The Jews in the Eastern War ZoneAmerican Jewish Committee
History
The Jews in the Eastern War Zone
American Jewish Committee
World War, 1914-1918 -- Jews
During the ten months of the Russian occupation of Galicia the Jews of
that section suffered even more severely than did the Jews who dwelt
in the Russian Pale. For here the Jews were the subjects of the enemy
and no pretext was needed for their maltreatment. The Ruthenians and
Poles who occupied the land were friendly to Russia, which promised
them independence and power. But Russia could expect nothing from the
Jews of Galicia, for they were already in the possession of rights and
liberties not enjoyed by the Jews of Russia, and the weight of the
Russian invasion fell upon them mercilessly. Here thousands of Russian
Jewish soldiers were forced to give up their lives in an attempt to
impose upon the free Jews of Galicia the servitude from which they
themselves so ardently longed to escape in Russia. They were forced
to witness the desecration by their Russian companions-in-arms of
synagogues, the outrage of Jewish women and the massacre of innocent
and helpless civilians of their own faith.
ROUMANIA
Though Roumania is not yet a belligerent, some of the Jews of that
country have been vitally affected by the war. In July of 1915, the
Ministry of the Interior issued a general order expelling the Jews of
the towns near the Austro-Hungarian frontier into the interior. Though
this order was later alleged to have been designed to prevent the
operations of Jewish grain speculators from Bukowina, many Jews who had
resided in the border towns for generations were summarily expelled.
This action of the Government was bitterly criticized by the liberal
press and in a memorial addressed to the King by the League of
Native-born Jews, and the order was finally revoked.
Whether the present Balkan situation may or may not result in the
entrance of Roumania among the belligerent nations there is no doubt
that upon the termination of hostilities the question of Roumania’s
treatment of the Jews should be reopened.
PALESTINE
At the outbreak of the war Palestine contained, according to reliable
estimates, about 100,000 Jews, some of whom were economically
independent agriculturists, but the great majority of whom were aged
pilgrims dependent upon their relatives and the good-will offerings of
their pious co-religionists in Europe. The war cut them off completely
both from the markets of Europe and from their relatives and friends;
nearly the entire Jewish population was thus left destitute. Their
position was further aggravated by the severity with which Turkey, upon
her entrance into the war as an ally of the Central Powers, treated
the nationals of hostile countries. About 8,000 Jews who declined to
become Turkish subjects were either expelled or departed voluntarily.
JEWS IN OTHER BELLIGERENT COUNTRIES
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