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

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investigative methods customary in all ghettos. Among those involved in <strong>the</strong>se investigations, under <strong>the</strong> leadership <strong>of</strong> Nagy and Várhelyi, were Károly Balogh and László Berentes, associates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Phoenix Factory <strong>of</strong> Baia Mare, as well as Haracsek, Peter Czeisberger, Zoltán Osváth, and detectives József Orgoványi, Imre Vajai and István Bertalan. Overall responsibility for <strong>the</strong> administration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> county at <strong>the</strong> time rested with Barnabás Endrödi, who had been appointed prefect <strong>of</strong> Satu Mare County by <strong>the</strong> Sztójay government on April 25, 1944. The 5,917 Jews in <strong>the</strong>se two ghettos were deported in two transports on May 31 and June 5. Bistriţa. The approximately 6,000 Jews <strong>of</strong> Bistriţa and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r communities in Bistriţa-Năsăud County were concentrated at <strong>the</strong> Stamboli farm, located about two to three miles from <strong>the</strong> city. Close to 2,500 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ghetto inhabitants were from Bistriţa itself. The o<strong>the</strong>rs were brought in from <strong>the</strong> communities in <strong>the</strong> districts <strong>of</strong> Lower Bistriţa and Upper Bistriţa, Năsăud, and Rodna. The ghettoization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city’s Jews was carried out under <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mayor Norbert Kuales and police chief Miklós Debreczeni. In <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r communities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> county <strong>the</strong> roundup was guided by László Smolenszki, <strong>the</strong> deputy prefect, and Lt. Col. Ernö Pasztai <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gendarmerie. All four had attended <strong>the</strong> April 28 conference with Endre in Târgu Mureş. The ghetto, consisting <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> barracks and pigsties, was inadequate from every point <strong>of</strong> view. The very poor water and food supply was in large part due to <strong>the</strong> vicious behavior <strong>of</strong> Heinrich Smolka, who was in charge. Among those who cooperated with Smolka in <strong>the</strong> persecution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews was Gusztáv Órendi, a Gestapo agent in Bistrita. The local police authorities were assisted in guarding <strong>the</strong> ghetto by 25 gendarmes from Dumitra, who had been ordered to Bistrita by Col. Paksy-Kiss. After May 10, 1944 <strong>the</strong> prefect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> county was Kálmán Borbély. The deportation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 5,981 Jews in Bistrita took place on June 2 and 6, 1944. Oradea. The largest ghetto in Hungary—except for <strong>the</strong> one in Budapest—was that <strong>of</strong> Oradea. Actually, Oradea had two ghettos: one for <strong>the</strong> city’s Jews, holding approximately 27,000 people and located in <strong>the</strong> neighborhood <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large Orthodox synagogue and <strong>the</strong> adjacent Great Market; <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, for <strong>the</strong> close to 8,000 Jews brought in from <strong>the</strong> many rural communities from <strong>the</strong> following twelve districts: Aleşd, Beretttyóújfalu (now Hungary), Biharkeresztes (now Hungary), Cefa, Derecske (now Hungary), Marghita, Oradea, Săcueni, Sălard, Salonta Mare, Sárrét (now Hungary), and Valea lui Mihai. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews from <strong>the</strong>se communities were concentrated in and around <strong>the</strong> Mezey Lumber Yards. The ghetto <strong>of</strong> Oradea was extremely overcrowded. The Jews <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city, who constituted about 30 percent <strong>of</strong> its population, were crammed into an area sufficient for only one-fifteenth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city’s inhabitants. The density was such that 14 to 15 Jews had to share a room. Like every o<strong>the</strong>r ghetto, <strong>the</strong> ghetto <strong>of</strong> Oradea suffered from a severe shortage <strong>of</strong> food; <strong>the</strong>y also were <strong>the</strong> victims <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> punitive measures <strong>of</strong> an especially vicious local administration. The anti-Semitic city government <strong>of</strong>ten cut <strong>of</strong>f electric service and <strong>the</strong> flow <strong>of</strong> water to <strong>the</strong> ghetto. Moreover, under <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> Lt. Col. Jenõ Péterffy, <strong>the</strong> gendarmes were especially sadistic in operating <strong>the</strong> local “mint,” which was set up at <strong>the</strong> Dréher Breweries immediately adjacent to <strong>the</strong> ghetto. Internally, <strong>the</strong> ghettos were administered by a Jewish Council headed by Sándor Leitner, <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Orthodox Jewish community. The deportation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews began with <strong>the</strong> “evacuation” <strong>of</strong> those concentrated in <strong>the</strong> Mezey Lumber Yard on May 23. This was followed on May 28 with <strong>the</strong> first transport from <strong>the</strong> city itself. The last transport left Oradea on June 27. Ţara Secuilor. In Gendamerie District X, <strong>the</strong> so-called Ţara Secuilor (Szekler Land), which encompassed Mureş-Turda, Ciuc, Odorheiu, and Trei Scaune counties, <strong>the</strong> Jews were placed in three major ghettos: Târgu Mureş, Reghin, and Sfântu Gheorghe. The concentration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>of</strong> Ţara
Secuilor counties was carried out in accordance with <strong>the</strong> decision <strong>of</strong> a conference held in Târgu Mureş on April 28, 1944. It was chaired by Endre and attended by all prefects, deputy prefects, mayors <strong>of</strong> cities, heads <strong>of</strong> districts, and top police and gendarmerie <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area. As decided at this conference, <strong>the</strong> ghetto <strong>of</strong> Târgu Mureş held not only <strong>the</strong> local Jews but also those from <strong>the</strong> communities in Odorheiu County and <strong>the</strong> western part <strong>of</strong> Mureş-Turda County. The ghetto <strong>of</strong> Reghin held <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> communities in <strong>the</strong> eastern part <strong>of</strong> Mures-Turda County and <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> Ciuc County. The ghetto <strong>of</strong> Sfântu Gheorghe was established for <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>of</strong> Trei Scaune County and <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> Ciuc County. As was <strong>the</strong> case everywhere else, <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> various communities were first concentrated in <strong>the</strong> local synagogues or community buildings before being transferred to <strong>the</strong> assigned ghettos. Târgu Mureş. The ghetto <strong>of</strong> Târgu Mureş was located in a dilapidated brickyard at Koronkai Road that had an area <strong>of</strong> approximately 20,000 square meters. It had one large building with a broken ro<strong>of</strong> and cement floors; since it had not been in use for several years, it was also extremely dirty. The ghetto population was 7,380 Jews, <strong>of</strong> whom approximately 5,500 were from <strong>the</strong> city itself and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs from <strong>the</strong> communities in <strong>the</strong> several county districts, including Band, Miercurea Nirajului, Sângeorgiu de Pădure, and Teaca. Among <strong>the</strong>se were <strong>the</strong> 276 Jews <strong>of</strong> Sfântu Gheorghe and <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>of</strong> Bezidu Nou, descendants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Szekler who had converted to Judaism in <strong>the</strong> early days <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Transylvanian Principality. It was alleged that <strong>the</strong>se Jews were given a chance to escape ghettoization by declaring that that <strong>the</strong>y were Magyar Christians but, according to some sources, refused to do so. Approximately 2,400 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 7,380 Jews in <strong>the</strong> brickyard, <strong>the</strong> largest ghetto in <strong>the</strong> area, found accommodation in <strong>the</strong> brick-drying barns; <strong>the</strong> rest had to make do in <strong>the</strong> open. The commander <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ghetto was police chief Géza Bedö; his deputy was Dezsö Liptai. The Jewish Council, which did its best to alleviate <strong>the</strong> plight <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews, included Samu Ábrahám, Mayer Csengeri, Mór Darvas, Ernö Goldstein, József Helmer, Dezsö Léderer, Jenö Schwimmer, Ernö Singer, and Manón Sz<strong>of</strong>er. Conditions in this ghetto were as miserable as <strong>the</strong>y were elsewhere; <strong>the</strong> water supply was particularly bad. Dr. Ádám Horváth, <strong>the</strong> city health <strong>of</strong>ficer, and his deputy, Dr. Mátyás Talos, were mainly responsible for <strong>the</strong> failure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> health and sanitary services in <strong>the</strong> ghetto. The Târgu Mureş Jews were concentrated under <strong>the</strong> overall guidance <strong>of</strong> mayor Ferenc Májay, who had attended <strong>the</strong> conference called by Endre. In fact, Májay proceeded with <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> Endre’s directives just one day after <strong>the</strong> conference, when he ordered that <strong>the</strong> main synagogue be turned into a makeshift hospital. The police and gendarmerie units directly involved in <strong>the</strong> ghettoization process were under <strong>the</strong> direct command <strong>of</strong> Col. János Papp, <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gendarmerie Directorate in <strong>the</strong> four counties <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ţara Secuilor; Col. János Zalantai, <strong>the</strong> commander <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Legion <strong>of</strong> Gendarmes <strong>of</strong> Mureş- Turda County; and Géza Bedö. Leadership roles were also played by Col. Géza Körmendi, <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Honvéd units in <strong>the</strong> city and <strong>the</strong> county, and Gen. István Kozma, <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> so-called Szekler Border Guard (Székely Határör) paramilitary organization. The involvement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se Honvéd (Hungarian armed forces) <strong>of</strong>ficials was exceptional, inasmuch as regular military units were not normally involved in <strong>the</strong> ghettoization process. Kozma claimed that he had gotten involved at <strong>the</strong> personal request <strong>of</strong> Endre. Major Schröder, <strong>the</strong> local representative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gestapo, provided <strong>the</strong> technical assistance required for <strong>the</strong> anti-Jewish operation. The harshness and effectiveness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local military-administrative authorities notwithstanding, Paksy-Kiss found much wanting in <strong>the</strong>ir operation and provided a special unit <strong>of</strong> gendarmes for <strong>the</strong>ir assistance. The concentration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews was carried out with <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local chapter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Levente paramilitary youth organization. Májay’s immediate collaborators in <strong>the</strong> launching and administration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> anti-Jewish measures in Târgu Mureş were Ferenc Henner, <strong>the</strong> head notary in <strong>the</strong> mayor’s <strong>of</strong>fice, and Ernö Jávor, <strong>the</strong> head notary
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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
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Bukovina and Bessarabia. Einsatzkom
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other things, <str
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Berezovka district and burn <strong
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them in exchange f
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transport of 2,000
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Bulgarian, Turkish, Italian, or Swi
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were at least 122,000 Jews. Bukovin
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Wilhelm Hoettl, The Secret Front: T
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Ancel, Documents, vol. 2: no. 136,
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Carp, Cartea neagra, vol. 3: pp. 30
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Gosudartsveni Archiv Odeskoi Oblast
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Cable from the Mil
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1-1087, p. 114; list of</st
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Ibid. “Rezolvarea problemei evrei
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child’s birth, would be considere
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Indeed, the system
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Romanianization instead of<
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The Cultural Ghettoization
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The Status of Jewi
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give up any radios able to send and
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Conclusions The anti-Jewish legisla
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L.A., no. 99, p. 344. Trei ani de g
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Page 173 and 174: After coming to power, the<
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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
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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
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Page 209: authorities set up two ghettos in <
Page 213 and 214: the procedure foll
Page 215 and 216: deportation trains per day. While E
Page 217 and 218: Deportation Trains from Nor
Page 219 and 220: Câtcău Kackó Ciuc Csík Ciucea C
Page 221 and 222: Rona de Sus Felsöróna Rozavica Ro
Page 223 and 224: Bözödújfalu Bezidu Nou Budfalva
Page 225 and 226: Nagysajó Şieu (Bistrita-Nasaud Co
Page 227 and 228: (Indictment of Naz
Page 229 and 230: Randolph L. Braham, comp. and ed. (
Page 231 and 232: perceived by a significant part <st
Page 233 and 234: Romanian government not to adopt <s
Page 235 and 236: still alive in the
Page 237 and 238: the Jews who worke
Page 239 and 240: We have been informed that various
Page 241 and 242: church bells announce the</
Page 243 and 244: Mitropolit pleaded with Mihai Anton
Page 245 and 246: Pozdnyakova, Yefrosiniya Starostina
Page 247 and 248: Ibid., pp. 224-225. Ibid., pp. 46-4
Page 249 and 250: the examined cases
Page 251 and 252: escape with negligible punishment;
Page 253 and 254: immense scale, enslaved millions <s
Page 255 and 256: means. The “ethnic Christian stat
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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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