Testimonies included in the database
In defining the corpus of testimonies, three conditions were crucial for us in processing them into a database. First, our focus is on testimonies of Roma and Sinti born on the territory of today’s Czech and Slovak Republics.
Second, only testimonies of people who experienced the war in person were included. Although we are aware of rare testimonies that are part of family memory, known to us from the mouths of descendants of survivors, only personal testimonies of people born before the war or during the war years are included in the database. We were hesitant about including testimonies of people born during the war, as their experiences were often also based on recollections of their parents. In the end we decided to include them not only because it is impossible to draw a precise dividing line between their own and vicarious experiences, but also because these testimonies often offer the unique perspective of a young child.
Third, only testimonies that have already been published in print were included in the database. In making this decision, we were particularly mindful of copyright and the consent of the survivors to publication of their memoirs. Although we are aware that very valuable information is contained in many other testimonies taken in the form of video or audio recordings by individuals and non-profit organizations, we decided to limit our selection to testimonies published in print. In the case of printed testimonies, especially in book form, it can be assumed that the survivors not only agreed to the publication but also had the opportunity to authorize the text. The abstracts of specific sources explain why the testimonies contained in them were not included in the database (for more on this topic, see the sections on Used Sources used and Other Sources).
