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'''Holodomor''' (the '''Ukranian Holocaust''') was a ] that occurred in ], the northern ], and the lower ] between ] and ]. Previously this was the most productive agricultural area of the ]. It was deliberately provoked by the government to break down resistance to forced ], and it also served to crush Ukrainian nationalism. Thus the famine was accompanied by a devastating ] of the Ukrainian intelligentsia and the Ukrainian ] party itself. The famine broke the peasants' will to resist collectivization and left Ukraine politically, socially, and psychologically traumatized. '''Holodomor''' (the '''Ukrainian famine''', called by some the '''Ukrainian holocaust''') was a ] in the ], the northern ], and the lower ] between ] and ]. These are considered to be among the most productive agricultural areas of the ].


Opponents of agricultural ], typically ], attempted to sabotage the movement. Some actively destroyed collective property, such as equipment and farm animals, and attacked those who joined collectives. Many simply held Ukrainian land, some of the most fertile in the USSR, without working it. A major ] of the Ukrainian intelligentsia and the Ukrainian ] Party itself resulted.
The policy of all-out collectivization was instituted by ] in ] to finance industrialization, and it had a disastrous effect on agricultural productivity. Nevertheless, in ] Stalin raised Ukraine's grain procurement quotas by 44%. This meant that there would not be enough grain to feed the peasants, since Soviet law required that no grain from a collective farm could be given to the members of the farm until the government's quota was met. Stalin's decision and the methods used to implement it condemned millions of peasants to death by starvation. Party officials, with the aid of regular troops and secret police units, waged a war of attrition against peasants who refused to give up their grain. Even indispensible seed grain was forcibly confiscated from peasant households. Any man, woman, or child caught taking even a handful of grain from a collective farm could be, and often was, executed or deported. Those who did not appear to be starving were often suspected of hoarding grain. Peasants were prevented from leaving their villages by the ] and a system of internal passports.


The policy of all-out collectivization was instituted by ] in ] to finance industrialization and advance socialism, and it had a detrimental effect on agricultural productivity. Nevertheless, in ] the Soviet Union raised the Ukraine's grain procurement quotas by 44%. Combined with the destruction wrought by forces of resistance, this meant that there would not be enough grain to feed the peasants, since Soviet law required that no grain from a collective farm be given to the members of the farm until the government's quota was met.
The death toll from the 1932-33 famine in Ukraine has been estimated between six and ten million. According to a Soviet author, "Before they died, people often lost their senses and ceased to be human beings." Yet one of Stalin's lieutenants in Ukraine stated in 1933 that the famine was a great success. It showed the peasants "who is the master here. It cost millions of lives, but the collective farm system is here to stay."


The conflict led to death by starvation among the peasantry. Soviet policy and the methods used to implement it were also contributing factors, as was a drought in the region. Party officials, with the aid of regular troops and secret police units, waged a war of attrition against peasants who refused to give up their grain. Even indispensable seed grain was forcibly confiscated from peasant households. A man, woman, or child caught taking even a handful of grain from a collective farm could be, and often was, executed or deported. Those who did not appear to be starving were often suspected of hoarding grain. The ] and a system of internal passports restricted the peasants' ability to travel outside their villages.

The death toll from the 1932–33 famine in the Ukraine is hotly contested. Estimates vary by more than an order of magnitude. While numbers in the millions are often quoted, much of the evidence for them is disputed, and some of it seems to have been fabricated in the West for political reasons.
=== External links === === External links ===


* *
* Numerous articles that dispute the famine

]

Revision as of 21:36, 2 October 2004

Holodomor (the Ukrainian famine, called by some the Ukrainian holocaust) was a famine in the Ukraine, the northern Caucasus, and the lower Volga River between 1932 and 1933. These are considered to be among the most productive agricultural areas of the Soviet Union.

Opponents of agricultural collectivization, typically kulaks, attempted to sabotage the movement. Some actively destroyed collective property, such as equipment and farm animals, and attacked those who joined collectives. Many simply held Ukrainian land, some of the most fertile in the USSR, without working it. A major purge of the Ukrainian intelligentsia and the Ukrainian Communist Party itself resulted.

The policy of all-out collectivization was instituted by Joseph Stalin in 1929 to finance industrialization and advance socialism, and it had a detrimental effect on agricultural productivity. Nevertheless, in 1932 the Soviet Union raised the Ukraine's grain procurement quotas by 44%. Combined with the destruction wrought by forces of resistance, this meant that there would not be enough grain to feed the peasants, since Soviet law required that no grain from a collective farm be given to the members of the farm until the government's quota was met.

The conflict led to death by starvation among the peasantry. Soviet policy and the methods used to implement it were also contributing factors, as was a drought in the region. Party officials, with the aid of regular troops and secret police units, waged a war of attrition against peasants who refused to give up their grain. Even indispensable seed grain was forcibly confiscated from peasant households. A man, woman, or child caught taking even a handful of grain from a collective farm could be, and often was, executed or deported. Those who did not appear to be starving were often suspected of hoarding grain. The NKVD and a system of internal passports restricted the peasants' ability to travel outside their villages.

The death toll from the 1932–33 famine in the Ukraine is hotly contested. Estimates vary by more than an order of magnitude. While numbers in the millions are often quoted, much of the evidence for them is disputed, and some of it seems to have been fabricated in the West for political reasons.

External links

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