Design for the Holocaust memorial in Trnava

The museum collection includes part of the bequest of the prolific Slovak-Jewish architect Artur Szalatnai-Slatinský (1891-1961), who designed the Heydukova Street Synagogue. The collection contains precious autographed photos of his early works, architectural designs and drawings. Among these is a design for the Holocaust memorial built in 1947 in front of the former Status Quo Synagogue in Trnava. Erected soon after World War II, it is an important milestone in the culture of Holocaust remembrance in Slovakia. During the Communist regime the Holocaust became a marginal episode in the public memorial culture. The official narrative focused on the heroism of the Soviet liberators aided by the partisans during the Slovak National Uprising, with much emphasis being laid on the “leading” role of the Communist resistance. Memory of the Holocaust was displaced from public remembrance; memorials were established by Jewish communities in communal compounds and cemeteries – as an internal Jewish commemoration. The Trnava memorial is a slight exception to this trend – built on synagogue land, it is clearly visible from the street. The monument is an architecturally attractive concept – a cenotaph is accompanied by three Masonic pillars adopted from the symbolism of Freemasonry. The architect was a member of the Bratislava lodge prior to the war. The memorial was completely refurbished in the 1990s. [MB]

Artur Szalatnai-Slatinský, 1947
Height: 50 cm, width: 60 cm
ŽM-D 1296 B-1