Between 1941 and 1945 a large proportion of the Central European Roma and Sinti populations was murdered by National Socialists or by members of fascist governments and movements allied with the Third Reich. Among the Roma and Sinti the tragedy is sometimes referred to as Pharrajimos - the Great Devouring - or as Samurdaripen - the great Killing. Close to half a million Roma and Sinti perished during the Holocaust.
