871.4016/287
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 10.]
Sir: With reference to my telegrams Nos. 931 and 93412 of November 1, 6 p.m., and November 4, 10 a.m., respectively, indicating that the Jewish question in Rumania is again passing through a critical stage—previous despatches, in particular No. 2015, of August 19, 1941, and telegrams from the Legation have related to the various atrocities visited on the Jewish population of Rumania during recent years, more especially during the violently anti-Semitic Goga régime of early 1938, the Legionary rebellion of last January and the outbreak of hostilities with Soviet Russia this summer—I have the honor to submit certain background information which should facilitate a clear understanding of developments.
During this time of sanguinary conflict, when mounting lists of Rumanian dead, wounded and missing have become a relative commonplace, when accounts of terror and ruthlessness resound throughout Europe, it may be felt that the prosecution of a program of extermination of the Jews, by shootings here and massacres there, not to mention mass deportations and general spoliation, will draw less attention from the public opinion of the world than in normal times. However that may be, it is becoming more and more evident that the Rumanians, obviously with the moral support of the Germans, are utilizing the present period for handling the Jewish problem in their own way. I have it on good authority that Marshal Antonescu has stated to, or within the hearing of the Spanish Minister (who is particularly interested in the problem because of the Spanish Jews in Rumania) that “this is wartime, and a good time to settle the Jewish problem once and for all”.
The Department is already aware that the military occupation of Bessarabia and northern Bucovina was followed by the establishment of Jews in ghettos in the larger cities, and that large numbers, particularly from Bessarabia, were gradually evacuated into the territory [Page 872] lying beyond the Dniester River. These measures were carried out under appalling conditions and accompanied by innumerable kinds of frightfulness, including robbery, starvation, killings and other brutalities. Only a relatively small number of Jews are believed now to be left in Bessarabia—estimates vary from ten to thirty thousand out of a total of just over two hundred thousand residing there prior to the Russian seizure of Bessarabia in June 1940—while in Bucovina there are, according to reliable Jews, some fifteen to twenty thousand Jews now awaiting deportation eastward to Transnistria and other parts of the Ukraine. A great many, undoubtedly tens of thousands, have already been thus evacuated.
During the past three weeks evidence has been accumulating—first in the form of vague rumors and unconfirmed reports, then through increasingly substantial sources of information and finally in an exchange of letters between Marshal Antonescu and the head of the local Jewish Community—that such as remains of the Jewish population in Bucovina and Bessarabia is being evacuated eastward into the war-devastated territory of the Ukraine under conditions so appalling that they would seem to afford a substantial share of the evacuees little chance to survive. Persistent reports have reached me daily regarding these unfortunate people—men, women and children, including the old and ill—who, given only a few hours notice with the right to take with them only a meager ten kilograms of belongings and the equivalent of two dollars in money—the stories almost invariably add that these belongings and the money are taken from them en route—have been herded eastward on foot or in carts or box-cars, to war-swept regions where buildings have been razed and food and other supplies destroyed or removed and where winter weather will soon prevail. This modern Captivity would seem deliberately calculated to serve a program of virtual extermination and, even if the persistent rumors that the evacuees in numberless cases are plundered of their belongings, that dozens and hundreds are shot en route, pushed off bridges or dead of exhaustion, are greatly exaggerated or untrue, it seems certain that many thousands will perish. Of course, as suggested in the last paragraph of my telegram first cited above, many of these reports and rumors are unconfirmed and must be classified as hearsay, or even propaganda by interested persons—for example one individual passed on to me an “authentic” story to the effect that five thousand Jews had been drowned in the Dniester—but I am bound to say that even the minimum of truth that I am sure lies in these stories is sufficient to give grave concern to the civilized world.
Dr. Fildermann, head of the Jewish Communities in Rumania, has addressed several letters to Marshal Antonescu protesting these atrocities against the Jews. Copies of his first three letters, as well as of Marshal Antonescu’s reply thereto and a fourth letter from Dr. Fildermann [Page 873] are enclosed herewith.13 It will be noted that Dr. Fildermann speaks of 1,500 Jews having been sent away from Chisinau “naked”, without food, with only the few belongings they could carry in their hands, the majority going on foot for a journey of at least eight days in the cold, rain and snow, to unknown destinations of desolation, and, in another instance, of the road between Orhai and Rezina having been strewn with the bodies of those who have fallen by the way. In his reply, which was published in all newspapers, Marshal Antonescu charges Dr. Fildermann with endeavoring to transform the accused into accusers, pointing out that the Jews of Bucovina and Bessarabia merit their fate for having turned upon and attacked the Rumanian Army both at the time of the Russian occupation and when the Rumanians launched their attack on Russia. “Even before the appearance of the Soviet troops”, writes General Antonescu, “the Jews of Bessarabia and Bucovina, whom you are defending, spat upon our officers, tore off their epaulets and, when they could, killed our soldiers and beat them”.
Dr. Fildermann, in a conversation with a Secretary of the Legation, referred to the fifteen or twenty thousand Jews now awaiting deportation, and stated that there was no doubt whatever that all of these people were faced with death in case they were sent to Transnistria. He said he had received assurances from Marshal Antonescu that the Jews in Transylvania and the Old Kingdom would not be deported, although he expressed his personal fears that the Marshal’s hand might be forced in this connection and that, as many Jews now fear, similar evacuation measures will be taken against all of the Jews of the country. (Incidentally, Dr. Fildermann estimates the number of Jews in Transylvania at present at thirty thousand and those in the Old Kingdom at two hundred forty thousand). Dr. Fildermann also mentioned that he had received full information from Rumanian friends regarding a decree which is being prepared requiring all Jews to submit an inventory of their valuable movable property, including jewels, pictures, furs and objects of art, as a basis for later confiscation. He also mentioned another point of interest, which I have heard vaguely from other sources, namely, that the northern Bucovina is being cleared of Jews in preparation for the settling of German colonists in that region, and that the settlers are actually beginning to arrive. The general subject of Zionism was also touched upon, Dr. Fildermann expressing the opinion that the only possible way of saving the lives of the thousands of people who are now immediately threatened in Bucovina was to find some shelter or home to which they might go. While scarcely so optimistic as to betray a hope that by some magic a territory could suddenly be opened up to provide a [Page 874] refuge for the Jews immediately threatened in Rumania, he indicated that nothing less could save the lives of thousands of his fellow religionists in Rumania today.
On October 20 last, a decree law was published in the Rumanian newspapers calling upon all Jews under penalty of heavy fines and imprisonment to “contribute” to the Rumanian authorities within thirty days, for distribution to the needy, exorbitant quantities of clothing and other articles in proportion to their incomes. Thus, a Jew with an effective income of approximately twenty dollars monthly is required to provide twelve each of shirts, undershirts, drawers, handkerchiefs, towels and pairs of socks, and four each of suits, overcoats, hats, pairs of shoes, woolen blankets, pillow-cases, pillow-case covers and bed sheets, and one mattress cover. Naturally, these unconscionable demands have panicked anew the Jewish population, shocked all sober observers, and even drawn the sharp and ashamed criticism of thinking and intelligent Rumanians. A translation of this decree law forms an enclosure to this despatch.14
As you know, I have constantly and persistently held before the attention of the highest Rumanian officials the inevitable reaction of my Government and the American people to such inhumane treatment, and even outright slaughter, of innocent and defenceless people, citing at length the atrocities committed against the Jews of Rumania. My observations have elicited from Marshal Antonescu, and from Acting Premier Mihai Antonescu, voluble protestations of regrets for past excesses committed “through error” or by “irresponsible elements”, and of moderation in the future (please see my telegram No. 874, of October 3, 9 p.m.). The program of systematic extermination is continuing none the less, and I see little hope for the Rumanian Jews as long as the present German controlled régime continues in power. Its policy is admittedly to drive from the reconquered provinces of northern Bucovina and Bessarabia, and perhaps also from Transylvania and the Old Kingdom as well, every Jew, excepting, of course, those that are or may be useful to it, after taking from them practically all their worldly possessions; and this policy will undoubtedly be implemented provided the requisite time is not lacking, unless, as seems highly unlikely—please see my telegram No. 931, of November 1, 6 p.m.—a refuge somewhere abroad is found to which these unfortunate people would be able to emigrate, probably with no worldly possessions whatever.
Respectfully yours,