Many Sinti and Roma genocide survivors remained silent about their experiences for decades after the end of National Socialism. At the end of the silence was the beginning of a new writing of history.
Given the history of Roma and Sinti, which is characterized by persecution, the concept of "resistance" should be understood as a response to an environment that is considered inhumane and violent.
Resistance as solidarity
Systemic, state persecution and murder cost many lives. The freedom of groups and individuals is destroyed. This perspective of the victims is literally reflected in the Roma expression "Porrajimos", which means Holocaust and means "dismemberment". At the same time, it expresses the segregation that accompanied National Socialist terror: man was alone, separate from family, friends, most of society.
That is why in the Roma movement, resistance has a meaning that goes beyond the selfish will to survive, ie indicates non-renunciation of solidarity with other people - unity. Feelings of empathy in the inhuman system, sharing food, trying to save each other from death - these are all forms of resistance.
Raymond Gourmet (1925-2020) is the protagonist of such a resistance story: he escaped nine times from various camps in France where he was interned. He joined the French resistance movement and fought for the liberation of Paris.
A little known event is the Roma uprising of May 16, 1944 in the Auschwitz concentration camp - today also known as "Roma Resistance Day".
