A memorial to the victims of the Holocaust - Jews and Roma - will be created in Brno

Holocaust Memorial in Ústí nad Labem

Brno - The tragedy of 12,000 Brno Jews and hundreds of Roma who perished in concentration camps during World War II will be commemorated in Brno with a new memorial. The city council intends to build the Holocaust memorial in 28th October Square. According to Deputy Mayor Daniel Rychnovský (KDU-ČSL), work is currently underway on the assignment for an artistic competition. The city council aims to have artistic proposals by the end of September, Rychnovský told reporters today.
    A specialized group, including representatives of the Jewish Community of Brno and representatives of the Roma community, is working on the assignment. The memorial is expected to be located in a park in the square that was recently renovated. "There is space for some sculpture there," said the deputy mayor. The installation date of the memorial, its size, and budget will depend primarily on the results of the artistic competition. These should be known by the end of the year.
    Currently, there is no memorial for the Holocaust victims in Brno. The events of the Holocaust significantly impacted the history of Brno and the lives of its residents - 12,000 Brno Jews did not return from concentration camps, and only hundreds of people remained from the community after the war. "When we boast about the Tugendhat villa, which is a UNESCO monument, we must say the 'B', that it was built by Jewish owners," the deputy mayor said previously.
    In recent years, memorials commemorating the history and personalities of the 20th century have been emerging in Brno. This week, a statue of former Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš will be unveiled at the Faculty of Law. In the Bohunice district, last year on the eve of November 17th, a memorial to the victims of communist tyranny was presented to the public. It also commemorates the suffering of Bohunice residents - some lost their homes due to the construction of a housing estate. The bronze pyramid on Roosevelt Street also commemorates the victims of the world wars and communist totalitarianism.