The face of Settela Steinbach became a powerful symbol of the atrocities committed during the Nazi regime, captured in an image that shows a child watching the doors of a train closing at the Westerbork transit camp in 1944. For many years, this photo was wrongly thought to depict a Jewish girl, hiding the real story of the Sinti child who stood behind the scarf. Her identity remained unknown until recent historical research uncovered the truth.
She, along with her mother, two brothers, and two sisters, were most likely killed together during the night of 2nd to 3rd August 1944. Only the photograph remained as a testament to their existence. Her name, her identity, and the history of the people she belonged to nearly faded from memory due to time and silence.
The Forgotten Genocide
Europe commemorates the genocide of Roma and Sinti people every year on 2nd August. Yet, as Michaela Küchler highlights in an op-ed for Euronews, the question remains: what happens on 3rd August and the days that follow? The challenge is not just to remember but to ensure that such recognition is lasting, not a fleeting moment of solemnity.
During the Nazi era, Roma and Sinti people faced a range of oppressive measures, including racist laws, forced imprisonment, labor, deportation, mass executions, and murder. Despite these widespread atrocities, their genocide is among the least acknowledged parts of Nazi history. For decades, their stories were absent from national narratives. Many survivors did not receive the justice or recognition they deserved, and the prejudices that enabled such persecution did not disappear when the war ended.
The Work of Remembering
Progress in Remembrance
The efforts to recover the names and stories of the Roma and Sinti people have led to some progress. Memorials have been created, and research has advanced significantly. Survivors, scholars, and organizations have worked tirelessly to restore Settela’s name and the broader narrative of her people. However, many gaps still exist.
It is not the fault of the younger generation for knowing so little—they simply haven’t been taught. Teaching this history reveals how prejudice evolves into administrative and legal systems that eventually become lethal. It also presents Roma and Sinti people not only as victims but as individuals with families, communities, and personal aspirations. They resisted the persecution, survived, and worked to rebuild their lives in its aftermath.
Preserving Personal Histories
Settela was not merely a frightened child captured in a fleeting moment on film. She was a daughter and a sister. Her father was a trader and a violinist, showing the depth of her family's character. These details are not simply background—they restore the identity that the persecution sought to erase. As fewer living survivors remain to share their stories, the responsibility of preserving history increasingly falls to institutions. With recognition having come so late, many Roma and Sinti voices were never recorded in the first place, making the remaining testimonies especially valuable.
It is essential to preserve the historical record while continuing to document the experiences of those who can still speak. Archives must be made accessible, and sites connected to the genocide must be protected. Photographs need to be properly identified, and the perspectives of Roma and Sinti people should be at the core of education and commemoration. Europe’s commitment to remembrance cannot be measured solely by the ceremonies held on 2nd August.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance has developed 'Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Persecution and Genocide of the Roma during the Nazi Era' to guide governments, policymakers, teachers, museums, memorial sites, archives, and civil society educators. These recommendations provide a practical framework for why this history should be taught, what students should learn, and how it can be approached responsibly.