Hanau honours Sinti victims of Nazi deportations in silent memorial
Hanau will hold a silent memorial ceremony on March 23 to honour the Sinti victims of National Socialism. The event marks the 81st anniversary of the day 39 Sinti from Hanau and the surrounding area were deported to Auschwitz. It forms part of the city's Weeks Against Racism programme.
On March 23, 1943, German authorities deported 39 Sinti from Hanau and nearby regions to the Auschwitz extermination camp. Most of those sent away never returned. Historical records estimate that around 500,000 Sinti and Roma were murdered across Europe between 1943 and early 1945 under Nazi rule.
The memorial will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the plaque outside Neustadt Town Hall. Attendees will gather for a wreath-laying ceremony and a moment of silence. Lord Mayor Claus Kaminsky has stressed the importance of remembering this chapter of Hanau's past. He described it as a duty to confront prejudice and discrimination in the present day.
The ceremony serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed against Sinti and Roma communities during the Nazi era. It also reinforces Hanau's commitment to combating racism and intolerance. The event is open to the public as part of the city's ongoing Weeks Against Racism initiative.
