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Village Name: Ștefan cel Mare (commune in Olt County)
Region, Country: Oltenia Region, Romania
Deportation Date: June–August 1942
Excerpt from Testimony:
“[…] After arriving at Moldovka, all the belongings [of the deported Roma] were confiscated and they were sent to work at a kolkhoz. In Moldovka, they were taken to a police station where there were Romanians, Russians, and Germans, all wearing uniforms. Later, they were escorted on foot to Burilova. They traveled for two weeks. Many died on the way. Those who couldn’t keep up were shot by the gendarmes, who walked behind them. In Burilova, they lived in huts on a large field. The entire family lived in one hut. The bulibașa decided who should live in a certain hut. They had the same bulibașa as at the beginning of the deportation. The bulibașa had a tent in the middle of the field. On this field, there were only coppersmiths.”
“[…] After arriving at Moldovka, all the belongings [of the deported Roma] were confiscated and they were sent to work at a kolkhoz. In Moldovka, they were taken to a police station where there were Romanians, Russians, and Germans, all wearing uniforms. Later, they were escorted on foot to Burilova. They traveled for two weeks. Many died on the way. Those who couldn’t keep up were shot by the gendarmes, who walked behind them. In Burilova, they lived in huts on a large field. The entire family lived in one hut. The bulibașa decided who should live in a certain hut. They had the same bulibașa as at the beginning of the deportation. The bulibașa had a tent in the middle of the field. On this field, there were only coppersmiths.”
Romanian Archives (if available): N/A
Historical Note on the Roma:
The commune of Ștefan cel Mare was established in 1893 and initially belonged to Romanați County. Located about 135 km from Slatina, the commune had 1,887 inhabitants, including one sedentary Roma in 1930 (RGP 1930, II: 376). According to the interviewee’s testimony, some Roma families, particularly coppersmiths, temporarily settled near the village to sell their products (household tools, copper cauldrons, etc.).
Historical Note on Deportation:
The interviewee’s family was deported in the summer of 1942 while in Ștefan cel Mare commune (Romanați County). All the nomads in the locality were gathered on a nearby field by the local gendarmes, who registered them for deportation. They were later escorted from post to post by gendarmes, who promised that they would receive cattle and houses in Transnistria.
After crossing the border into Transnistria, the interviewee’s family was escorted to Moldova commune (Golta County) and spent some time in a camp surrounded by barbed wire. The gendarmes in Moldovka confiscated almost all the deportees’ belongings (horses, carts, valuables, etc.). Some managed to hide their gold coins from the gendarmes’ greed. The interviewee witnessed the mass execution of a group of Jewish deportees (including children) inside the camp. The commander of the camp threatened the Roma that they would meet the same fate if they resisted.
Along with other coppersmiths, the interviewee’s family was relocated to Burilova commune (Golta County). For almost 2 years and 4 months, the deported Roma were housed in huts and forced to work in agricultural farms or kolkhozes (building silos, harvesting corn, and potatoes from the fields). The food rations were small, and the gendarmes engaged in acts of violence (beatings and rapes). Driven by hunger, the interviewee and their family would secretly leave the kolkhoz and travel to nearby localities (up to Tiraspol) to find food. According to the interviewee’s testimony, hunger caused numerous deaths among the Roma. The interviewee’s father and grandfather died in Transnistria.
The repatriation to Romania likely took place in the spring–summer of 1944, with the withdrawal of the Romanian–German troops from Transnistria. The journey home was full of dangers, and many Roma lost their lives.
After crossing the border into Transnistria, the interviewee’s family was escorted to Moldova commune (Golta County) and spent some time in a camp surrounded by barbed wire. The gendarmes in Moldovka confiscated almost all the deportees’ belongings (horses, carts, valuables, etc.). Some managed to hide their gold coins from the gendarmes’ greed. The interviewee witnessed the mass execution of a group of Jewish deportees (including children) inside the camp. The commander of the camp threatened the Roma that they would meet the same fate if they resisted.
Along with other coppersmiths, the interviewee’s family was relocated to Burilova commune (Golta County). For almost 2 years and 4 months, the deported Roma were housed in huts and forced to work in agricultural farms or kolkhozes (building silos, harvesting corn, and potatoes from the fields). The food rations were small, and the gendarmes engaged in acts of violence (beatings and rapes). Driven by hunger, the interviewee and their family would secretly leave the kolkhoz and travel to nearby localities (up to Tiraspol) to find food. According to the interviewee’s testimony, hunger caused numerous deaths among the Roma. The interviewee’s father and grandfather died in Transnistria.
The repatriation to Romania likely took place in the spring–summer of 1944, with the withdrawal of the Romanian–German troops from Transnistria. The journey home was full of dangers, and many Roma lost their lives.
A Brief Note on an Aspect of the Roma:
The coppersmith Roma in the locality were engaged in metalworking (making household utensils, copper cauldrons, etc.).
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