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Adoption and enactment of anti-Roma laws by Germany led to a series of “scientific studies” of Roma to justify their belonging to the “lower” race, who have no right to live among ordinary people. This became the basis for the implementation of a systematic policy of eviction of Roma from cities, later – their removal to forced labor camps, and later – to concentration camps.
Similar “scientific studies” were conducted in Transcarpathia. In 1938, Maria Novak conducted anthropological study of Roma in city Uzhhorod, which was made in Roma compact settlement on Bercheni street.
What was the reason for such special interest in the representatives of this national minority? What were its consequences for Roma? What conclusions were drawn in 1946 in Maria Novakova’s “scientific” dissertation? Why do we focus so much on this study?
First of all, because this was the only study of Transcarpathian Roma with the aim to justify the so-called “racial hygiene”.
Unfortunately, history has not preserved for us the photo of the researcher. However, her dissertation paper has survived, which led her to receive a degree in science in 1946.
You can review the full work of Maria Novakova in the “Books and Documents” section of the virtual museum.
This dissertation was provided to us by Slovak Romologists. At first glance, scientific study seems to have only a general anthropological and ethnographic nature. However, racist statements and conclusions can be found through careful analysis of it’s text.
The dissertation states, we quote: “In August 1942, a decree was issued that all non-racially pure Roma, residents of our countries were sent to concentration camps. Germans did not recognize our Roma as racially pure and sent them to these concentration camps.”
Maria Novakova measured children aged ten and older, as well as women and men. The oldest Roma woman was 62 years old and the oldest man was 60 years old. A total 119 Roma were studied, including 49 boys and men and 70 girls and women.
In her dissertation, Maria Novak outlined racial differences of Roma, their education, religion, clothing and food, and even wrote about customs and traditions of Roma.
The researcher concludes, we quote: «Today we already have a mixed race among gypsies. Black gypsies are considered to be a true original race with characteristic brown-yellow skin, dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. White gypsies are already racially unclean, with mixed, and are mostly ordinary people who are prosecuted by the law and hide among the gypsies who have committed crimes».
Such “studies” only poured water to the wheel of Porajmos, adjusted public opinion about the low value of Roma for the life of society.
In 1939 the territory of nowadays Transcarpathia became part of Hungary. The Hungarian authorities introduced changes in the socio-political life of the region. Hungarian authorities formed the Transcarpathian Governorate with its center in Uzhhorod. The region was divided into three administrative districts: Uzhansky, Berezsky and Marmarosky.
Has the life of Roma changed since the beginning of the Second World War on the eve of Porajmos? If yes, than how it has changed? Archival documents will help us to understand this.
With the outbreak of World War II, the situation ofRoma population deteriorated.
We have found archival documents showing that life of Roma families in cities and villages has deteriorated. Among them there are documents about the life of Roma in city Chop. For example, Roma women and children were impoverished and forced to eat left-overs from soldiers’ mobile kitchens because their husbands had been sent to the army.
The letter of the Hungarian Royal Police Department № 8 in Chop dated June 24, 1940 stated (we quote):
«Crowds of Gypsies, children and women, are gathering near the military mobile kitchens in Chop for food distribution, asking for leftovers from the soldiers’ food.
From the point of view of health and sanitary norms, it is not recommended that gypsies be near military kitchens at the time of food consumption and during other time because gypsies are spreaders of infectious diseases, dirt and it can happen that any soldier can get sick or get lice.
Police patrols can’t stop crowds because it is impossible to allocate a patrol next to every single kitchen. When gypsies see the patrol, they run to another kitchen, and the patrol can’t run after them.»
The answer to this letter dated July 11, 1940, is also quite interesting. In particular: «We have 4 military kitchens in Chop. In the settlements there are no large containeres suitable for collection of 5-6 different types of food and for their further distribution. And such distribution is possible only without collecting into big containers. These military kitchens are temporary and are closed when soldiers leave. From a health point of view, eating leftovers is harmful, gypsies who consume them – eat even in worse conditions. And the rest of the poor population do not take leftovers from soldiers’ kitchens.»
Thus, on the eve of Porajmos, Roma population felt even greater hostility from local officials, were subjected to various forms of oppression. These included restrictions on their rights and attempts to evict Roma from cities such as Uzhhorod and Beregovo. Relevant anti-Roma orders and resolutions were adopted. The theoretical basis for such conclusions was prepared by scientists who, through their “studies”, created the basis for Porajmos.
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The creation of this video became possible for you thanks to the implementation of the project by the public organization KAPL “Vested”. Developped with the support provided by the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future”(EVZ). This publication does not represent an expression of opinion by the Foundation EVZ. The author(s) bear(s) responsibility for the content.
