Life in Post-War Ukraine

Before immigrating to the United States in 1996, I had lived my entire life in the Ukraine. I was born in 1960, only a decade and half since the Nazi occupation during World War II. As a Jew, growing up in the Ukraine was a difficult experience. Unlike most of the other countries under Nazi rule from 1939 until their liberation by the Allies in 1944 and 1945, large portions of the Ukrainian population actually welcomed the Nazis, particularly in connection with the persecution of the Jews. Entire towns of thousand of Jews whose families and heritage dated back many generations were rounded up and slaughtered, often being lined up over trenches they were forced to dig before being shot and disposed of. In many instances, the Ukrainian non-Jews were instrumental in identifying the Ukrainian Jews for the Nazis, even providing direct assistance as special units...
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