A memorial at the Jewish cemetery in Arad, western Romania, honours the Holocaust victims originating from this town. Though most of the 9,000 person large Jewish community survived war and persecution, several hundred fell victim to the anti-Jewish terror of Romanians and Hungarians.
Arad, 2006, Monument with the names of Holocaust victims from Arad, Stiftung Denkmal, Roland Ibold
Arad is located in the historial region of Crişana, in close vicinity of the Hungarian border. It belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary prior to becoming part of Romania together with Transylvania and parts of Banat after World War I. In 1930, there were about 9,000 Jews living in Arad - about one tenth of the overall population.
In 1940, Northern Transylvania came under Hungarian rule due to pressure exerted by the Germans and Italians. Romanian nationalists subsequently harassed Jews in Arad, blaming them for the loss of territory. In August 1941, the Romanian authorities deployed Jewish men aged between 18 and 55 in forced labour. That same summer, Jews from the area had to assemble in Arad in preparation for the deportations to the death camps in occupied Poland, planned to take place in 1942. The Romanian government, however, eventually abandoned these plans. In September 1942, about 120 Jews from Arad and surrounding areas were presumably deported to the Wapniarka camp in Transnistria, a part of Ukraine under Romanian occupation. Most Jews were allowed to remain in Arad, yet they suffered persecution and expropriation.
In August 1944, Romania left the Axis and joined forces with the Soviet Union. Shortly thereafter, the Hungarian army invaded Arad, occupying the town from September 13 to 21. During that time, the Hungarian authorities attempted to enforce anti-Jewish measures in Arad: Jews were to wear a Star of David, a ghetto was to be formed and deportations prepared. Most of the Jews had fled from Arad to nearby Timişoara before the Hungarians arrived. Ten Jews were murdered in Arad before the Hungarian units were driven out of town by the approaching Soviet and Romanian troops. Those who had escaped to Timişoara could once again return to Arad.
In 1940, Northern Transylvania came under Hungarian rule due to pressure exerted by the Germans and Italians. Romanian nationalists subsequently harassed Jews in Arad, blaming them for the loss of territory. In August 1941, the Romanian authorities deployed Jewish men aged between 18 and 55 in forced labour. That same summer, Jews from the area had to assemble in Arad in preparation for the deportations to the death camps in occupied Poland, planned to take place in 1942. The Romanian government, however, eventually abandoned these plans. In September 1942, about 120 Jews from Arad and surrounding areas were presumably deported to the Wapniarka camp in Transnistria, a part of Ukraine under Romanian occupation. Most Jews were allowed to remain in Arad, yet they suffered persecution and expropriation.
In August 1944, Romania left the Axis and joined forces with the Soviet Union. Shortly thereafter, the Hungarian army invaded Arad, occupying the town from September 13 to 21. During that time, the Hungarian authorities attempted to enforce anti-Jewish measures in Arad: Jews were to wear a Star of David, a ghetto was to be formed and deportations prepared. Most of the Jews had fled from Arad to nearby Timişoara before the Hungarians arrived. Ten Jews were murdered in Arad before the Hungarian units were driven out of town by the approaching Soviet and Romanian troops. Those who had escaped to Timişoara could once again return to Arad.
Arad, 2006, Monument with the names of Holocaust victims from Arad, Stiftung Denkmal, Roland Ibold
Most of the male Jewish residents of Arad had to conduct forced labour. About 120 Jews from Arad and surrounding areas were deported to the Wapniarka camp in Transnistria. Several Jews originally from Arad moved to Northern Transylvania after 1940 from where they were deported by the Hungarian authorities in 1944. 9 Jewish men and one woman were murdered during the brief Hungarian occupation of Arad. How many Arad Jews perished in the Holocaust is not known.
Arad, 2006, Synagogue building, Stiftung Denkmal, Roland Ibold
Most of the Jews from Arad survived the Holocaust; several thousand returned to their home town. Arad is home to numerous synagogues and Jewish cemeteries. In 1960, the Jewish community erected a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust from Arad at the Neolog cemetery in Strada Vişinului street. Inscribed on the monument - »In memory of our martyrs« - are the names of 244 victims from Arad and vicinity.
Almost all of the Jews living in Arad emigrated to Israel until the 1980s. Today, the community consists of only a few hundred members.
Almost all of the Jews living in Arad emigrated to Israel until the 1980s. Today, the community consists of only a few hundred members.
Arad, 2007, Monument with the names of Holocaust victims from Arad, Ionel Schlesinger
Arad, 2006, Monument bearing the inscription »In memory of our martyrs 1941-1944«, Stiftung Denkmal, Roland Ibold
- Name
- Monumentul Victimelor Holocaustului din Arad
- Address
-
Cimitir Neolog, Strada Toporaș, nr 4
310191 Arad - Phone
- +40 (0)257 2281 310
- Web
- http://aradjc.org/index.php/the-old-jewish-cemetery-of-neolog-rite/
- dannak25@gmail.com
- Open
- Opening times of the Old Jewish Cemetery of Neolog rite:
In the summer Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In the winter Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.