ECHOES OF TRAGEDY: Israel and Ukraine
From Holocaust to the 7th of October genocide.
From Holodomor to the 22nd of February genocide.
The 20th century bore witness to some of the darkest chapters in human history, marked by atrocities committed against innocent populations. Among these, the Jewish Holocaust during World War II stands out as an unparalleled tragedy, and the most recent genocidal attack by Hamas on October 7th 2023. Ukraine also experienced significant suffering during the 20th century, including the Holodomor, the 1917 Bolshevik coup d’état, and more recent events like the 2014 Crimea annexation and the invasion of February 24, 2022. This article will explore the similarities between the Jewish Holocaust and the treatment of Jewish people during World War II by Hitler’s Germany and the various struggles faced by Ukraine in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Genocidal and racist propaganda and its horrifying results.
One of the striking similarities between the Jewish Holocaust and the Ukrainian Holodomor lies in the use of dehumanization and propaganda. In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler’s regime systematically dehumanized Jews through propaganda, portraying them as a threat to society. Similarly, the Soviet government under Joseph Stalin (and now Putin) utilized propaganda to vilify and dehumanize Ukrainians during the Holodomor, labeling them as “kulaks” and enemies of the state.
In recent times, the propaganda machine has been at work again, as Russia has used disinformation campaigns to manipulate public perception during the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This strategy of dehumanization and misinformation has been a recurring theme in both the Jewish Holocaust and the Ukrainian Holodomor.
During the Holocaust, millions of Jews were forcibly relocated from their homes to concentration camps and ghettos, leading to overcrowding, starvation, and horrific living conditions. Similarly, Ukrainians experienced forced relocation during the Holodomor as Stalin’s government implemented grain requisition policies, leading to mass starvation and suffering among the Ukrainian population.
In more recent times, the annexation of Crimea in 2014 resulted in the displacement of thousands of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian citizens, who were forced to leave their homes and communities. This pattern continued with the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by more aggressive genocidal attacks such as bombing cities and villages, which led to the displacement / mass deaths of civilians and further human rights violations / crimes, echoing the forced relocations and genocide of the past.
Suppression of Identity and Culture
Another parallel between the Holocaust and the Ukrainian Holodomor is the suppression of identity and culture. In Nazi Germany, Jewish identity was systematically erased through measures such as confiscating property, forbidding the use of the Hebrew language, and destroying synagogues and Jewish cultural artifacts.
Similarly, during the Soviet era, Ukraine faced a cultural suppression with the promotion of Russian language and culture over Ukrainian, which was seen as a threat to the central Soviet identity. The Ukrainian language and cultural expressions were suppressed, leading to a loss of cultural heritage.
In the modern era, the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of Ukraine have witnessed attempts to suppress Ukrainian culture and identity in Crimea, with the imposition of Russian language and Russian “values” on the local population.
While it is crucial to recognize that each historical event has its unique context and complexities, there are undeniable similarities between the Jewish Holocaust and the Ukrainian Holodomor throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Understanding these parallels serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and addressing human rights violations, propaganda, and aggression in our world today. It is a solemn testament to the resilience of both the Jewish people and the Ukrainian population that they have survived and persevered despite these immense challenges.
As we reflect on history, it is our collective responsibility to work towards a more just and peaceful world, where such tragedies are never repeated, that includes military solidarity with Ukraine and Israel TODAY.