Gedenkveranstaltung anlässlich der ersten NS-Deportation von Sinti*zze und Rom*nja aus Köln im Mai 1940

In the organizer's words:

On May 16, 1940, the police in Cologne and other places in the Rhineland began arresting Sinti*zze and Rom*nja. The men, women and children concerned were locked up on the exhibition grounds in Cologne-Deutz. On May 21, 938 people were deported by freight train to camps and ghettos in occupied eastern Poland. Many died there of hunger and disease or were murdered. The deportation from Cologne was part of the Nazi genocide of the Sinti*zze and Rom*nja throughout Europe. By 1945, hundreds of thousands had fallen victim to it throughout the entire German territory, especially in the Balkans. For almost all members of the communities living in Cologne today, the persecution during the Nazi era is part of their own family history.

In keynote speeches, Dr. Karola Fings and Martin Holler (both from the Antiziganism Research Centre at the University of Heidelberg) will talk about the deportation from Cologne and the persecution in the Balkans. Afterwards, Dr. Karola Fings, Sabina Xhemajli (Rom e. V.), Kenan Emini (Roma Center Göttingen) and Alexander Diepold (Federal Association of Sinti and Roma) will discuss remembrance and the current fight against racism. Moderation: Çiler Firtina. Musical accompaniment: "Duo Moldau" (Bonn).

A cooperation of Volkshochschule Köln, Kommunales Integrationszentrum Köln, Verein EL-DE-Haus e. V., Rom e. V. and NS-DOK under the patronage of Mayor Henriette Reker. The event will take place in the VHS-Forum in the cultural center at Neumarkt.