The end of World War II saw the rise of “the Eastern Bloc”, a large area of Europe where many a significant number of the Romani people lived. Communist ideology claimed to treat all groups in society equal, and integration as opposed to segregation was to be the policy. This meant an improvement in the material conditions under which the Romani citizens lived, with better housing and education. But it also made it more difficult to maintain a Romani identity, resulting in a poorer social existence and a sense of isolation.