Today marked the 70th commemoration of the Nazi massacre of 33,771 Jews in September 1941 at the Ukrainian ravine at Babi Yar.
I visited the site in 1978, at which point a monument had been erected at the site.
Yevgeny Yevtushenko’s 1961 poem, which was not officially published in the Soviet Union for over 20 years, is as powerful now as it was then:
No monument stands over Babi Yar.
A steep cliff only, like the rudest headstone.
I am afraid.
Today, I am as old
As the entire Jewish race itself.
The rest of the poem is at the link.
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Comments
The Stalinist Soviet Communists, were just as Anti-Semitic and evil, as Hitler and the Nazi’s.. As one’s ideology of political control over the people, is not any better, than the other.. when and where hatred and complete and absolute disregard for Human Beings and Human life, is concerned.
Stalin and the Communists were only supported, because of WWI allegiance against Hitler, but the world soon found out afterwards, that Stalin and the Communists, were no friend of the Jews, Freedom, Liberty, and Democracy, let alone Human Life..
Ir is not pertinent whether or not there should be a Monument, all though there should be, if possible.
The real monuments at Babi Yar, and all throughout Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and the World, are the Jewish People themselves, who live on today to carry on there Jewish race of people’s ancestry.. To bear many children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whom survived, and thrive, and become successful and happy.. and to all be told the horrific stories, as to never forget, and always remember their forbearers, who died before them, under the Tyranny of Hitler’s Evil, and all Evil every where it exists.
This is their True Monument.. Life.!!
I tried to make correction of a few typo’s, ie; WWI, instead of WWII.. etc, but this web site does not allow corrections, and or edits.. my apologies..
The Stalinist Soviet Communists, were just as Anti-Semitic and evil, as Hitler and the Nazi’s.. As one’s ideology of political control over the people, is not any better, than the other.. when and where hatred and complete and absolute disregard for Human Beings and Human life, is concerned.
Stalin and the Communists were only supported, because of WWII allegiance against Hitler, but the world soon found out afterwards, that Stalin and the Communists, were no friend of the Jews, Freedom, Liberty, and Democracy, let alone Human Life..
It is not pertinent whether or not there should be a Monument, all though there should be, if possible.
The real monuments at Babi Yar, and all throughout Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and the World, are the Jewish People themselves, who live on today to carry on there Jewish race of people’s ancestry.. To bear many children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whom survived, and thrive, and become successful and happy.. and to all be told the horrific stories, as to never forget, and always remember their forbearers, who died before them, under the Tyranny of Hitler’s Evil, and all Evil every where it exists.
This is their True Monument.. Life.!!
Some of my relatives died there.
The poem is quite moving. It brings to light the horror, felt by all who have a heart and soul.
Shalom.
I have lived in Germany and Russia. I have visited Dachau. I have visited Yekaterinburg where the Romanov family was murdered in cold blood. I have transited the Lubyanka Metro Stop in Moscow and shivered every time I heard the station name announced.
We have 5000 years of empirical evidence of man’s inhumanity toward man. I have studied history extensively. I still cannot understand how humans can do this to other humans…
WarEagle – Can’t you just keep it to BabiYar today?
Sheesh.
I’ve read extensively about WWII. Every day I try to take a minute and think about something like Babi Yar. It sure puts life in perspective. We have a duty to be happy and to do our utmost to make sure America stays strong and prosperous.
The WWII allegiance against Hitler only came about after operation Barbarossa.
During the 30s Stalin helped Hitler re-arm, which seems to have been missed by most people.