Post-Soviet remembrance of the holocaust and national memories of the second world war in Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania

Forum for Modern Language Studies

Volumn 44, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 173-184

  Rohdewald, Stefan ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF PASSAU   (Germany)

Author keywords

Collective remembrance; Holocaust; Lithuania; Russia; Second World War; Soviet Union; Ukraine

Indexed keywords

EID: 42549130577     PISSN: 00158518     EISSN: 14716860     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/fmls/cqn007     Document Type: Article

References (89)

1. See L. Dobroszycki & J. S. Gurock (eds.), The Holocaust in the Soviet Union: Studies and Sources on the Destruction of the Jews in the Nazi-Occupied Territories of the USSR, 1941-1945 (London, 1993)
2. W. Korey, "Anti-Semitism and the Treatment of the Holocaust in the USSR/CIS", in: Anti-Semitism and the Treatment of the Holocaust in Postcommunist Eastern Europe, ed. R. L. Braham (New York, 1994), pp. 207-24 (p. 208)
3. D. Romanovsky, "The Holocaust in the Eyes of Homo Sovieticus: A Survey Based on Northeastern Belorussia and Northwestern Russia", Holocaust and Genocide Studies 13:3 (1999), 355-82
4. Z, Gitelman, "Internationalism, Patriotism and Disillusion: Soviet Jewish Veterans Remember World War II and the Holocaust", in: Remembering for the Future: The Holocaust in an Age of Genocide, ed. J. K. Roth & E. Maxwell (Basingstoke & New York, 2001), pp. 296-308
5. H. Asher, "The Soviet Union, the Holocaust, and Auschwitz", Kritika: Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History 4:4 (2003), 886-912 (p. 888)
6. K.-G. Karlsson, "The Holocaust and Russian Historical Culture", in: Echos of the Holocaust: Historical Cultures in Contemporary Europe, ed. K.-G. Karlsson & U. Zander (Lund, 2003), 201-22
7. I. Al'tman, "Shoah: Gedenken verboten! Der weite Weg vom Sowjettabu zur Erinnerung", Osteuropa 55:4-6 (2005), 149-64.
8. Korey, "Anti-Semitism and the Treatment of the Holocaust", 210-13
9. W. Korey, "A Monument Over Babi Yar?", in: The Holocaust in the Soviet Union, ed. Dobroszycki & Gurock, pp. 61-74.
10. Z. Gitelman, "History, Memory and Politics: The Holocaust in the Soviet Union", Holocaust and Genocide Studies 5:1 (1990), 23-37.
11. C. Merridale, "War, Death, and Remembrance in Soviet Russia", in: War and Remembrance in the Twentieth Century, ed. J. Winter & E. Sivan (Cambridge, 1999), pp. 61-83.
12. On "the glorious dead", see A. D. Smith, Chosen Peoples: Sacred Sources of National Identiy (Oxford & New York, 2003), pp. 218-53.
13. The term "imagined communities" is Benedict Anderson's, in Imagined Communities, Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism (London, 1983).
14. G. Smith, "Post-Colonialism and Borderland Identities", in: Nation Building in the Post-Soviet Borderlands: The Politics of National Identities, ed. G. Smith et al. (Cambridge, 1998), pp. 1-20.
15. S. Troebst, "Holodomor oder Holocaust?", Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 4 July 2005, 8.
16. T. Zhurzhenko, "The Geopolitics of Memory", Eurozine, 10 May 2007. See last accessed 18 July 2007).
17. Z. Gitelman, "Politics and the Historiography of the Holocaust in the Soviet Union", in: Bitter legacy: Confronting the Holocaust in the USSR, ed. Z. Gitelman (Indianapolis, 1997), pp. 14-42.
18. See also M. Shafir, Between Denial and "Comparative Tivialization" Holocaust Negationism in Post-Communist East Central Europe (Jerusalem, 2002), pp. 74ff.
19. J. Öhman, "From Famine to Forgotten Holocaust: The 1932-1933 Famine in Ukrainian Historical Cultures", in: Echos of the Holocaust, ed. Karlsson & Zander, pp. 223-49
20. J. Dietsch, Making Sense of Suffering: Holocaust and Holodomor in Ukrainian Historical Culture (Lund, 2006)
21. W. Jilge, "The Politics of History and the Second World War in Post-Communist Ukraine (1986/1991-2004/2005)", Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 54:1 (2006), 51-82
22. V. Jil'ge, "Zmahannja Žertv", Krytyka 10:5 (2006)
23. Zhurzhenko, The Geopolitics of Memory.
24. S. Troebst, "'Was für ein Teppich?' Postkommunistische Erinnerungskuturen in Ost(mittel)europa", in: Der Kommunisnius im Museum: Formen der Auseinandersetzung in Deutschland and Ostmitteleuropa ed. V. Knigge & U. Mählert (Cologne, Weimar & Vienna, 2005), pp. 31-54
25. Troebst, "Holodomor oder Holocaust?".
26. L, Karl, "'Den Verteidigern der russischen Erde...': Poklornnaja Gora: Erinnerungskultur im postkommunistischen Russland", (published 2005; last accessed 25 July 2007).
27. Zhurzhenko, "The Geopolitics of Memory".
28. The sculpture has been named "Tragedy of Peoples" and not "Tragedy of the People". See Karl, "'Den Verteidigern der russischen Erde...'"; cf. S. V. Perevezencev & J. A. Baxnykin, Poklonnaja gora - simvol ratnoj slavy Otečestva. K 60-letiju bitroy pod Moskvoj ("Poklonnaya Gora - Symbol of Russian Military Glory. In Honour of the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Moscow") (Moscow, 2001), pp. 162-3
29. see also (last accessed 20 July 2007).
30. See Perevezencev & Baxnykin, Poklonnaja gora, pp. 17ff. The official website of the "Central Museum of the Great Patrio tic War" does not refer to the Holocaust, or indeed to Jews at all.
31. See (last accessed 16 July 2007).
32. (last accessed 10 July 2007).
33. (last accessed 10 July 2007).
34. G. V. Klokova, Istorija xolokosta na territorii SSSR v gody velikoj otečestvennoj vojny (1941-1945): Posobie dlja učitelja (Moscow, 1995), p. 7
35. I. Altman, "Teaching the Holocaust in Russia in the 21st century", (last accessed 10 July 2007).
36. J. Hösler, "Aufarbeitung der Vergangenheit? Der Große Vaterländische Krieg in der Historiographie der UdSSR und Rußlands", Osteuropa 55:4-6 (2005), 115-25
37. B. Dubin, "Goldene Zeiten des Krieges: Erinnerung als Sehnsucht nach der Brežnev-Ära", Osteuropa 55:4-6 (2005), 219-33.
38. J. D. Petuxov, Genocid: Obščestvo Istreblenija. Russkij Xolokost (Moscow, 2004). It has the strange subtide: Taktika i strategija režima aparteida v Rossii. Provedenie celenapravlennoj politiki uničtoženija narodonaselenija, kak odna iz celej Četvertoj Mirovoj vojny, kotoruju SŠA i NATO vedut v Vostočnom polušari. Tajny režima i "oppozicii" ("Tactic and strategy of Russia's Apartheid-Regime. The execution of a determined policy of the people's destruction as one of the aims of a 4th World War, being led by the US and NATO in the eastern half of the globe. Secrets of the regime and of the 'opposition'").
39. S. Rock, "Russian Revisionism: Holocaust Denial and the New Nationalist Historiography", Patterns of Prejudice 35:4 (2001), 64-76 (p. 75)
40. M. Al'tman, Otricanie Xolokosta: Istorija i sovremennye tendencii (Moscow 2001).
41. J. Scherrer, "'Laßt die Toten ihre Toten begraben': Warum Rußland von den sowjetischen Massenverbrechen nichts wissen will", Die Zeit 2 July 1998.
42. Z. Gitelman, "Soviet Reactions to the Holocaust", in: The Holocaust in the Soviet Union, ed. Dobroszycki & Gurock, pp. 3-28 (pp. 22-3).
43. Z. Zawada, "Babyn Yar Massacre Recalled in Kiev on its 65th Anniversary", The Ukrainian Weekly 74:40 (October 2006).
44. See (last accessed 10 July 2007).
45. M. Barillas, "Ukraine Memorial Service for the Holocaust: Survivors and Liberators Remember Babi Yar. Catholics and Jews Are Cooperating to Uncover Over 500 Mass Graves", (published 28 September 2006; last accessed 10 July 2007).
46. (last accessed 17 July 2007).
47. R. L. Golbert, "Holocaust Sites in Ukraine: Pechora and the Politics of Memorialization", Holocaust and Genocide Studies 18:2 (2004), 205-33 (p. 222).
48. See (published 29 August 2006),
49. and R. Hoffmann, "Remembering, Returning, Forgiving", International Herald Tribune, 24 August 2006, (last accessed 10 July 2007).
50. International scholars include M. Dean, Collaboration in the Holocaust: Crimes of the Local Police in Belorussia and Ukraine, 1941-44 (London, 2000),
51. and W. Lower, Nazi Empire-Building and the Holocaust in Ukraine (Chapel Hill, 2005).
52. An overview outlining research done by Ukrainians on collaboration is provided by J. Podol's'kyj, "Doslidžennja z istoriji holokostu v sučasnij ukrajins'kij istoriohrafiji: Novi pidxodi", in: Katastrofa i opir ukrajins'koho jevrejstva: Narysy z istoriji Holokostu i Oporu v Ukrajini, ed. S. J. Jelisavets'kyj (Kiev, 1999), pp. 26-37 (p. 31).
53. A further example is B. Zabarko (ed.), Živymi ostalis' tol'ko my: Svidetel'stva i dokumenty (Kiev, 1999), published later in English as B. Zabarko (ed.), Holocaust in the Ukraine (London, 2005).
54. S. J. Elisavetskij, Polveka zabvenija: Evrej v dviženii Soprotivlenija i partizanskoj bor'be v Ukraine (Kiev, 1998).
55. E. Ivanova, "Ukrainian High School Students' Understanding of the Holocaust", Holocaust and Genocide Studies 18:3 (2004), 402-20 (pp. 405-6).
56. (last accessed 17 July 2007).
57. Jilge, "Politics of History and the Second World War", p. 77.
58. Dietsch, Making Sense of Suffering, pp. 227-41.
59. O. Pritsak, "Foreword", in: The Great Famine in Ukraine: The Unknown Holocaust, ed. R. Hadzewycz, G. B. Zarycky & M. Kolomayets (Jersey City, 1983), pp. 7-8.
60. See also Öhman, From Famine to Forgotten Holocaust, pp. 229-34.
61. Dietsch, Making Sense of Suffering, p. 224.
62. See also W. Jilge, "Holodomor und Nation: Der Hunger im ukrainischen Geschichtsbild", Osteuropa 54:12 (2004), 147-63 (pp. 154-5).
63. L. E. Deščyns'kyj, "Holodomor i Holokost - Henocyd proty narodiv Ukrajiny", in: Holokost v Ukrajini u rehional'nomu i zahal'noljuds'komu vymiri. Materialy Mižnarodnoji naukovoji konferenciji (18-20 listopada 2003 r.). Zbirnyk naukovyx prac, ed. R. J. Myrs'kyj (Lvov, 2005), pp. 9-15 (p. 9).
64. S. Hračova, "Pam"jat', kontrpam"jat' i polityka", Krytyka 10: 11 (2006),
65. see also Zhurzhenko, "The Geopolitics of Memory".
66. In detail, see Jilge, "The Politics of History and the Second World War", pp. 54-63 and 71-7.
67. J. Zernij, "Istoryčna pam"jat' jak ob"jekt deržavnoji polityky", Stratehični prioriteti 1:2 (2007), 71-6, (last accessed 18 July 2007). The volume has a foreword by Viktor Jučšenko.
68. V. Hrynevyč, "Gespaltene Erinnerung: Der Zweite Weltkrieg im historischen Bewußtsein der Ukraine", Osteuropa 55:4-6 (2005), 88-102.
69. Zhurzhenko, "The Geopolitics of Memory".
70. Although not mentioning the word Holocaust, and with a bias against Lithuania's "nationalistic bourgeoisie", official Soviet historiography, as far as the facts of Lithuanian collaboration in the murder of the Lithuanian Jews are concerned, was not so wrong. See M. Kohrs, "Die offizielle Darstellung des Holocaust in der Sowjezeit (1945-1990)", in: Holocaust in Litauen: Krieg, Judenmorde und Kollaboration im Jahre 1941, ed. V Bartusevičius, J. Tauber & W. Wette (Cologne, Weimar & Vienna, 2003), pp. 247-61.
71. A. Eidintas, Jews, Lithuanians and the Holocaust (Vilnius, 2003), p. 12. This was originally published in Lithuanian under the the title, Žydai, lietuviai ir holokaustas (Vilnius, 2002).
72. Gitelman, "Soviet Reactions to the Holocaust", p. 23.
73. (last accessed 10 July 2007).
74. (last accessed 10 July 2007).
75. (last accessed 10 July 2007).
76. (last accessed 10 July 2007).
77. V. Rudiene & V. Juozevičiute (eds.), The Museum of Genocide Victims: A Guide to the Exhibitions (Vilnius, 2000). p. 79.
78. E. Peikštenis, "Das Museum für die Opfer des Genozids, Vilnius", in: Der Kommunismus im Museum, ed. Knigge & Mählert, pp. 131-8 (pp. 131 and 135).
79. L. Truska, "Litauische Historiographie über den Holocaust in Litauen", in: Holocaust in Litauen, ed. Bartusevičius, Tauber & Wette, pp. 262-76.
80. "Project, June 3, 2003", (lastaccessed 10 July 2007).
81. Eidintas, Jews, Lithuanians and the Holocaust, p. 501.
82. [T]he ESP being subordinate to the German security police and the SD was involved in the genocide of the Jewish nation (the Holocaust) that had been organized by the Nazis and, therefore, became an integral part of the repressive mechanism." See A. Bubnys, "Lietuviu saugumo policija ir holokaustas (1941-1944), Lithuanian Security Police and the Holocaust (1941-1944)", Genocidas ir rezistencija 13:1 (2003), (last accessed 10 July 2007). Cf.
83. M. MacQueen, "Einheimische Gehilfin der Gestapo: Die litauische Sicherheitspolizei in Vilnius 1941-1944", in: Holocaust in Litauen ed. Bartusevičius, Tauber & Wette, p. 113
84. and A. Bubnys, The Holocaust in Lithuania between 1941 and 1944 (Vilnius, 2005).
85. "Project, June 3rd, 2003", (last accessed 10 July 2007).
86. See (last accessed 10 July 2007).
87. S. Goštautas, "From My Notebook: Ten Years after the Lithuanian Pen Club: March 24, 1999", Lituanus 45:3 (1999), (last accessed 10 July 2007).
88. (last accessed 21 July 2007).
89. Zhurzhenko, "The Geopolitics of Memory".