Language:
English
Year of publication:
2009
Titel der Quelle:
Yad Vashem Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
37,1 (2009) 53-83
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Jews
;
Jews
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Personal narratives
Abstract:
Based on survivors' testimonies, discusses the behavior toward Jews of the civilian population in Romanian-occupied areas. Stresses the factor of the political and social prewar situation: Bessarabia had been under the domination of Romania, where antisemitism was rife politically and culturally, while Transnistria was part of a Soviet Union which had, to some degree, discouraged antisemitism. In Bessarabia there was some help for Jews by the local population, but the majority was either indifferent or violent, especially the young local peasant "premilitari". In contrast, the civilian population of Transnistria was more sympathetic. Although some Ukrainians and Russians collaborated with the fascists and became cruel guards in the camps for Jews, many non-Jews in Transnistria offered food, water, and clothing, either for barter or as charity, thus enabling thousands of Jews to survive. The hiding of Jews was rare, but more frequent in Transnistria. In general, the bystander attitude of the Bessarabian population was interpreted by survivors as anti-Jewish hostility. In Bessarabia, the rural population was more hostile than the urban population; in Transnistria, the opposite was the case.
Note:
English and Hebrew.
URL:
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