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PERSECUTION OF ROMA IN THE SLOVAK ARMY (1939-1944)

Karol Janas

Abstract

Measures against the Roma affected also the army. The first persecution measures began after the first conscriptions that took place in August and September 1939. According to Section 38 of the Defense Act, the Roma, together with the Jews, could not be members of the armed forces or military personnel and they had to work in special working groups. The Arians were conscripts of work service, and the Gypsies, along with the Jews, were members of working obligation. A certain change occurred after 29 May 1940, when a regulation with the power of the law on the temporary adjustment of the working obligation of Jews and Gypsies was adopted. Roma and Jews should work for the defense of the state. In the same way, the Roma had to take part in the recruit training provided by Hlinka Guard. Changes in the status of Roma in the army came in 1941. In January 1941, the Labour Corps of the Ministry of National Defense was established as a separate higher unit of defense power. Following the adoption of the New Defense Law of 26 March 1943, the situation of the Roma in the army even worsened. Under the new law, presence attendance was not divided into military and labour service. Conscripts taken to the military service performed military service; conscripts taken to the labour corps held a service in the labour force. From 15 June 1943 all Roma were transferred to work service. Under this law, the number of Roma in the labour corps was maintained. During the whole period of the National Defense Ministry's Labour Corps, the Roma were highly rated for their work performances. Despite this fact, they were particularly performing the hardest digging works. The Labour Corps collapsed after the outbreak of the Slovak National Uprising.

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