The commemoration of World War II and the Babyn Yar massacre was politicized in the Soviet Union from the beginning. During World War II, Soviet propaganda used the Babyn Yar massacre to demonstrate Nazi crimes against civilians to horrify the world and get more support for the Soviet Union from the Western allies. The attitude toward the Babyn Yar massacre changed drastically in the Soviet Union and the West in the postwar years. While the Soviet authorities tried to erase the memory of Babyn Yar as a Holocaust site, Western countries, Jews, and liberal intelligentsia acknowledged Babyn Yar as the symbol of the Holocaust in the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine recognized the Holocaust as a part of its national history. But commemorating the Babyn Yar massacre often provokes heated debates in Ukrainian society.
Sponsorship
This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish Studies at Harvard University.
Accessibility
The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact us at 617-495-4037 or daviscenter@fas.harvard.edu in advance of your participation or visit. Requests for Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance if possible. Please note that the Davis Center will make every effort to secure services but that services are subject to availability.
