Ceija Stojka

Born on May 23, 1933, in Kraubath, Styria, Austria, Ceija Stojka's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. As the fifth child of Karl Wackar Horvath and Maria Sidonie Rigo Stojka, she was born into a Lovara Romani family. The Stojkas were renowned horse traders, tracing their roots back to Hungary and Slovakia.

Ceija's childhood was marred by the rise of Nazi Germany and the subsequent discriminatory laws that targeted the Romani community. The "Anschluss" of Austria in 1938 marked the beginning of a harrowing period of Ceija's life, as her family faced increasing persecution under Nazi rule. Despite the oppressive laws and anti-Roma sentiment, Ceija's parents worked tirelessly to provide for their six children, even as their livelihood and way of life came under threat.

Tragedy struck in 1941 when Ceija's father was arrested and deported to the Dachau concentration camp, where he ultimately perished at the hands of the Nazis. Left alone with her mother and siblings, Ceija endured further hardships, including deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1943. There, she and her family faced unimaginable horrors, including the loss of her youngest brother, Ossi, to typhus.

Despite the immense suffering she endured, Ceija's indomitable spirit and resilience carried her through the darkest of times. Liberated from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, she embarked on a long and arduous journey back to Vienna, where she reunited with her surviving family members.

In the years following the war, Ceija and her family continued to face discrimination and persecution as they struggled to rebuild their lives. Forced to leave their home after the return of its owners, they resumed their nomadic lifestyle as horse traders, scraping together a living while dealing with lingering wartime trauma.

It wasn't until decades later, in 1988, that Ceija found the courage to share her experiences with the world. Despite being considered illiterate, she penned several books recounting her memories of the Holocaust, becoming the first Roma female survivor to do so. Through her writing, Ceija sought to combat ignorance, denial, and racism, ensuring that the voices of Roma survivors would not be silenced or forgotten.

In addition to her literary endeavors, Ceija discovered a newfound passion for painting and drawing. Despite lacking formal training, she poured her heart and soul into her artwork, creating over a thousand pieces that captured the pain, resilience, and enduring spirit of her people. Her paintings and drawings, exhibited in galleries around the world, serve as powerful testaments to the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable atrocities.

Ceija's tireless advocacy for Roma rights and her unwavering commitment to bearing witness to the horrors of the Holocaust earned her widespread recognition and accolades. From winning the Bruno Kreisky Prize for Political Books to being awarded the Order of Merit by the Austrian Federal Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Ceija's legacy continues to inspire generations.

On January 28, 2013, Ceija Stojka passed away after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and artistic brilliance. Today, her paintings and writings serve as powerful reminders of the atrocities of the past and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. As we honor her memory, let us pledge to never forget the lessons of history and to stand united against bigotry, hatred, and discrimination in all its forms.