Satu Mare, Romania – The historic walls of buildings at the intersection of Stefan cel Mare street and Jean Calvin square, as well as on Petru Bran street, continue to speak volumes about a devastating chapter in the city's past. Bricks, some over a century old, bear faint but discernible signatures and dates, serving as the last tangible evidence of Jewish residents who faced forced deportation during World War II. These inscriptions, often accompanied by birth years, are believed to have been etched by individuals just before their journey to the train station, en route to concentration camps. In 1944, approximately 18,000 Jews from Satu Mare were tragically sent to Auschwitz, with only a small fraction ever returning to their homes. The video, produced by local news portal portalsm.ro, meticulously documents these historical markings, interspersing contemporary footage of the buildings with stark black-and-white photographs depicting the mass deportations. These images show crowded railway platforms and the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate of Auschwitz, underscoring the grim fate that awaited many. The report emphasizes that these walls are not merely architectural elements but profound memorials, embodying the final messages of those who never had the chance to return. The overarching message conveyed by these silent witnesses is a powerful call to remember and never forget the lives lost and the atrocities committed.
Povestea sfâșietoare a caselor cu semnături din Satu Mare – ziduri pline de nume și amintiri. Pe două clădiri vechi din Satu Mare – una la intersecți…
