The minority of the Yeniche is often treated as if they were identical with Sinti and Roma, but in actual fact they have very little in common, neither in ethnic nor in cultural respects. The only common feature is a social one: the Yeniche are pushed to the fringe of society just like the Sinti and Roma.
Yeniche has actually since the 18th century been the classification for members of poor social strata who strive to make a living in itinerant businesses – as entertainment artists, handicraftsmen or travelling salesmen. These groups of impoverished people migrating across Central Europe developed their own language which was almost unintelligible for the majority populations – the Yenish or Argot that differs semantically and grammatically from German and combined elements from different languages. Many Yeniche excelled in arts and crafts, in music and showmanship, but their lifestyle as travelers and the consequent social marginalization led to a status of no guaranteed rights and a lack of educational and vocational opportunities.
Already before, but particularly during the time of National Socialist rule in Europe the Yeniche were persecuted, similar to the Sinti and Roma. As “wandering travelers in gypsy fashion” and supposed “anti-social” people they taken into “preventive custody” or “preventive detention” and interned in forced labor and concentration camps. As far as the available sources show so far they not deported to extermination camps like the Sinti and Roma. But Yeniche definitely fell victim to forced sterilization and euthanasia. And, just like with the Sinti and Roma, the majority society continued to marginalize the Yeniche after 1945.

Angela Bachmair
Translation: Wolfgang Poeppel