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 September 1941. At this site in Kyiv, Nazi German forces, assisted by local collaborators, executed approximately 33,771 Jews over two days, marking one of the largest mass murders of the Holocaust at that time (Wikipedia, HISTORY). The massacre was ordered by high-ranking Nazi officials, including Generalmajor Kurt Eberhard and SS-ObergruppenfΓΌhrer Friedrich Jeckeln, and carried out by Einsatzgruppe C, which included Ukrainian Auxiliary Police as collaborators (Wikipedia, HISTORY).
The involvement of local Ukrainian police and civilians in the execution process has been documented, with testimonies indicating that some Ukrainians participated actively in the logistics of the massacre, such as leading victims to the execution site and helping to strip them of their belongings (Wikipedia, HISTORY). However, it is crucial to note that the primary responsibility for the massacre lies with the Nazi regime and its military orders.
Analysis
The claim encompasses a complex historical context that requires careful examination. While it is true that some Ukrainians participated in the Babi Yar massacre, it is essential to differentiate between the actions of individuals and the broader narrative of collective guilt. The massacre was orchestrated by Nazi forces, and the Ukrainian Auxiliary Police acted under direct orders from the Nazis (Wikipedia, HISTORY).
Sources such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Britannica confirm that the Babi Yar site was primarily a Nazi execution ground, where the majority of the killings were conducted by German forces. The role of local collaborators, while significant, does not equate to a widespread campaign by Ukrainians against Jews, as the Nazi ideology and military strategy were the driving forces behind the genocide.
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is generally high, with historical accounts corroborated by multiple scholarly works and primary testimonies. However, some narratives may carry biases, particularly those that seek to assign collective blame to national groups rather than focusing on the actions of specific individuals or units (HISTORY, Smithsonian).
Conclusion
The claim that "Ukrainians killed Jews during WWII, such as Baba Ya'r" is Partially True. While it accurately reflects the involvement of some Ukrainians in the Babi Yar massacre, it oversimplifies a complex historical event that was primarily driven by Nazi Germany's genocidal policies. The massacre involved both local collaborators and Nazi forces, but the latter held ultimate responsibility for the systematic extermination of Jews during the Holocaust.
Sources
- Babi Yar - Wikipedia
- What Happened at the 1941 Babi Yar Massacre? | HISTORY
- Fact Check: Ukranians killed Jews during WWII, such as Baba Ya'r
- Mass Shootings at Babyn Yar
- What Happened at Babi Yar, the Ukrainian Holocaust Site Reportedly ...
- Babi Yar | History, Location, Shostakovich, Map, & Facts | Britannica
- The Babi Yar massacre
- Babi Yar massacre on Jewish people near Kyiv - normandy1944.info