Birgit Schmeitzner
It’s the fourth Saturday of November, the annual #Holodomor Memorial Day. I didn't hear about this artificial famine caused by Soviet leader #Stalin in school. I knew nothing about the millions of dead in Ukraine back in 1932–33. Only when I moved to Russia, lived there for a few years and traveled around #Ukraine, did I learn about it. And I realised: many people do not know about this crime. Good that there will be a debate on a resolution at the German Bundestag on Weds. #genocide
Nov 26, 2022 at 7:40amMastodon for iOS
Show threadShouty personNov 26, 2022

@BSchmeitzner @peterherold

I remember learning about it at school. But then, I grew up in one of the largest Ukrainian diasporas in the world. My city was more than 10% Ukrainian.

Show threadBirgit SchmeitznerNov 26, 2022
@clacksee @peterherold I was downright shocked when I realised that I have a big blind spot in my historical knowledge. Ukraine did not feature in my history lessons. There was the Soviet Union and there was the Iron Curtain. Generalisation.
Show threadWunderfitzNov 26, 2022
@BSchmeitzner
We dealt with Stalin's plan for genocide in history course, but I didn't realize for a long time that this specifically concerned Ukraine. In my mind, the USSR was simply one big country. Don't blame the teacher, he was great.
I learnt in his lessons that dictators dictate and that they usually become Dictators with the help of supporters who may be equally dangerous but less charismatic. And with the help of many deluded followers.
Time to remember🇺🇦💔
#holodomor
Show threadMotria Poshyvanyk CaudillNov 26, 2022
@BSchmeitzner famine survivors all the way in the US were afraid to talk about it, for fear of getting their relatives in the USSR in trouble. My grandparents said very little until after 1991 and they knew their family was safe.
Show threadBirgit SchmeitznerNov 26, 2022
@motinka All the more important to talk about it now.