His Eminence!
All of Germany’s Sinti* beseech you fervently to undertake steps in the name of the whole episcopate [= the assembly of German bishops] to bring about the ceasing of the sterilisation of our stock, because if our Catholic Church does not take us under its wing, then we are exposed to measures that make a mockery of humanity, both morally and legally. We hereby emphasise that it is not some single families who are threatened but around 14,000 Catholic members of the Roman Catholic Church and,whom consequently our Catholic Church cannot simply disregard.
Because the matter is of extreme urgency, we again request – bowing in veneration – that our plea be heard.
For the benevolent efforts we express a thousand fold our blessings from God.
»... die jeder Menschlichkeit Hohn spricht«
Oskar Rose | »... die jeder Menschlichkeit Hohn spricht« | self-evidence | German Empire | May 6, 1943 | voi_00002
Rights held by: Oskar Rose | Provided by: Archiepiscopal Archive and Library (Wrocław/Poland) | Archived under: IA25z1
Seine Eminenz!
Alle Zigeuner Deutschlands flehen Sie inbrünstigst an[,] im Namen des gesamten [Episkopats] [= Zusammenschluss der deutschen Bischöfe] Schritte unternehmen zu wollen, dass die gesamte Sterilisation unseres Stammes unterbleibt, denn wenn unsere katholische Kirche uns nicht in ihren Schutz nimmt, so sind wir einer Ma[ß]nahme ausgesetzt, die moralisch wie auch rechtlich jeder Menschlichkeit Hohn spricht. Wir betonen hierbei, dass es hier nicht um einzelne Familien geht, sondern um 14.000 katholische Angehörige der römisch-katholischen Kirche, und an [denen] [in]folgedessen unsere katholische Kirche nicht achtlos vorübergehen kann.
Da die Sache sehr eilt, so bitten wir nochmals kniefälligst um Erhörung unserer Bitte.
Für die gütige Mühewaltung sprechen wir jetzt schon unser tausendfaches Vergeltsgott aus.
Tumaro učo rašajipe!
Sa e Sintora* kotar o Nemcicko Them rugin Tumen pherde ilesa, ko anav kotar sa e episkopija, te keren te ačhadol sa e sterilizacija pe amaro pero, vaj amari katolikani khangeri te na lijas amen telal peske phaka, ka peras lenge telal o strigoj savo si džung po manušnipe, pe solduj riga, moralno vi legalno. Amen phenas, kaj naj kate vorba numa vaš nekobor familije, no si kate dži ke 14,000 katolikane somdasne kotar e rimokatolikani khangeri, thaj sebet kodo amari katolikani khangeri našti te na lel sama pe kodo.
Kaj o phučibe si but sigalo, amen palem rodas, sikavindos paćiv, amaro rugipe te ovel vi jekhvar šundo.
Vaš e tumari dendi zor, vi akana phenas tumenge miljavar o drago Del te žutil tumen.
Credits
Rights held by: Oskar Rose | Provided by: Archiepiscopal Archive and Library (Wrocław/Poland) | Archived under: IA25z1
Playlist
Contextualisation
An unanswered appeal for help
In the spring of 1943, all German Sinti and Roma faced the threat of compulsory sterilisation or deportation to Auschwitz. This is the context of this unsigned petition. Written by a Sinto, it is addressed to Cardinal Bertram, who received it on 6 May 1943. The letter was sent from Munich, like another submission that arrived the same day. The second petition mentions that Sinti and Roma are being taken to the ‘concentration camp Auschwitz/Upper Silesia’, where the authorities in charge ‘systematically exterminate our stock’. As the archbishop, Cardinal Bertram was a suitable addressee because he resided in Breslau (Wrocław) — and was thus close to the camp — and moreover was the chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference. The sender was most probably Oskar Rose, who succeeded in hiding from the Nazis by assuming a false name. He had already futilely tried to speak personally with Cardinal Faulhaber, the archbishop of Munich and Freising. But these and further appeals for help went unanswered: the German bishops never gave an official statement of a clear position.
Playlist
Details
- Steve Hudson (Speaker English)
- Zejhun Demirov (Speaker German)
- xident (Production Company)
- Nedjo Osman (Speaker Romani)
- Oskar Rose (Author) (Munich, German Empire)