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The Gypsies of Czechoslovakia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Josef Kalvoda
Josef Kalvoda*
Affiliation:
Saint Joseph College (Connecticut)
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Extract

The 1952 edition of the Dictionary of the Czech Language defines “gypsy” as follows: “gypsy [with a small “g”]—a member of a wandering nation, a symbol of mendacity, theft, wandering,…jokers, liars, impostors and cheaters.” This definition was published two years after the Czechoslovak government outlawed any form of discrimination on the basis of color. As far as this writer recalls, the above definition expressed the popular understanding of the Gypsies as a group in the 1930s, in pre-World War II Czechoslovakia. Despite the persecution of the Gypsies during the war and the popular sympathy for them because of it, the prejudice against them have not disappeared and one can find its reflection in the official press as well as in conversations of the common people. Although one cannot generalize about members of any racial, national or religious group, it is evident from the official publications that most Gypsies pose certain problems for the regime and the society.

Type
Articles
Information
Nationalities Papers , Volume 19 , Issue 3: Special Issue - The Gypsies in Eastern Europe , Fall 1991 , pp. 269 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 by the Association for the Study of the Nationalities of the USSR and Eastern Europe, Inc. 

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References

Notes

1. Trávníček, František, Slovník jazyka českého (Prague, 1952), p. 145.Google Scholar

2. Grulich, Tomas and Haišman, Tomáš, “Institucionální zájem o cikánské obyvatelstvo v Československu v letech 1945–1958,” Česky lid (73, No. 2, 1986), p. 74.Google Scholar

3. Demografie, published by the Federal Statistical Office, Prague, has carried many articles about Gypsies and their status in the society. For example two articles by Tomáš Holomek (11, No. 3, 1969); an article by Stanislav Kier in the same issue; articles by Vladimir Srb (11, No. 3, 1969; 17, No. 4, 1975; 19, No. 3, 1977; 21, No. 4, 1979); Pekárek, Prášilová and Cifka, (21, No. 4, 1979); Vladimir Polášek, (21, No. 4, 1979); Václav Sekera, (17, No. 4, 1975); Rudolf Tancos, (11, No. 3, 1969); Michal Bulíř, (29, No. 1, 1987); Jiří Hana, (29, No. 2, 1987); Michal Bulíř, (29, No. 4, 1987). Also articles in Česky lid, Grulich and Haišman, op cit.; Antonín Robek, (73, No. 2, 1986); Naděžda Zuzánková, (69, No. 2, 1982); Renata Weinerová, (73, No. 2, 1986); and many others.Google Scholar

4. Willy Guy, an essay in Gypsies Photographs by Joseph Koudelka. An Aperture Book (Prague, 1975). Since there is no pagination in the book (essay), henceforth quoted as Guy.Google Scholar

5. Guy.Google Scholar

6. Guy.Google Scholar

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9. Guy.Google Scholar

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11. Guy.Google Scholar

12. Guy.Google Scholar

13. Yoors, Jan, Crossing, (New York, 1971), p. 34.Google Scholar

14. Ibid. See also Ctibor Nečas, Nad osudem českych a slovenskych cikánıl v letech 1939–1945 [On the Fate of Czech and Slovak Gypsies during the Years 1939–1945], (Brno: Universita J.E. Purkyné, 1981, p. 180)Google Scholar

15. At the end of World War II about 100,000 Gypsies lived in Slovakia. Ruthenia, the easternmost province of pre-World War II Czechoslovakia with very large Gypsy population, was occupied by Hungary in March 1939 and was incorporated into Soviet Ukraine in 1944-45. Some of the Gypsies from Ruthenia moved to Czechoslovakia after the war.Google Scholar

16. Based on the personal observation of this writer who lived in Czechoslovakia until November 1948. See also Guy, op cit. Google Scholar

17. As in note 16 above.Google Scholar

18. Guy.Google Scholar

19. Law 74/1958, passed in October 1958, deprived “nomads” of the right to travel and carry on their former occupations. According to the New York Times (October 26, 1958), the number of wandering Gypsies was 40,000; according to Milena Hübschmannová, 11,820 (“Co je tak zvaná cikánská otázka,” Sociologisty časopis, 6, No. 2, 1970).Google Scholar

20. New York Times, October 26, 1958, p. 7.Google Scholar

21. Duirchová, Anna I, “Glimpses of the Rom: Excursions in Slovakia,” Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society, (50, 1970).Google Scholar

22. Guy, op cit. In my personal conversation with people who inhabited the same buildings with Gypsies, this observation has been corroborated. This writer was told about Gypsies urinating in living quarters on the upper floors and the urine dripping down from the ceilings. The generally unsanitary habits of many Gypsies have created negative attitudes toward them on the part of the Czechs who live in their neighborhoods.Google Scholar

23. Demografie, (4, No. 1, 1962), pp. 80-81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

24. “Cigáni,” Encyklopedia Slovenská, (Bratislava, 1977), p. 321.Google Scholar

25. Guy, op cit. Google Scholar

26. Ibid. Google Scholar

27. Hübschmannová, op Cit., p. 115.Google Scholar

28. Srb, Vladimír, “Cikánské obyvatelstvo v roce 1967” [“The Gypsy Population in 1967”], Demografie, (10, vol. 3, 1968), p. 270.Google Scholar

29. Guy, op cit. Google Scholar

30. Ibid. Google Scholar

31. Ibid. Google Scholar

32. See Literární Listy (April 18 and July 25, 1968). Milena Hübschmannová, “Co je tzv cikánská otázka” [“What is the So-called Gypsy Question”], Sociologicky časopis (6, No. 2, 1970), pp. 105–120.Google Scholar

33. Guy, op cit. Also, the New York Times, November 3, 1968, p. 18.Google Scholar

34. Srb, Vladimir, “Ustavující sjezd svazu Cikánu̇-Romu̇ v ČSR v Brne” [“The Founding Congress of the Alliance of Gypsies-Romes in Czechoslovakia in Brno”], Demografie (11, No. 4), 1969. An issue of Demografie was devoted to Gypsies in 1969.Google Scholar

35. Holomek, Miroslav, “Současné problémy Cikánu v ČSSR a jejich řešení” [“The Current Problems of Gypsies in Czechoslovakia and their Solution”], Demografie, (11, No. 3, 1969), p. 205.Google Scholar

36. Hübschmannová, op cit., p. 109.Google Scholar

37. Ibid, p. 115.Google Scholar

38. Guy, op cit. Google Scholar

39. Farkaš, Imrich, Pravda (Bratislava), September 23, 1982, p. 5.Google Scholar

40. This section on “Culture and Religion” is based, to a great extent, on Eva Davidová, “Lidové náboženství třebišovskych Cikánu-Romu koncem padesátych let 20. století, před rozpadem jejich tradiční komunity” [“Popular Religion of Trebisov Gypsies-Romes toward the End of the 1950s before the Break-up of Their Traditional Community”], in Slovensky národopis, Bratislava: Veda, 1, 36, 1988. The whole issue (256 pp.) contains essays on various aspects of ethno-cultural and socio-economic life of Gypsy-Romani in Czechoslovakia. Among the essays relevant to this topic are Arne B. Mann, “Obyčaje pri umrtí Cigánov-Rómov v troch spisskych obsiách” [“Customs during the Death of Gypsies-Romes in Three Spiš Communities”], pp. 192-201; Elena Lacková, “L'udové liečenie olašskych Rómov vychodného Slovenska v minulosti” [“Popular Medical Treatments of Olaš's Romes in Eastern Slovakia in the Past”], p. 203-208. Moreover, this writer added a few personal observations and comments.Google Scholar

41. Davidov, op cit., pp. 93–103.Google Scholar

42. A more detailed discussion of customs, traditions and superstitions related to death and burial of Gypsies is in the essay by Mann, op cit.; and on the treatment of illnesses and related practices see the essay by Lackov, op cit. The latter points out that the Gypsies’ treatment of sick people and their use of preventative measures are based on observation of effects of herbal teas and various plants and that modern medicine recognizes the effects of nutritional products, herbals and methods one can use to correct or prevent health problems. Medical magazines advise readers about various techniques or natural products to be used to eliminate health problems. Furthermore, in addition to hypnosis and faith healing, there are the power of suggestion and placebo effects in natural healing therapies. Placebos have produced improvement in high blood pressure, depression, acne, asthma, colds, arthritis, ulcers, headache, constipation, and even cholesterol counts.Google Scholar

43. Guy, op cit. Google Scholar

44. Puxon, Grattan, Rom: Europe's Gvpsies, (1973). According to this source that does not show where it was published, the total Romani population in Europe in 1970 was 3,918,000.Google Scholar

45. Guy, op. cit. Google Scholar

46. Mesko, Jaroslav, Pravda (Bratislava), January 28, 1983, p. 4.Google Scholar

47. Kostelancik, David J., “The Gypsies of Czechoslovakia,” a masters thesis submitted to the University of Michigan, April 4, 1988.Google Scholar

48. Guy, op cit. Google Scholar

49. Farkaš, Imrich, op cit. Google Scholar

50. Štěpánková, Zdena, Rudé právo, May 23, 1984.Google Scholar

51. Guy, op cit. Google Scholar

52. “Prague against Gypsies,” Time, September 15, 1986.Google Scholar

53. “Dokument 23 o situaci Cikánù v Československu,” Listy (Charter 77 document) (2, No. 47, 1979). The full text in English is in Human Rights in Czechoslovakia: The Documents of Charter 77, 1977–1982, compiled by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, (Washington, D.C.: Congress of the United States, 1982), pp. 157–170.Google Scholar

54. Finková, Zuzanna, “Zištovanie plodnosti cigánskych žien” [“Ascertaining Fertility of Gypsy Women”], Demografie (21, No. 4, 1981), p. 340.Google Scholar

55. Srb, Vladimír, “Změny v reprodukci československych Romů 1970–1980” [“Changes in the Reproduction of the Czechoslovak Romes, 1970–1980”], Demografie (30, No. 7, 1988), pp. 305-30.Google Scholar

56. Srb, Vladimír, “Některé demografické akulturn2 charakteristiky ciknského obyvatelstva v ČSSR 1980” [“Some Demographic, Economic and Cultural Characteristics of the Gypsy Population in CSSR 1980”], Demografie, (26, No. 2, 1984), pp. 161–178.Google Scholar

57. Srb, note 55 above p. 305.Google Scholar

58. Písaříkov, Stefanie, Rolnické noviny, (November 20, 1969).Google Scholar

59. Demografie, op cit. (Note 56), p. 161.Google Scholar

60. Ibid. Google Scholar

61. Ibid. Google Scholar

62. Demografie (30, No. 4, 1988), p. 374.Google Scholar

63. Srb, Demografie (Note No. 56 above), p. 308.Google Scholar

64. Demografie (Note No. 56 above), p. 170.Google Scholar

65. For statistics on population see Joszef Kalvoda, “National Minorities in Czechoslovakia, 1919–1980,” in Eastern European National Minorites: 1919–1980. A Handbook. Ed. by Stephan M. Horak (Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1985), pp. 108-159.Google Scholar

66. Bulíř, Michal “Školní docáhzka cikánskych dětí v letech 1980–1985” [“School Attendance of the Gypsy Children during the Years 1980–1985”], Demografie, (29, No. 2, 1987), pp. 86‗89.Google Scholar

67. Hana, Jiří, “Vybrané problémy ciknské etnické skupiny v okrese Cheb” [“Selected Problems of the Gypsy Ethnic Group in the Cheb District”], Demografie, (29, No. 2, 1987), pp. 167–171.Google Scholar

68. Ibid, p. 170. In an article on the Gypsy children in kindergartens “Cikánské (romské) děti v mateřskych školách,” Demografie, (29, No. 4, 1987). Michal Bulíř published detailed statistics on the increase of the Gypsy children's enrollment in kindergartens. In 1972 merely 1.14% of the children attending these schools were Gypsiesi in 1986 the percentage increased to 3.33%. In absolute figures the number of Gypsy children in kindergartens was 4,515 in 1972 and 22,240 in 1986. Thus in the 1980s a majority of the Gypsy children of kindergarten age were enrolled in these schools and in 1986 4,254 of them were in special classes for Gypsy children.Google Scholar

69. Srb, Demografie, (Note No. 55 above), p. 308.Google Scholar

70. Frankfurter Allqemeine Zeitung (January 26, 1981) suggested that there may be as many as 1.5 million Gypsies living in Czechoslovakia by the year 2000.Google Scholar

71. Pravda, (September 23, 1982), p. 5.Google Scholar

72. Pravda, (January 28, 1983), p. 4.Google Scholar

73. Although merely 1.26 percent of the population in the Czech Republic are of Gypsy-Romani nationality—now called Romes, their share in criminal activity has been 15.6 percent and even 48 percent of assaults with robberies. Svobodné Slovo, May 11, 1990.Google Scholar

74. The terms “Skinheads” and “Punks” are used in Czech; they are not translations. The two groups have been involved in acts of violence against persons of darker skin, Romes in particular. For example, on May 1, 1990, Romes left the Wenceslas Square in Prague as soon as members of the two groups appeared, and yet two darker skinned tourists from Canada were attacked by them, were injured and had to be hospitalized. “They Are Giving Us a Bad Name,” Lidová Demokracie, May 3, 1990. Most attacks on Romes have taken place in northern Bohemia where there are large concentrations of Gypsies. The latter staged several demonstrations demanding protection against those attacks. The Czech ministry of the interior and the police announced that they will take action against all perpetrators of violent crimes, racial intolerance, propagation of fascism and its symbols, and mass actions leading to violence on groups of citizens. “Resolutely Against Violence,” Svobodné Slovo, May 11, 1990.Google Scholar

75. Results of the parliamentary elections were reported in Czech dailies on June 12, 1990, including Lidová Demokracie and Svobodné Slovo. Google Scholar

76. Gammelgaard, Karen, “Return Self-confidence to Romes. An Attempt for National Renascence of Romes,” Respekt, No. 3, January 14-20, 1991.Google Scholar

77. Ibid. Google Scholar

78. Ibid. Google Scholar

79. Ibid. Google Scholar

80. Ibid. Google Scholar

81. Ibid. Google Scholar

82. Ibid. Google Scholar