Re: [Cz-L] Call for Survivors thanks to Popovici!

To Emil Hitzig and all who would like to know more about Traian Popovici:

I am one of those who survived world war two, thanks to the efforts of
Traian Popovici. I too still have my family's Popovici authorization. My
parents kept this authorization all through their moving, often illegally,
from the USSR to Romania, then to Bulgaria, then to Cyprus, Israel and
eventually to the US. It was their reminder that even during the most evil
times, when men behave like wild animals, there remain people, who keep
their humanity and are willing to risk their wellbeing in order to help
others.

In 1942, the Romanian government of that time rewarded Traian Popovici,
for his humane deeds, by demoting him from being mayor of Czernowitz and
by declaring the authorizations he had issued, invalid. New authorizations
to remain in Czernowitz were issued to far fewer Jewish people by General
Calotescu and those Jews who did not possess the Calotescu authorization,
even if they had the Popovici authorization, were deported to Transnistria.

According to Radu Ioanid, (author of "The Holocaust in Romania"), the
deportations from Czernowitz started on October 13, 1941. Traian Popovici
was only permitted to start handing out authorizations sometime after
November 15th 1942. Marshall Antonescu had authorized Popovici to issue
15600 authorizations, but Popovici issued a further 4000 authorizations on
his own authority. Altogether it is generally agreed by scholars who have
studied the events, that 19600 authorizations were issued by Popovici.

The deportations from Czernowitz were halted sometime in December 1941.
But they resumed in the early hours of June 7th 1942. By then we knew that a
Popovici authorization would not prevent us from being deported. The Jewish
community of Czernowitz knew in advance that the deportations would resume.
Late at night of June 6th, my parents carried me, while I slept, to the
apartment of a neighbor, who had a Calotescu permit and they themselves hid
somewhere else. I awoke on June 7, my five year old birthday, in a strange
bed in a strange apartment and still vividly remember that morning.

1781 Jews were deported from Czernowitz on June 7th 1942. There were
additional deportations on June 15th and June 29 and the number of deported
during the month of June is estimated to be 4100 - 4300. I believe that
another deportation took place in July of 1942.

There is no definite agreement on the exact number of people who were
ultimately saved by Popovici. Many who were saved from being deported in
November 1941, were later deported in the summer of 1942.

What is important to remember, is that Traian Popovici tried and succeeded
to prevent the deportation of almost 20 000 Jewish people, till June 1942.
Those who had not been deported in 1941 had a chance of hiding during the
deportations of 1942 and many were thus saved from suffering and death.

Those who were deported in the summer of 1942, had a far greater chance of
surviving Transnistria, than those who were deported in 1941.

These are the facts.

Whether Andy Halmay wants or succeeds in making a movie about Popovici,
is not for us to debate. I certainly think that his motives are honorable
and while I may not agree with him on the best story for the film, I wish
him success.

One more thing: there is no need to worry that the movie he plans on making,
will portray the Romanians as having been angels in their treatment of their
Jewish citizens. Every movie, and this one will be no exception, beside a
hero, also has to have a villain. Andy will have a large number from whom to
choose: Marshall Antonescu, General Calotescu, Czernowitz Police
Commissioner, Romulus Cojocaru and many others.

Mimi

On 1/14/11 8:59 AM, "Emil Hitzig" <emilhg_at_013.net> wrote:

> Dear movie makers,
>
> Despite of getting a such authorization, my family spend the long journey in
> Obodovca (Transnistria).
> When the drunk Romanian gendarmes pickup my family from our apartment in a
> late Friday afternoon, the authorization was helpless.
> People not holding such authorizations, usually left their houses by hiding
> far from the Jewish quarter.
> In the heritage of my family I'm holding such authorization. This was the
> authorization no: 10287 and was nothing worth, perhaps for a fake story.
> I'm in doubt of the: "TWENTY TWO THOUSAND SAINTS". This number is highly
> exaggerated.
> Obviously the entire saga of saving Jewish lives during the holocaust is more
> a legend, then reality.
> Before someone will elaborate the script for this movie, please try to find
> out the real number of Survivors thanks to Popovici authorization.
> Don't glide to political amplifications such". There were people of character
> during the Inquisition and during various revolutions.
> The Righteous Among the Nations as recorded by Yad Vashem were found in 44
> countries. There were even Muslims who saved Jewish lives".
> If you found a potential co-producer in Romania (make sense), this will serve
> the actual Romanian authorities to clear their ancestors from the ROMANIAN
> HOLOCAUST.
> From Andy Halmay's statement:
> Telefilm Canada, that there had been a problem in Romania s counterpart to
> Telefilm and that we were not to initiate any co-productions with Romania.
>
> MAY BE ,THE CANADIANS KNOW MUCH MORE.
>
> Finally this is not a grain of doubt, it is a heavy stone.
> Don't mislead people that experienced this hardship, by involving Schindler,
> Spielberg, and Dustin Hoffman.
>
> Best regards,
> Emil Hitzig
> P.S. If there are people saved thanks to Popovici authorization, please rise
> up.
>

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Received on 2011-01-14 17:09:45