Operational Situation Report USSR No. 112
The Chief of the Security Police and the SD Berlin,
October 13, 1941
50 copies ------------------
36th copy
Einsatzgruppe C
Location: Kiev
Bolshevism and Jewry
The population's attitude towards these two problems in the areas of Kiev,
Poltava, and Dniepropetrovsk is the same as has been observed elsewhere in
the Ukraine. The population rejects Bolshevism almost without exception,
since there is practically no family which has not lost one or more members
through Bolshevik deportation or killing. Also, the Ukrainians had been free
farmers and independent in ancient Russia and have not forgotten that
everything was taken from them when forced into the collective farms. The
number of Ukrainians who joined the Communist party out of conviction is
surprisingly low.
Only the young people who have neither seen nor heard of anything else but
Communism and its "successes and achievements" allow themselves to be
captivated by the Communist ideology. Yet even in this group one finds few
fanatics and really convinced fighters. German propaganda will not have
difficulty in promoting a complete change in this attitude. In order to
begin the process of such a re-education, and as long as the powerful battle
is still fresh in the minds of the Ukrainians, propaganda, lectures,
performances, films, radio and periodicals should be introduced.
The Ukrainian rejects Judaism together with Communism, as it was mainly Jews
who were officials of the Communist Party. The Ukrainians had the
opportunity to discover that practically only the Jews enjoyed the
advantages connected with membership in the Communist Party, especially in
its leading positions.
The population is, however, unaware of real
anti-Semitism based on rural and ideological principles. There are no
leading personalities and no spiritual impetus within the Ukrainian
population to trigger off persecution since all remember the harsh
punishments inflicted by the Bolsheviks against anyone who attacked the
Jews. For instance, whoever called the Jews "Zhid" (Yid) (which was at that
time a curse word) and not "Evrei" (Hebrew), was sent to prison. However, if
an impulse comes from any side and should the population be given a free
hand, an extensive persecution of the Jews could result.
Sources: NARA Translations by Hermann Feuer
Copyright: H.E.A.R.T 2007 |