Fact Check: Ukranians killed Jews during WWII, such as Baba Ya'r

Fact Check: "Ukrainians killed Jews during WWII, such as Baba Ya'r"

What We Know

The claim that "Ukrainians killed Jews during WWII, such as Baba Ya'r" refers specifically to the Babi Yar massacre, which occurred in late September 1941. During this event, approximately 33,771 Jews were executed by Nazi forces, with the involvement of local Ukrainian police and auxiliary units. The massacre was part of a broader campaign of extermination against Jews in occupied territories, known as the Holocaust by bullets (Wikipedia, HISTORY).

The decision to execute the Jewish population of Kyiv was made by Nazi officials, including Generalmajor Kurt Eberhard and SS-Obergruppenführer Friedrich Jeckeln, who ordered the Einsatzgruppe C to carry out the killings. Local Ukrainian police assisted in the operation, rounding up Jews under the pretense of relocation to labor camps (Wikipedia, US Holocaust Memorial Museum).

The historical context reveals that many Ukrainians were subjected to Soviet oppression prior to the Nazi invasion, which led to a complex relationship with the occupying forces. Some segments of the Ukrainian population viewed the Nazis as potential liberators from Soviet rule, which contributed to their collaboration in the massacre (Babi Yar, 1941: An exceptional account of the massacre of Jews in Kyiv).

Analysis

The claim is partially true because it accurately reflects the involvement of Ukrainian police in the Babi Yar massacre, but it simplifies a complex historical narrative. While local Ukrainian auxiliary police did play a role in the execution of Jews, it is crucial to understand that the primary responsibility for the massacre lies with the Nazi regime and its systematic extermination policies.

Sources indicate that the Ukrainian police acted under the orders of Nazi officials and were part of a broader collaboration that included various local and national entities (Wikipedia, HISTORY). However, the extent of Ukrainian involvement and the motivations behind it are debated among historians. Some argue that the collaboration was driven by anti-Semitic sentiments and a desire for independence from Soviet rule, while others emphasize coercion and manipulation by the Nazis (Babi Yar, 1941: An exceptional account of the massacre of Jews in Kyiv, Fact Check: Ukrainians killed Jews during WWII, such as Baba Ya'r).

The reliability of the sources varies. Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview but may lack the depth of analysis found in specialized historical accounts. The article from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum is credible and well-researched, while the fact-checking source offers a more opinion-based perspective that may not fully capture the historical complexities involved.

Conclusion

The verdict is Partially True. The claim accurately identifies that Ukrainian police participated in the killings of Jews at Babi Yar; however, it does not fully convey the broader context of Nazi responsibility and the complexities of Ukrainian motivations during this tragic event. Understanding the Babi Yar massacre requires a nuanced view that recognizes both the local collaboration and the overarching Nazi genocidal policies.