The (non-)Ukrainian Tragedy: Concepts of Babyn Yar Memorialisation

• In Event: From Soviet Legacy to National Memory: World War II in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

During the period of Ukraine’s independence, the government’s attitude towards the tragedy of Babyn Yar evolved from recognizing it as a crime committed on Ukrainian land to understanding it as part of the common history and memory of the Jewish, Ukrainian, and other peoples, as well as part of the global tragedy of the Holocaust, the commemoration of which is a necessary prerequisite for Ukraine’s integration into the European culture of remembrance.
However, the Holocaust and the tragedy of Babi Yar have not yet become part of Ukrainian history and historical memory. Many Ukrainians still lack awareness of the tragedy of Babyn Yar. Unlike in Western Europe, the US, and Israel, in Ukraine, the Holocaust is not viewed as the main and most terrible crime against humanity but rather as one of many genocides. This perspective stems from the fact that Ukraine experienced immense human losses during World War II and the Holodomor.
Ukraine’s politics of memory is often conducted in the interests of the titular nation. A key debate surrounding the memorialisation of the Holocaust and Babyn Yar tragedy centers on whether Babyn Yar should be memorialized primarily as one of the largest Holocaust sites (according to the Holocaust memory model) or as a Ukrainian site of memory (National memory model). An important aspect of this discussion involves attempts to rehabilitate Ukrainian nationalists who were executed by the Nazis but had previously collaborated with the German occupiers. Ukrainian nationalists have criticized all projects for the memorialisation of Babyn Yar and argue for prioritising the commemoration of OUN members. The Ukrainian government supports Holocaust commemoration but does not allocate funds for the construction of memorials. Instead, memory sites are primarily developed through the efforts of Jewish public organisations.

Author

• Yurii Latysh, State U of Londrina (Brazil)