Prague honors Roma resistance fighters against Hitler

A new exhibition in Prague showcases the stories of partisans and soldiers whose fates barely received any attention for decades. The exhibit explores the role of Czech and Slovak Romani resistance fighters during the Nazi German occupation and the dismantling of Czechoslovakia from 1938 to 1945.

The exhibition at the Museum of the Roma National Movement marks a turning point in how the Roma are viewed during World War II. At least that is the hope of museum director Emil Scuka, a lawyer, former prosecutor and one of the best-known Czech Roma activists.

The exhibition presents the detailed life stories of 100 of the most significant Roma partisans and Roma soldiers from the Czech underground army and resistance groups who fought against the Nazis. "We found over 1,400 Romani fighters in the archives. From among them, we selected the 100 most interesting stories for this exhibition," said exhibition curator Radoslav Scuka at the opening.

The exhibition is a recognition of the Roma who fought against Nazism, and it is a call to action for future generations to learn about and remember their heroes. Museum director Emil Scuka called on those present: "Bring your children and grandchildren here so they can see for themselves and realize that the Roma have heroes too!"