March 21, 2005

Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation



Ten million Ukrainians died during a purge by Stalin in 1932-33. Nearly 1 in 4 rural Ukrainians perished and, at the height of the genocide, Ukrainians were dying at a rate of 25,000 per day.

The famine was induced, in large part, to rid the Soviet Union of the capitalist Ukrainians (in other words, to force the farmers to give up their land). Though the farmers were able to produce plenty of grain to feed themselves, the government siezed most of what had been harvested.

My great grandparents all left before this time, though most of their relatives stayed behind. Some were sent to Siberia and barely survived. (They had to join the Communist Party or remain outcast.)

Thanks to Katya for the link.

Hmmm, while looking for the photo I also found this page on the famine.

1 comment:

  1. My grandmother left as a small child just before this with her parents. Her parents were never able to go back. My grandmother went back only once (well into her adulthood) and was so grief stricken and shocked by what she saw she never went back and disliked talking much about it.

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