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In 1933 Hitler came to power in Germany [5] and Romanian fascists raised their heads immediately. There were two fascist parties in Romania: the Iron Guard [6] and the Cuzists [7] – Cuza was the name of their leader. At that time there was anti-Semitism. Jews had to sit on separate benches at the higher educational institutions. It was not safe to walk in the dark – Jews could be abused and beaten. Boys threw stones and broke windows of Jewish stores.
The authorities didn’t bring fascists to order. We were glad that Moldova and Bessarabia joined the USSR on 28th June 1940 [8]. Soviet tanks arrived in the village. The whole village came out to meet them. We built up hopes for the power of workers and peasants and were attracted by the slogans of the Soviet power: ‘For Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood,’ ‘Peace to all people!’ We believed that it was a fair power and that we would have a better life.
The authorities didn’t bring fascists to order. We were glad that Moldova and Bessarabia joined the USSR on 28th June 1940 [8]. Soviet tanks arrived in the village. The whole village came out to meet them. We built up hopes for the power of workers and peasants and were attracted by the slogans of the Soviet power: ‘For Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood,’ ‘Peace to all people!’ We believed that it was a fair power and that we would have a better life.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Boris Slobodianskiy