Ukrainian People
Small farm villages were desimated by this act of genocide. The death rate in villages ranged from 25% to even 60% in some cases.
"...But there were villages and hamlets where not a single person remained alive. For instance, in the large village of Chemychyna, in Neforoshchanske County, which
stretched for two and a half miles, though I do not recall it's population, and
the hamlet Rybky, of the Sukho-Mayachka village administration, where 60% of the population died..."
Polikarp Kybkalo - Genocide Survivor testimony presented before the United States Ukraine Famine Commission in Washington, DC on October 8, 1986.
Even though it was the rural community that was the most targeted, the affects of the Holodomor were felt in the cities and towns as well. The Holodomor was a very secretive opperation, but the Ukranian people knew something was wrong in the country side.
"...But there were villages and hamlets where not a single person remained alive. For instance, in the large village of Chemychyna, in Neforoshchanske County, which
stretched for two and a half miles, though I do not recall it's population, and
the hamlet Rybky, of the Sukho-Mayachka village administration, where 60% of the population died..."
Polikarp Kybkalo - Genocide Survivor testimony presented before the United States Ukraine Famine Commission in Washington, DC on October 8, 1986.
Even though it was the rural community that was the most targeted, the affects of the Holodomor were felt in the cities and towns as well. The Holodomor was a very secretive opperation, but the Ukranian people knew something was wrong in the country side.
Joseph Stalin
The leader of the Soviet Union at this time was Joseph Stalin.
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was born on December 18, 1878. He slowly worked his way up the social ladder, until, at the death of the previous leader, Bolshevik, he became the leader of the Soviet Union. Stalin was primarily responsible for ordering the Ukrainian people to be forced onto collective farms, and he was also reponsible for the Holodomor.
Joseph Stalin had big plans for the industrialization of the Soviet Union. He resented the fact that the Ukrainian people were not willing to immediately conform with his ideas and rules.
Stalin held little value for human life, but saw people just as pawns for him to use.
During World War II, many Soviet Union members died. In fact, the Soviet Union suffered the most casualties [close to 20 million] during World War II. This is a substantial number, but the Soviet Union lost more people due to Stalin's political purges, famine, and banishment, than they did during the war. Because of Stalin, almost 30-35 million of his own people were lost.
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was born on December 18, 1878. He slowly worked his way up the social ladder, until, at the death of the previous leader, Bolshevik, he became the leader of the Soviet Union. Stalin was primarily responsible for ordering the Ukrainian people to be forced onto collective farms, and he was also reponsible for the Holodomor.
Joseph Stalin had big plans for the industrialization of the Soviet Union. He resented the fact that the Ukrainian people were not willing to immediately conform with his ideas and rules.
Stalin held little value for human life, but saw people just as pawns for him to use.
During World War II, many Soviet Union members died. In fact, the Soviet Union suffered the most casualties [close to 20 million] during World War II. This is a substantial number, but the Soviet Union lost more people due to Stalin's political purges, famine, and banishment, than they did during the war. Because of Stalin, almost 30-35 million of his own people were lost.
Viacheslav Molotov
Viacheslav Molotov was head of the Council for People's Commissars of the USSR, during the time of the Holodomor. Molotov worked closely with Stalin to enforce the Holodomor on the Ukrainian people. He played a huge role in making sure that the Ukrainian people suffered. Viacheslav Molotov personally monitored the confiscation of grain from the Ukrainian people during the Holodomor.
Vsevolod Balytsky
Vsevolod Balytsky was the head of the GPU [the Soviet Unions secret police] at the time of the Holodomor. He sentenced many Ukrainian peasants to death, because he falsified [made up] charges against them. He also helped Stalin and the Soviet government exterminate many Ukrainian people during the Holodomor. Balytsky ensured the the Ukranian people truly were being starved to death.
THe Communist Youth LEague
Stalin utilized help from the Communist Youth League, a group of young men, that helped Stalin enforce his rules and regulations.
"Many of the weak ones sat or lay down by buildings or
fences, most never to get up again. Trucks driven by policemen or Communist Youth League members, mobilized for that purpose, went around
picking up bodies or carrying those still alive somewhere outside the city
limits."
Varvara Dibert - Genocide Survivor - from Congressional testimony presented before the United States Ukraine Famine Commission in Washington, DC, October 8, 1986.
Corpse collecting crew, spring of 1933, Ukraine.
"Many of the weak ones sat or lay down by buildings or
fences, most never to get up again. Trucks driven by policemen or Communist Youth League members, mobilized for that purpose, went around
picking up bodies or carrying those still alive somewhere outside the city
limits."
Varvara Dibert - Genocide Survivor - from Congressional testimony presented before the United States Ukraine Famine Commission in Washington, DC, October 8, 1986.
Corpse collecting crew, spring of 1933, Ukraine.
Troups and Secret Police
Stalin utilized the regular troops of the Soviet Union, as well as the Soviets secret police to monitor the collection of grain, ensure that the collective farms were running, and to enforce the Holodomor.
"It was forbidden for people to leave their villages. GPU* guards blocked all roads and railways. Any food that farmers happened to be carrying was taken away from them. For picking a stray head of wheat or a frozen potato or beet left behind in the field, a person was sentenced to ten years in prison or concentration camp, according to the ruling passed by the government August 7, 1932."
Polikarp Kybkalo - Genocide Survivor
This is an image of the collective farms that Stalin enforced on the people. Stalin believed that collective farms would increase productivity, and help with the industrialization of the Soviet Union.
"It was forbidden for people to leave their villages. GPU* guards blocked all roads and railways. Any food that farmers happened to be carrying was taken away from them. For picking a stray head of wheat or a frozen potato or beet left behind in the field, a person was sentenced to ten years in prison or concentration camp, according to the ruling passed by the government August 7, 1932."
Polikarp Kybkalo - Genocide Survivor
This is an image of the collective farms that Stalin enforced on the people. Stalin believed that collective farms would increase productivity, and help with the industrialization of the Soviet Union.
* Government's Secret Police
Opposition
Any opposition to the dictator in the Soviet Union, was seen as conspiring against the State.
Any who opposed Stalin were killed, deported, or simply left alone to starve to death. There was really no resistance group, or movement. People were weak from starvation, and the farmers and peasants were focused on just surviving. Any travel was restricted through a passport system, and so leaving your village at the time was almost impossible.
Any who opposed Stalin were killed, deported, or simply left alone to starve to death. There was really no resistance group, or movement. People were weak from starvation, and the farmers and peasants were focused on just surviving. Any travel was restricted through a passport system, and so leaving your village at the time was almost impossible.