Social 20

Isherwood

Famine in the Ukraine 1932-1933

Name: ____________
Outcomes:

Social 20-1
Social 20-2
Analyze Ultranationalism as a
Analyze Ultranationalism as a
cause of genocide: the
cause of genocide: the
Holocaust, the 1932-1933 famine
Holocaust, the 1932-1933 famine
in the Ukraine, contemporary
in the Ukraine, contemporary
examples
examples
Appreciate that the pursuit of
Appreciate that the pursuit of
national interest has positive
national interest has positive
and negative consequences
and negative consequences
The Ukrainian Famine was dreadful famine premeditated by
the Soviet Union, headed by Joseph Stalin during 1932-1933, as a
means to undermine the nationalistic pride of the Ukrainian people.
It served to control and further oppress the Ukrainian people by
denying them the basic vital essentials they needed to survive. The
Ukrainian Famine is also known as Holodomor, meaning death by
hunger.
The Communist Regime sought to eliminate any threat from Ukrainian
nationalists, whom they feared had the potential to form a rebellion and to seek
independence from the Soviet Union. More than 5,000 Ukrainian intellectuals
were arrested and later were either murdered or deported to prison camps in
Siberia. These individuals were falsely accused of plotting an armed rebellion;
however it was very clear that Stalins intentions were to eliminate the leaders
of Ukrainian society, to leave the masses without any guidance or direction.
Stalin regarded the self-sufficient farms of the Ukraine peasants, as a threat to
his ideals. He did not want the Ukrainian peasants to prosper freely from the
wealth accumulated from independent farm holdings. The wealthier farmers
were termed as kulaks, and became the primary target of dekulukization, an
effort to eliminate independent farm-holdings, and create collective farm units.
The Communists attempted to gain the support of the poorer class of peasants,
by turning them against the kulak class of farmers. A false image of the Kulak
class portrayed them as a danger to society. Contrary to the expected outcome
of the Communists plan, the poor farmers sided with the kulaks, instead of
siding with the Soviet authorities. As a result many of them became new targets
http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/ukraine_famine.htm

Social 20

Isherwood

of dekulakization. Many other poor farmers unwillingly joined collective farms.

Those who attempted to aid a kulak were punished under the law.
The Soviet police confiscated the Ukrainian farmers of their homes, livestock,
wheat crops, and valuable possessions. They imposed heavy grain taxes,
deliberately leaving families to starve. Those who resisted giving up their homes
and crops, were violently shot to death or deported to regions in Siberia. Some
families and individuals chose to burn their homes to the ground and kill their
livestock, instead of handing it over to Soviet authorities. Families, who tried to
hide grain resources, in order to sustain a source of food, were killed. This
campaign of terror was organized to instill fear within the people, and force
them to relinquish all that they had. The ultimate goal was to have these people
embrace Soviet-ism and abandon all nationalistic pride.
A system of internal passports prevented Ukrainians from leaving their towns
and villages. Thus villagers were not able to cross the border and escape the
torment by fleeing to other countries. When news of the Famine reached the
Ukrainian Diaspora in the United States and Europe, food supplies were sent to
Ukraine to assist the starving people. However all food shipments were denied
at the border by Soviet authorities. Following the Soviet Unions policy of
denying any allegations having to do with the Famine, all outside assistance
was refused. Even journalists were not allowed in Ukraine, because the Soviet
government feared that the media would reveal the perpetrated crimes against
the Ukrainian people. When an individual claimed that there was a famine in
Ukraine they were considered to be spreading anti-Soviet propaganda. Even
stating the words famine or hunger could cause someone to end up in jail.
All the grain taken from Ukrainian farmers were exported to European
countries, and the money generated from these sales, were used to fuel Stalins
Five Year Plan for the transformation of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union
purchased many products and weapons from Western countries. Those western
countries in return remained silent in regards to the starving Ukrainians. Grain
that was not yet shipped out was reserved in granaries. While the animals that
were needed for work on the farms were fed, the people were left to starve. The
granaries were guarded to ensure no one would steal grain supplies. Anyone
who attempted to do so was shot and killed.
It was estimated that about 25,000 Ukrainians were dying every day during the
Famine. Desperation and extreme hunger even lead to cases of cannibalism and
consequentially thousands were arrested for this act.
Despite many Ukrainian Communist leaders objections to Stalin and his
decrees, Stalin continued to raise grain quotas, which led to worsening of the
famine. Many Communists blame the orchestrated famine on an unsuccessful
harvest and crop yield, failing to acknowledge the crimes perpetrated by the
http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/ukraine_famine.htm

Social 20

Isherwood

Soviet government and authorities It is estimated that more than 10 million

people died as a result of violent executions, deportation, and starvation.
Currently Russia does not recognize the Ukrainian Famine or Holodomor, as
genocide. The Russian State Duma stated that there was starvation in many
parts of the Soviet Union, and it is insulting and incorrect for the Ukrainians to
claim that they were directly targeted. Despite Russias persistent denial of the
Ukrainian Famine, many countries around the world have recognized the
atrocious crimes committed against the Ukrainian people as genocide.
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Estonia, Ecuador, Georgia, Hungary, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, and the United States of
America regard the Ukrainian Famine from 1932-1933 as genocide. Argentina,
Czech Republic, Chile, Slovakia, Spain, Balearic Islands, Spain, and Vatican
consider Holodomor as a deliberate act of famine.
On November 28, 2006 the Parliament of Ukraine adopted a law that
recognized the artificial famine in Ukraine as genocide committed against the
Ukrainian people. The law also made public denial of the Ukrainian Genocide
illegal. Ukrainian Genocide commemoration day is on November 26.
Sources:
http://www.faminegenocide.com/resources/ukraine_famine.html
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/stalin.htm

Questions:
How was the famine in the Ukraine similar to the Holocaust?

How was the famine in the Ukraine different than the Holocaust?

http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/ukraine_famine.htm