Final Report of the International Commission on the - Minority Rights ...

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above-mentioned persons. “All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se enormous expenditures,” he concluded, “were being covered by <strong>the</strong> fees levied on exemptions from forced labor and on authorizations for pr<strong>of</strong>essional practice . Money were delivered by Radu Lecca on <strong>the</strong> basic <strong>of</strong> his approuvals signed by him” . Actions against Deportations in 1942 Ample documentary material records Dr. Filderman’s activities after <strong>the</strong> Federation was closed. Although marginalized, Filderman remained at <strong>the</strong> forefront <strong>of</strong> rescue efforts. He acted on <strong>the</strong> belief that he had an obligation “as a Jew and as a Romanian citizen who knows <strong>the</strong> Jews’ problems better than anyone else, to get <strong>the</strong> attention <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> leading organizations on <strong>the</strong> serious [possibility] that some antisemitic measures might have deleterious consequences both for <strong>the</strong> Jews and for Romania’s situation.” Thus, he was <strong>the</strong> Jewish leader who led <strong>the</strong> fight against <strong>the</strong> resumption <strong>of</strong> deportations to Transnistria in 1942. Filderman suggested that deportations should be used only as an extreme measure decided by courts for well-defined <strong>of</strong>fenses. He also urged <strong>the</strong> government to respect <strong>the</strong> principle <strong>of</strong> individual responsibility and to make sure that <strong>the</strong> families <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> condemned would not be punished unless <strong>the</strong>y were caught hiding <strong>the</strong> criminal . Simultaneously, Filderman took steps against <strong>the</strong> Nazirequested deportations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews from sou<strong>the</strong>rn Transylvania and Banat to <strong>the</strong> Nazi extermination camps, which <strong>the</strong> Antonescu regime had accepted during this first phase. In his memoranda to <strong>the</strong> government, Filderman referred to <strong>the</strong> long-term presence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews in Transylvania. By comparing <strong>the</strong> situation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews in Romania with that in o<strong>the</strong>r countries, he recommended that Italy and Germany should be left to assume <strong>the</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> deportations. He suggested that Romania should solve <strong>the</strong> “Jewish issue” once <strong>the</strong>re was a common decision on <strong>the</strong> fate <strong>of</strong> Jews in all Axis countries and on <strong>the</strong> fate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> European countries <strong>the</strong>mselves. Filderman drafted several memoranda to be signed by Romanian Transylvanians (intellectuals, traders, factory owners, craftsmen, presidents <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chambers <strong>of</strong> Commerce) and sent to Antonescu. The essence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se memoranda was that <strong>the</strong> deportations should not take place because Transylvanian Jews were useful to local socioeconomic life. His efforts were reinforced by <strong>the</strong> activism <strong>of</strong> local Jewish leaders from Transylvania and Banat, and <strong>the</strong> pressure put on <strong>the</strong> Antonescu regime by <strong>the</strong> representatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish community contributed to <strong>the</strong> government’s decision to postpone <strong>the</strong> mass deportations <strong>of</strong> Romanian Jews. The Tax in Kind, <strong>the</strong> Ambiguous Position <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish Central, and Filderman’s Deportation In spring 1943 <strong>the</strong> government decided to impose a new exceptional tax in kind worth four billion lei on <strong>the</strong> Jews. Radu Lecca sent <strong>the</strong> decision to <strong>the</strong> Jewish Central on May 11, 1943: “Please be aware that <strong>the</strong> government takes into account <strong>the</strong> fact that Romanian soldiers give <strong>the</strong>ir lives in combat, while <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish population continues to enjoy <strong>the</strong> freedom to do trade and live protected from war. The government <strong>the</strong>refore has decided that <strong>the</strong> Jewish population should make an effort to pay 4 billion lei as a special tax in kind… Please be aware that <strong>the</strong> government has decided that <strong>the</strong> Jews who do not want to pay <strong>the</strong> tax…shall be punished by deportation to Transnistria, and <strong>the</strong>ir property shall be nationalized….We would like to draw your attention to <strong>the</strong> responsibility that <strong>the</strong> leaders <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish community have… in order to enforce <strong>the</strong> above-mentioned decision <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> government”. Gingold summoned Filderman and o<strong>the</strong>r Jewish leaders for an advisory meeting. After reviewing <strong>the</strong> devastating effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1941-1943 Jewish legislation, Filderman indicated that <strong>the</strong> Jewish community in Romania was unable to pay <strong>the</strong> full amount. In contrast to Filderman, Gingold adopted <strong>the</strong> stance taken
y Lecca: Jews were privileged, and so it was natural that <strong>the</strong>y should pay additional taxes. Filderman rebutted this argument by showing that Jews did not ask to be spared from military obligations, that <strong>the</strong>y too served <strong>the</strong> country in labor detachments for which, unlike <strong>the</strong> Romanian soldiers, <strong>the</strong>y received no healthcare, pensions, clo<strong>the</strong>s, or work equipment from <strong>the</strong> Romanian government. Gingold asked Filderman to submit his position in writing. Filderman’s text was addressed to Gingold. Gingold <strong>the</strong>n gave it to <strong>the</strong> Conducator, who found it impertinant. As a punishment, Filderman was deported to Transnistria at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> May 1943 and set free after three months following <strong>the</strong> personal protests <strong>of</strong> key Romanian political figures, such as King Michael, Queen Mo<strong>the</strong>r Elena, and NPP leader Iuliu Maniu. Gingold’s Resignation and <strong>the</strong> Intensification <strong>of</strong> Jewish Efforts Upon his return from Transnistria, Filderman continued to be in <strong>the</strong> forefront <strong>of</strong> actions in defense <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews. A chronology <strong>of</strong> meetings he had with different ministers and o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong>ficials in spring and summer 1944 shows some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> critical problems facing <strong>the</strong> Jewish community in this final stage <strong>of</strong> confrontation with <strong>the</strong> antisemitic policy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Antonescu regime. On March 7, Filderman pleaded with <strong>the</strong> National Center for Romanianization against <strong>the</strong> decision to evacuate <strong>the</strong> Jews belonging to “exempted categories” from <strong>the</strong> Romanianized houses. Filderman discussed <strong>the</strong> need to take measures for <strong>the</strong> safety <strong>of</strong> Jews in areas where <strong>the</strong> German forces were retreating with <strong>the</strong> Minister <strong>of</strong> Interior on March 18. On March 20, he requested that Jews be allowed to leave cities with a high concentration <strong>of</strong> German troops. Later, on April 25, Filderman filed a memorandum with <strong>the</strong> Ministry <strong>of</strong> Interior asking for clarification about <strong>the</strong> rumor <strong>of</strong> government plans to make <strong>the</strong> wearing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> yellow star compulsory and <strong>the</strong> ghettoization <strong>of</strong> Jews from <strong>the</strong> Moldavian cities <strong>of</strong> Iasi, Vaslui, Barlad, Husi, Tecuci, Galati, Focsani, Bacau, Piatra Neamt, and Roman. Then, on May 12, he protested against <strong>the</strong> government decision to form labor battalions in nor<strong>the</strong>rn Moldavia and to charge Jewish communities with providing equipment, food, transportation and accommodation for <strong>the</strong>se detachments. Filderman argued that <strong>the</strong>se government measures were illegal since <strong>the</strong>y ignored statutory limits on <strong>the</strong> ages <strong>of</strong> those drafted in <strong>the</strong> battalions (<strong>the</strong> second measure ordered all Jews between <strong>the</strong> ages fifteen and fifty-five to participate in labor battalions) as well as <strong>the</strong> fact that it did not exclude those with exemption cards. On May 19, Filderman issued <strong>the</strong> Presidency <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Ministers a petition regarding <strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong> Jews to use <strong>the</strong> bomb shelters during air raids. He wrote: “After <strong>the</strong> Jews were forbidden <strong>the</strong> holy right to life, after being denied resettlement both in villages and towns, now <strong>the</strong>y are being denied <strong>the</strong> right to protect <strong>the</strong>mselves by using bomb shelters.” He sent a note to <strong>the</strong> Ministry <strong>of</strong> Interior on August 23, informing <strong>the</strong> minister that on night <strong>of</strong> August 19, on Stefan Mihaileanu Street at <strong>the</strong> corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Secret Service Headquarters, somebody wrote on <strong>the</strong> walls: “The Voice <strong>of</strong> London = The Voice <strong>of</strong> Judah.” The same message was found written on a building on Carol Boulevard. He argued that both inscriptions incited <strong>the</strong> population against <strong>the</strong> Jews. Given this intense activity and its results, it became obvious that Filderman was <strong>the</strong> true leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish community in Romania. This de facto power and <strong>the</strong> fact that he could rely on some leaders in <strong>the</strong> Jewish Central itself helped him to influence <strong>the</strong> decisions taken by <strong>the</strong> Jewish Central. Filderman advocated continuous resistance, ra<strong>the</strong>r than open rebellion. His numerous memoranda were a form <strong>of</strong> protest and resistance that affirmed <strong>the</strong> dignity <strong>of</strong> Romanian Jewry and strongly contributed to survival in times <strong>of</strong> extreme oppression. Israeli Historian Bela Vago evaluated <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish Central in this way: …<strong>the</strong> Center was imposed on <strong>the</strong> Jews; its leaders accepted <strong>the</strong>ir roles without a mandate from <strong>the</strong> Jews, and were seen as representatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> anti-Semitic regime and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nazis, and not <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews.
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Final Repo
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Germany’s war against the
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which includes reputed experts led
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BACKGROUND AND PRECURSORS TO THE HO
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against which antisemites in <stron
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declaring in the p
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them. Thus, he con
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We must organize ourselves for a wa
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ureaucracy of wart
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this direction by Nicolae C. Paules
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promising leader of</strong
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organized a tariff and tax strike.
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Legion of
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less so in Romanian society as a wh
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This ambiguous, self-contradictory
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The Gigurtu government began to con
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The Case of Român
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Cuza’s argument that it is possib
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Românesc,” Sociologie Româneasc
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ole in the early 1
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European states, notably Romania an
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Germany's immediate interests at <s
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eligious communities, the</
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counterpart, “when [he] first met
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de Istorie şi Arheologie, “A. D.
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Romania. Muler to Luthe</st
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demands on territorial revisions an
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military mission to come to Romania
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High Command, informing the
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The Jews and the R
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Romanian army. Thus, in Ciudei in <
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antisemitism in Romanian society an
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Ibid., fond Micro-films, roll I.II,
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manifestations of
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power, as this power colonized West
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attraction, many Jews resettled in
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to defend itself; hence its support
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about the Holocaus
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Nichifor Crainic, “Dupa douazeci
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Isaia Tolan, “Revizuirea incetate
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X. Y. Z., “Rezolvarea problemei e
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andom searches and arrests, robberi
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Bucharest Prefectura. Almost two th
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epression was not ordered by Antone
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from villages and small towns. On J
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accident; it was contrived by <stro
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The second train to leave Iasi for
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care of th
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"premilitary," were also placed at
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according to the o
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Tighina Agreement On August 30, Tra
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elieved Transnistria would be occup
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the 331,000 Ukrain
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those inside to take the</s
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[longer] move.” After several wee
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eappear a few seconds later and sig
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operation and that “some
Page 115 and 116: Bukovina and Bessarabia. Einsatzkom
Page 117 and 118: other things, <str
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Page 121 and 122: them in exchange f
Page 123 and 124: transport of 2,000
Page 125 and 126: Bulgarian, Turkish, Italian, or Swi
Page 127 and 128: were at least 122,000 Jews. Bukovin
Page 129 and 130: Wilhelm Hoettl, The Secret Front: T
Page 131 and 132: Ancel, Documents, vol. 2: no. 136,
Page 133 and 134: Carp, Cartea neagra, vol. 3: pp. 30
Page 135 and 136: Gosudartsveni Archiv Odeskoi Oblast
Page 137 and 138: Cable from the Mil
Page 139 and 140: 1-1087, p. 114; list of</st
Page 141 and 142: Ibid. “Rezolvarea problemei evrei
Page 143 and 144: child’s birth, would be considere
Page 145 and 146: Indeed, the system
Page 147 and 148: Romanianization instead of<
Page 149 and 150: The Cultural Ghettoization
Page 151 and 152: The Status of Jewi
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Page 155 and 156: Conclusions The anti-Jewish legisla
Page 157 and 158: L.A., no. 99, p. 344. Trei ani de g
Page 159 and 160: moral, social, and intellectual nee
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Page 163 and 164: except being defined as a Jew. I be
Page 165: egulate and authorize, under <stron
Page 169 and 170: through the activi
Page 171 and 172: oth as a cry of re
Page 173 and 174: After coming to power, the<
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Page 177 and 178: their non-evacuate
Page 179 and 180: villages of <stron
Page 181 and 182: Return of Roma Sur
Page 183 and 184: (in many cases, the</strong
Page 185 and 186: in Romania. History and Contemporar
Page 187 and 188: THE ROLE OF ION ANTONESCU IN THE PL
Page 189 and 190: December 16, 1941, meeting
Page 191 and 192: me from carrying out the</s
Page 193 and 194: did not do it because…the
Page 195 and 196: more ironically, this leader’s wa
Page 197 and 198: THE HOLOCAUST IN NORTHERN TRANSYLVA
Page 199 and 200: Others 22 968 Magy
Page 201 and 202: ultimatum but also consented to <st
Page 203 and 204: military, political, and psychologi
Page 205 and 206: command over the g
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Page 209 and 210: authorities set up two ghettos in <
Page 211 and 212: Secuilor counties was carried out i
Page 213 and 214: the procedure foll
Page 215 and 216: deportation trains per day. While E
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Deportation Trains from Nor
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Câtcău Kackó Ciuc Csík Ciucea C
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Rona de Sus Felsöróna Rozavica Ro
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Bözödújfalu Bezidu Nou Budfalva
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Nagysajó Şieu (Bistrita-Nasaud Co
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(Indictment of Naz
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Randolph L. Braham, comp. and ed. (
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perceived by a significant part <st
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Romanian government not to adopt <s
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still alive in the
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the Jews who worke
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We have been informed that various
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church bells announce the</
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Mitropolit pleaded with Mihai Anton
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Pozdnyakova, Yefrosiniya Starostina
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Ibid., pp. 224-225. Ibid., pp. 46-4
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the examined cases
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escape with negligible punishment;
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immense scale, enslaved millions <s
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means. The “ethnic Christian stat
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it is evident that the</str
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face să pară evident că victimel
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viaţă, 100 milioane lei amendă
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Articolul 15 al Convenţiei de armi
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members accepted as authoritative s
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camp in January 1945, for several m
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Beginning in the 1
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such access was strictly supervised
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enefit from translation into Englis
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furthermore, he ha
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lucrative Jewish business ever,”
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deaths of thousand
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Treptow who was residing in Romania
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Finally, it must b
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A.) Integral Negationism Although <
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other genocides re
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mankind, such as wars; the<
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age of 44, only on
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After deploring the</strong
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Michael Shafir, “Ex Occidente Obs
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See, for example, Giurescu who make
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Randolph L. Braham, Romanian Nation
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Mediafax, March 18, 2002, Monitorul
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See Ibidem, pp. 3, 54-55. Ibidem, p
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Radu Theodoru, Mareşalul, Editura
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egained from the U
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was a record of an
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secondary school use. Those institu
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including erecting statues, mountin
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