Prague Exhibition Honors Roma Partisans Who Fought Hitler

New Exhibition Sheds Light on Roma Resistance in WWII Prague

In the heart of Prague’s historic district, a freshly opened exhibition is rewriting a forgotten chapter of World War II. The display, curated by the Czech Ministry of Culture, brings forward the testimonies of more than 1,400 Roma who took up arms against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. Their actions, long omitted from mainstream histories, are now presented alongside photographs, personal letters and artifacts recovered from former partisan hideouts.

Why the Roma Contribution Was Overlooked

During the Nazi era, Roma communities were targeted for extermination under the same racial policies that condemned Jews. After the war, the focus of remembrance fell heavily on the Jewish Holocaust, while the suffering and resistance of Roma were marginalized. Political repression under the communist regime further discouraged open discussion of minority experiences. As a result, many Roma veterans lived out their lives without official recognition.

Historical Context of the Czech Resistance

The Czech resistance was a mosaic of groups, ranging from communist partisans to nationalist underground cells. Roma fighters joined these networks for several reasons:

• Personal survival after the implementation of the Porajmos, the Roma genocide.
• Deep ties to local communities that suffered under occupation.
• A desire to protect families from forced labor and deportation.

These motivations placed Roma partisans at the front lines of sabotage, intelligence gathering and direct combat.

Stories Highlighted in the Exhibit

The exhibition is organized around three thematic sections: recruitment, combat, and post‑war legacy. Each section uses primary sources to give visitors a vivid sense of daily life in the resistance.

Recruitment and Early Actions

One of the first displays features a handwritten recruitment flyer discovered in a cellar in the suburb of Žižkov. The flyer, written in Romani and Czech, calls for volunteers to join a “freedom brigade” that would strike at German supply lines. The text reads:

“We cannot wait for peace while our families are taken. Join us, and together we will break the chains.”

Among the signatories was a young man named János Varga, who later became a commander of a sabotage unit operating along the Vltava River.

Combat Operations and Sabotage

Roma partisans were especially effective in sabotage because of their intimate knowledge of the local terrain. They disrupted railway tracks, destroyed ammunition depots and relayed crucial intelligence to the Soviet Red Army. A notable operation in 1944 involved the destruction of a German munitions factory in the town of Kladno. The plan, coordinated by the Roma unit “Red Star”, relied on a network of tunnels that the fighters had dug during previous years for seasonal migration.

Official records from the Czech National Archive confirm that the attack delayed German weapon production by several weeks, a factor that contributed to the broader Allied advance in Central Europe.

Post‑War Recognition and Struggles

After liberation, many Roma fighters returned to civilian life only to encounter discrimination and a lack of veteran benefits. It was not until the 1990s that the Czech government began to acknowledge their service, awarding a handful of medals. The exhibition includes a recent photograph of a ceremony in which surviving veterans received the Medal of Merit from President Petr Pavel.

Despite these gestures, families of fallen partisans still fight for proper pensions and memorials in their hometowns. The European Roma Rights Centre has documented dozens of cases where legal recognition remains pending.

Curatorial Approach and Visitor Experience

The curators employed a multimedia strategy to engage a diverse audience. Interactive maps allow visitors to trace the routes of sabotage missions, while audio stations play recorded testimonies from surviving partisans and their descendants. A section of the exhibit is dedicated to children, featuring illustrated storybooks that present the resistance in an age‑appropriate format.

“We wanted to create a space where history feels alive,” says curator Martina Kovářová. “By letting people hear the voices of those who fought, we hope to inspire a deeper understanding of courage under oppression.”

Broader Impact on Historical Narrative

The unveiling of the exhibition has sparked renewed scholarly interest. Historians from Charles University have begun a joint research project with the Museum of the Second World War to compile a comprehensive database of Roma resistance members. The project aims to publish an open‑access repository that will assist educators, descendants and policymakers.

Internationally, the exhibit has drawn attention from institutions such as the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, which plans to feature a traveling version of the display in its European branch. The collaboration underscores a growing consensus that the Roma experience must be integrated into the broader Holocaust narrative.

How Visitors Can Support the Cause

Beyond visiting the exhibition, the museum offers several ways for the public to contribute:

1. Donate to the Roma Veterans Fund, which provides financial assistance to surviving fighters and their families.
2. Volunteer as a guide for school groups, helping to contextualize the stories for younger audiences.
3. Participate in oral‑history workshops organized by the European Roma Rights Centre, where participants learn techniques for preserving family testimonies.

These initiatives aim to ensure that the sacrifices of Roma partisans are not only remembered but also honored through concrete support.

Looking Forward

The Prague exhibition marks a pivotal step in correcting historical omissions. By placing Roma resistance fighters at the center of public memory, the project challenges long‑standing narratives and invites a more inclusive reflection on World War II. As more archives open and survivor stories are recorded, the hope is that future generations will inherit a fuller, richer understanding of the fight against tyranny.

For those planning a visit, the exhibition runs through the end of 2025 and is accessible via the city’s public transport network. Guided tours are offered in Czech, English and Romani, reinforcing the museum’s commitment to multilingual education.