Romany soldiers

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[edit] Romany Soldiers: an overview

While not known as a warrior people, many pure Romany and part Romanies have served with distinction in armies throughout the world.

One thory of their arrival is as soldiers in the Ottoman Empire, and from there the Balkan Brass Bands of Serbia originate.

[edit] WW1 and WW2

Many Romany, Rominchal and Irish Travellers fought in the First World War in the armies of Germany, England and France. In the British army, there would be no distinction, and so hard to make out actual numbers, but it is reckoned at least 1000 soldiers were demobbed in Nazi Germany on race grounds, most facing extermination subsequently.

A book on the Romany holocaust by Romany Rose (Oskar Rose) tells of the fate of some of these men.