Why Nuremberg Still Matters for Roma

Every generation inherits historical knowledge. The question is not only what we remember, but also what we choose to pass on.

As we approach European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, we begin by returning to Nuremberg. The city is remembered as the place where the International Military Tribunal established the legal foundations of the post-war world. Its language still shapes international justice today.

Less widely known is that the persecution and murder of Roma were already documented in the Nuremberg proceedings. The crimes were acknowledged within the indictment, yet they did not become the central subject of the trials. This distinction mattered. It shaped how the history of Roma persecution entered public memory, legal recognition and historical research in the decades that followed.

Remembering Nuremberg from a Roma perspective is therefore not about rewriting history. It is about understanding where Roma experiences entered the historical record, how they were documented, and why preserving that knowledge remains essential today.

For younger generations, this history cannot remain confined to archives or legal documents. It belongs in education, cultural institutions and public memory. Passing it on is part of safeguarding Europe's shared democratic values and ensuring that Roma history remains visible within the broader history of the continent.

This post opens a short series leading to European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August. Over the coming days we will revisit moments, people and places that continue to shape how the Roma Holocaust is remembered today.

This article is part of ERCF's 2026 series marking European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, exploring the histories, people and places that continue to shape Roma historical memory across Europe.