄ said in an interview with Gipsy Television.
A FORGOTTEN CHAPTER OF HISTORY
According to KumanovĂĄ, the participation of Roma in the Slovak National Uprising is still âto some extent taboo.â Although Roma were an integral part of all significant events in Slovak history, society often does not give them the recognition they deserve. âSociety doesnât realize that Roma are part of all processes, just as it doesnât realize that Roma were part of 1989 or 1968,â she points out. Even the significance of their participation in the uprising went unrecognized for a long time. KumanovĂĄ recalls that âa memorial plaque dedicated to the partisan movement or to Roma partisans was only unveiled at the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising in 2016,â thanks to the initiative of the museumâs then-director, Stanislav MiÄev. This insufficient recognition and awareness of the contribution of the Roma in the Slovak National Uprising is, according to the ethnographer and historian, alarming. KumanovĂĄ believes that if this topic is not discussed, the Roma will continue to be perceived only as a marginalized community. âThis is something we need to build upon, otherwise the Roma will remain only those in excluded communities,â she adds.
Rómovia - zabudnutà hrdinovia Slovenského nårodného povstania.
