Re: [Cz-L] Popovici

Dear all,

I have participated very little in the latest discussion about the
Popovici authorizations.
I was in Israel on vacation and had little time for Email. Now that I
am back home,
I would like to reply to many of you who have expressed your opinions
on this matter.

First I would like to say that I agree with the statement of Ruth Gold:

> Traian Popovici was the only high-ranking official servant in the
> Antonescu regime
> to condemn directly and explicitly the deportation of the Jews. He
> tried to oppose
> the deportations and managed to win the approval of Antonescu to
> retain in the city
> some 15,600 Jews as “Specialists.
> Do you think he did it with the purpose of making a profit?

If making a profit from selling exemptions from deportation, would
have been so easy,
why is it that of the total Jewish population of Radauti, Suceava and
Cimpulung,
only 179 Jewish people received exemption from deportation?

It is generally agreed that Antonescu allowed him to issue 15600
permits,
but he issued and additional 4000, because of which he was demoted
from being mayor.
The intention of governor Calotescu during the summer of 1942
deportations, was to deport
4000 Jews, an equal number to the unauthorized permits issued by
Popovici.

According to M. Carp in "Cartea Neagra", one of the major sources for
any knowledge
available about the events of 1941 and 1942 in Romania, the decisions
as to who would receive
the Popovici permits was assigned to mayor Popovici and general Ionescu.
They are certainly likely to have needed the advice of other officials.
It is possible that these officials, even general Ionescu, took
bribes. It is also possible
that some Jewish people were tricked into believing that a Romanian
official could obtain
a Popovici permit for them and therefore paid bakshish without
obtaining a Popovici permit.

It is not supported by eyewitness reports or documents, that Traian
Popovici himself accepted bribes,
nor does it seem a reasonable assumption.

Mimi (Miriam Taylor)

On Mar 21, 2012, at 11:12 PM, RUTH GOLD wrote:

>
> Dear all,
>
> Traian Popovici was the only high-ranking official servant in the
> Antonescu regime to condemn directly and explicitly the deportation
> of the Jews. He tried to oppose the deportations and managed to win
> the approval of Antonescu to retain in the city some 15,600 Jews as
> “Specialists. Do you think he did it with the purpose of making a
> profit?
>
> In my opinion it is shameful that we, Czernowitzians, even probe
> into the integrity of this “Righteous of the Nations”. He paid a
> high price for opposing the deportations and we should honor his
> memory in every way possible. Please, let Traian Popovice rest in
> peace.
>
> Yes there was corruption among the Romanian officials and our own
> Jewish leaders, but for once it had a positive outcome. What is the
> value of 20,000 lives? Would it have been better without this
> particular corruption? And if Traian Popovici himself would have
> been bribed to save those Jews, would that also be condemned?
>
> The only unjust part I see in all this issue, is that it was the
> privilege of the rich to buy said certificates.
>
> ======================================================================
> ==
>
> Apropos, did you know that on February 16.1943 The New York Times
> published the following:
>
> “FOR SALE to HUMANITY 70,000 Jews at $50.00 a piece. Romania will
> give these 70,000 Jews to the Four Freedoms for 20, 00 Lei.”
> ======================================================================
> ====
>
> Next months, April 2012 you will be able to read a book about why
> the US did not rescue the Jews from Transnistria.
>
> “AMERICAS SOUL IN THE BALANCE" by GREGORY J. WALLANCE
>
> Best regards,
>
> Ruth
>
> Ruth Glasberg Gold20191 E Country Club Dr, #1802Aventura, FL 33180
> USA T 305.936.9494F 305.936.9992email: glasgold_at_bellsouth.net
>

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Received on 2012-03-22 15:42:20