Documents on the Ukraine under Romanian occupation

[David Thompson]

This is another documentary thread, this time on the subject of war crimes during the Romanian occupation of the Ukraine. The first part of this thread consists of extracts from Arad, Yitzak, Shmuel Krakowski and Shmuel Spector (ed.), The Einsatzgruppen Reports, Holocaust Library, New York: 1989.

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 19; July 11, 1941

Einsatzkommando 10b
Location: Chernowitz

Einsatzkommando was fired upon in the center of the town. No casualties. Vorkommando made an attempt to reach Khotin. Contrary to statements by the Rumanian Army, the place was still occupied by Soviet forces. Vorkommando fell back under fire causing no casualties. Good cooperation with the Rumanian Gendarmerie. Rumanians have taken over the civil administration at Chernovtsy. Action against Jews until the arrival of the Einsatzkommando spotty. Rumanian soldiers looted all the houses. Above all, Ukrainians were ill-treated. The city is destroyed. The ghetto, including most of the Jews, is completely destroyed by Red artillery. Einsatzkommando stopped harassing of Ukrainians, and contacted the National Ukrainian Organization (OUN).

Einsatzkommando 11
Location: Barlad

Good cooperation with the Rumanian Army.

[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 22; July 14, 1941

Einsatzkommando 1b:
Location: Chernovtsy, Vorkommando at Khotin.

The following was ascertained at Chernowitz:

1. The Rumanians declare North Bukovina to be Rumanian territory.

2. A great number of Jews of the poorer class are in Rumanian prisons. Nearly no intelligentsia.

3. The Rumanians are inclined to exterminate the upper echelon of Ukrainian leadership in order to settle the Ukrainian problem in the North Bukovina once and for all, taking advantage of the present situation. 22 Ukrainians are under Rumanian arrest in Chernowitz. lb has been given the following orders in this respect:

a. To influence the Rumanian authorities to take severe measures concerning the Jewish question. They must raid Jewish meetings and uncover conspiracies in order to stimulate Rumanian activities against the Jewish intelligentsia and to enable us to take a hand ourselves.

b. To hold or to turn over to us important Ukrainians; similarly, Ukrainian Communists will be put at the disposal of the Rumanians.

[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 25; July 17, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D
Location: Piatra-Neamt.
EK 10:
Location: Belzy.

We must be aware that a Rumanian major from Jassy delegated by the Rumanians will arrive. For the time being, administrative business is carried out by a suitable personality who has connections with the EK and was delegated by the local Kommandatur. Before the arrival of the local Kommandatur, the commander initiated some preparatory measures for the reopening of the supply factories. These measures are being continued by the local Kommandatur.

During the past days and nights, considerable excesses were carried out repeatedly against Jews by Rumanian soldiers. The number of Jews killed cannot be established, but might, however, reach several hundred. On the evening of July 10, Rumanian military authorities rounded up some 400 Jews of all ages, including men and women, in order to shoot them in retaliation for attacks on Rumanian military personnel. Fault was found, however, in the lengthy technical planning. Following the wish of the commander of the 170th Division, the Rumanian commanding general restricted himself in the last moment to the shooting of 15 male Jews.

Rumanian police gather up the Jews who are capable of working, and keep them under arrest. These Jews are also used for clearing and cleaning jobs [removing rubble, etc.].

[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 37; July 29, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D:
Location: Piatra
Einsatzkommando 10a:
Location: Iswary

Report from the district Belzy

Belzy is a district town (Kreisstadt) of 55,000 inhabitants of whom approximately 2//3 are Jews. The whole district comprises about 600,000 people. It is subdivided into 14 rayons (counties) with 350 villages.

Police Work

1. The town of Belzy is extensively destroyed. Present population, therefore, not ascertainable.

2. Searches in state and party buildings without result. Communist functionaries of Belzy have fled.

3. Rumanian police operates in political police area under the Kommando's directions.

4. Partisan warfare.

During the night of July 11-12 a German military vehicle was fired at in Belzy. Consequently 10 hostages were executed and a public announcement was made by the Rumanian police. During the evening of July 15 military vehicles were again fired at and 20 more hostages were dealt with by a summary court. During the night of July 15-16 German pioneers were murdered by decapitation. Counter-measures are not fixed at present.

5. Jews

Rumanian police in and around Belzy act harshly against Jews. The precise number of shootings cannot be ascertained. On the evening of July 15, the Kommando appropriately punished the Jewish Council of Elders in Belzy and other Jews totalling 45 for failing to comply with security police directives and as retribution for attacks on German military personnel.

[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 40; August 3, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D

1. Arrests and Liquidations.

In cooperation with the Rumanian police in Chernovtsy 682 of the approximately 1,200 arrested Jews were killed.
So far 16 of the arrested 50 Communist officials have been liquidated. Those remaining are still needed for interrogations, since it may be expected that as a result of the interrogations material from the Soviet offices will be found.

The area of Czernovtsy and Khotin has been searched thoroughly and as a result 150 Jews and Communists have been liquidated. In Mogilev-Podolsk no operation is necessary since the Russians have evacuated the entire population and have destroyed and devastated the town completely.

2. Economic Life.

At present, almost all the shops in Czernovtsy are closed — either because they were destroyed during the looting or because the managers of the nationalized enterprises do not dare to show themselves, as their position proves that they were reliable Communists. In addition to this, most of them are Jews whom the Rumanian authorities have prohibited from doing business. Reorganization of trade and commerce on a cooperative basis is planned.

In the future Jews are to be excluded from trade. The practical execution of this plan seems more than questionable since the Rumanian authorities are very corrupt and the Rumanians are very incompetent in the economic field as well. The fields are in relatively good condition; there is quite a large number of cattle. Soviet-Russian destruction is limited also in agriculture in North Bucovina. In the meantime, the question of property has been solved. All nationalized property in the Russian area, except property belonging to Jews, will automatically return to the owner. Only former Jewish property remains the possession of the state, and is to be divided between deserving soldiers, officers and officials after the war.

The question what is to become of the very considerable transfer of real estate possessions in North Bucovina remains to be solved. The Soviets did not compensate for this and no compensation should be given if the possession can be nationalized. The possessions of the deportees or of their representatives have to be taken over by the German "Treuhand Gesellschaft" in accordance with new Rumanian law. The German claims must be registered immediately to avoid other dispositions by the Rumanians.

[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 43; August 5, 1941

6. Suppression of Ukrainians in Northern Bucovina

Considering the disgusting conditions in Rumania, it is quite obvious that the gendarmes have the opportunity to finish off their personal enemies, to rob the village inhabitants and to take bribes from all sides.

An example is the village Doroschivci. There Botianu, a sergeant major of the Rumanian gendarmerie, was bribed by the local Communists and Jews to murder Zvizda, the country's leader of the OUN, thus demonstrating where all this might lead.

In general, there are complaints that the gendarmerie is bribed by the Jews who incite them against the Ukrainians because of their anti-Jewish attitude. This was reported at the same time from several communities and confirmed by personal observations. Under these conditions there is a definite danger of clashes breaking out between Ukrainians and Rumanians. In some communities the Ukrainian peasants fled into the forests because of Rumanian pressure; and, at that time, they have attacked the Rumanian gendarms. In other villages, the Ukrainian leaders declare that they can no longer prevent their people from anti-Rumanian reprisals.

Under these circumstances it seems advisable to enable the active Ukrainian nationalists, who wish to participate in the fight against the Bolsheviks, to go to Galicia. In this way the danger of armed clashes will be avoided.

[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 52; August 14, 1941

Einsatzgruppe C
Location: Zhitomir

Report Concerning Ukrainian Development

2. What are the national political aims of the Ukrainians?

The Rumanian army encounters even now many serious difficul-

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ties with the Ukrainians in the East Ukrainian areas occupied by them. German offices had to intervene. It is certain that the Rumanian administration will turn the area into one of constant unrest. This possible development causes real dismay in military circles and they regard:

1. The area between the Dniester and Dnieper as an essential military goal of German politics.

2. It is feared that the threatening guerrilla war of Bolshevik partisans (many parachutists in civilian clothes have landed lately) will find extraordinarily fertile soil in the Rumanian administered zone.

3. It has been established that the Rumanians in Chernovtzy were forced to work together with the Jews. As the Ukrainians are more intelligent and gifted than the Rumanians, the solution of the Jewish question is definitely in worse hands with the latter. Since the Jewish percentage is very high, it constituted a problem requiring careful examination from the economic point of view as well. In addition, the solution of this problem can be approached only within a German-Ukrainian framework. Until the final solution of the Jewish question for the entire continent is achieved, the superfluous Jewish masses can be excellently employed and used for cultivating the vast Pripet swamps, the northern Dnieper swamps as well as those of the Volga.

[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 61; August 23, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D
Location: Ananyev

EK 12:

Harvesting action

The kolkhozniki [collective farm workers] started to bring in the harvest on their own initiative. The population, almost without exception, showed itself extremely willing to work. Only in Babchinzy was there some resistance to an orderly harvesting caused by the instigation of Jewish inhabitants and some Jews who came to this area a few months ago. By spying on the population, these Jews had already created the basis for numerous deportations to Siberia. As a countermeasure, 94 Jews were executed.

The population was visibly relieved by these measures and hardly knows how to show its gratitude. This measure, as well as protecting the population from looting Rumanian soldiers, which was necessary in many cases, led to the fact that the population put absolute confidence in the Germans. This is reflected by the number of people reporting for work. In Yaruga, for example, 940 people out of a total of 1,200 inhabitants are occupied with bringing in the harvest.
Conduct of the Rumanians

In different places on the second bunkerline west of Yampol,

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looting Rumanian soldiers were intercepted. Plans are being considered for the use of this material by the German troops in Yampol.

Rumanian troops in quest of plunder had moved in with Jews in Borovka and looted from there. The Rumanians were apprehended and handed over to Rumanian officers.

Looting Rumanian soldiers were also apprehended near Sokol and Yelenovka and delivered into the hands of Rumanian officers. It was also possible to apprehend a Rumanian band [of soldiers] that had moved into a sugar factory.

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[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 63; August 25, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D
Location: Ananyev

The solution of the Jewish question, one of the most important problems, has already been tackled, though only in a hesitant manner. Before the war, there were some 60 to 80,000 Jews in Kishinev. A great many of them left when the Russians withdrew. When the

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town was occupied there were approximately 4,000 Jews as some of them had returned.
On the initiative of the Einsatzkommando the Rumanian town-commander established a Jewish ghetto in the old part of the town which, at present, comprises about 9,000 Jews.

The Jews are divided in labor groups and put at the disposal of the various German and Rumanian offices for rubbish clearance and other work.

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[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 64; August, 1941

Situation in the region of Khotin-Mogilev

1. Jewish Question

At present there are about 4,000 Jews in the town of Mogilev who are part of the population. Approximately 7,000 Jews live in the immediate proximity of Mogilev. They were deported from Rumania into this area before its administration was taken over [by the Rumanians]. One transport of Jews, consisting of about 6,000 persons, was escorted to the other side of the Dniester, in spite of considerable protest by the Rumanian officer in command of the bridge. The number of Jews increases daily on account of their return to the town.

It is intended to concentrate the Jewish population into one quarter of the town. The Jews who were deported into this area by the Rumanians are being confined in three camps. Jews fit for work were detailed to clear away rubble in the town as well as to bring in the harvest.

Relations with the Rumanian Army

Though the town was not damaged by the effects of the war, it was plundered almost entirely by the Rumanian troops as they passed through. Shootings and rapes are daily occurrences. All the complaints to the Rumanian commanders have not had any success worth mentioning. Therefore, together with the Ukrainian auxiliary police, a permanent street control has been introduced. In many cases, serious conflicts arose as looted goods were taken away again from the Rumanian troops.

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[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 67; August 29, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D
Location: Ananyev

Operational Report from the district bordering the Dniester: From Khotin to Yambol, including Chernovtshy.

The territory, with the exception of the Hungarian-occupied area around Svanzia, was cleared of Jews. The Rumanians had driven thousands of selected persons unfit for labor, such as invalids and children, from Bessarabia and Bucovina into the German sphere. In the vicinity of Svanzia-Mogilev-Podolski-Yampol, a total of approximately 27,500 Jews were driven back to Rumanian territory, and 1,265, partly younger ones, were shot. 3,105 more Jews and 34 Communists were liquidated in Chernovtsy in the course of search actions east of the Dniester. No terror and sabotage groups were discovered.

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[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 88; September 19, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D
Location: Nikolayev

Russian administration in Bessarabia

General

The Jews are concentrated in camps in the district of Tighina and are used for all kinds of work. Part of them count on being shot. In general, a strong anti-Jewish tendency can be observed among the Rumanian population.

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[David Thompson]

Operational Situation Report USSR No. 125; October 26, 1941

Einsatzgruppe D
Location: Nikolayev

On October 22, at 18.10 hours, the NKVD building, residence of the commander of the 10th Rumanian division, who is also the town commander of Odessa, was dynamited. The following were killed: the commander and his staff, the German harbor-captain (Captain Reichert), Captain Schmidt, other German officers, and SS-Untersturmfuehrer Gueldner of the VOMI. Obviously the dynamiting was prepared a long time ago. The way in which the NKVD building was installed and maintained appears to indicate a trap. The Commander, who was also the town commander, had been warned on various occasions. If the purpose of such dynamiting was to cause confusion, then it was achieved.

On October 24, it was impossible to tell where in Odessa the new town commander or any other Rumanian authority resided. As a counter-measure, the Rumanians seem to be preparing to shoot the Jews in Odessa. To date, about 10,000 have been shot.

[cmim73]

a documentary about the Pogrom from Iasi (29 iunie1941), not very different from what happened in Odessa.

http://www.vimeo.com/13905062