The First Documented Facts Commemoration of the Holodomor Victims in Soviet Ukraine: 1933, Vinnytsia Region

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to pay attention to the beginnings of the commemoration of the Holodomor victims in Soviet Ukraine. Materials about the first documented commemorative practices of honoring the Holodomor victims in Soviet Ukraine, which were organized at the end of 1933 in the Vinnytsia region, are introduced into the scientific discussion.

The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity and critical analysis of historical sources. The research, which is based on the materials of the archival criminal case, reconstructs the process of organizing the special commemorative dinner in the villages of the Vinnytsia region, mainly in December 1933. Even though the initiative of such memorial suppers was on the local level, it is important as the first public commemorative practice of honouring the Holodomor 1932—1933 victims in Ukraine. After all, the question of when the commemoration of those starved to death in 1932—1933 began on the territories covered by the Holodomor remains opened. The initiative considered in this article was a reaction to the starvation and included not only the commemoration of the dead but also the expression of care for those who lost their breadwinners because of hunger and repressions through the organization of the memorial suppers for various groups, particularly widows, girls and children. It is established that the initiative covered at least a dozen villages in the Ulaniv and Khmilnyk districts. Hundreds of residents of these villages took part in the described events. These findings reveal a new side of the moral and psychological reaction to starvation, and in particular, demonstrate that hunger did not always undermine moral and ethical bonds. The opposite happened too. In particular, the horrific famine provoked religious feelings. The suppers were organized not only to commemorate but to take care of those who desperately needed help in the Vinnytsia regiont in December 1933. Also, the experience of combining commemoration and taking care of those who are in need seems to be very relevant nowadays. That experience can find a continuation in our time when honoring the victims of the Holodomor will include attention to those who need help today.