ORGANISERS of an exhibition detailing the often forgotten Gypsy Holocaust have been praised for highlighting its horrors.

Porrajmos - Through the Eyes of Children showcased the history of the genocide of hundreds of thousands of Europe’s Roma and Sinti Gypsies by the Nazi German state.

The three-day exhibition at County Hall in Durham told the stories of people from before, during and after the Second World War Romani genocide, known as the Porrajmos, which means ‘the devouring’.

While attending the exhibition, Billy Welch, a spokesman for the Gypsy and Traveller community, from Darlington, explained his family’s history and heritage to visitors.

He said: “What happened should never be forgotten. It was such tragedy for humankind. It was unbelievable and not that long ago. It is still in living memory.

“It is even more important, more so in today’s world we are living in now, because it is still very worrying times for the Gypsies and the travellers.”

Visitors learned about Walter Winter, a Sinti born in 1919, who survived Auschwitz and went on to become a campaigner and writer who testified against Ernst Konig, a German officer in the Gypsy camp, at his trial for war crimes.

Johann Trollman was a young German boxing star, who should have won the light-heavyweight title in 1933, but was barred from doing so due to his heritage.

Seventy years later, the German Boxing Association presented his family with his championship belt and he is now officially listed as German Champion of Cruiserweight.

The show was organised by Durham County Council to coincide with International Holocaust Memorial Day and the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the concentration camp in occupied Poland.

Mr Welch, 55, the owner of the Levisham Lane Caravan Site, in Darlington, said: “My people are extremely grateful to the council for recognising the great tragedy that happened to them.

“It is the first time an exhibition like this has been held in this area and it is important the people who died are being remembered.”

Visitors to County Hall lit LED candles of remembrance, viewed an authentic Roma recipe and provided pictures, poetry and thoughts for inclusion on the event’s Wall of Commemoration.

The Porrajmos exhibition formed part of a wider three-day event and staff from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Service and the Neighbourhood Interventions Team provided information about safety issues such as reporting incidents of hate crime.

Durham County councillor Joy Allen said: “We hope the event helps promote community cohesion and encourages visitors to reflect on the impact of unchecked discrimination and racial hatred.”