In a ROMDIEM interview, historian Professor Milan Koljanin — head of the Staro Sajmište Memorial Center — reflects on the overlooked history of Roma suffering during the Holocaust and the need for stronger education, research, and remembrance.
He describes the systematic destruction of Roma communities across Nazi-controlled territories, from Topovske Šupe and Banjica to Sajmište, where many Roma women and children perished.
“Roma were among the first labeled ‘undesirable’ — marked, deprived of livelihood, and killed, often without any record.”
Koljanin warns that awareness of Roma suffering remains superficial: “They are mentioned, but rarely understood.” He urges deeper inclusion of the Roma Holocaust (Samudaripen) in schools, museums, and public memory.
Projects like ROMDIEM, he says, can help document stories, support research, and amplify Roma voices. “Without understanding the roots of hatred, we cannot build a culture of solidarity.”
Interview by Una Beriša, June 4, 2025, Staro Sajmište Memorial Center, Belgrade.
Learn more about the project here: https://romdiem.eu/
