RE: [Cz-L] After WW1 and Austrian army

Hi, Mimi,
No votes from the Jews!

 Here are the events from November 1918 in Hugo Gold:

 The Jews in Bukowina (1914-1919)
- World War and Russian Occupation
by Dr. Arie Leon Schmelzer
(...)
The Jewish National Committee faced its most difficult decision during its
first month. The president of the Romanian National Committee and the first
Head of the Government of Bukowina, Dr Jancu von Flondor, called for a
congress of all National Committees in Bukowina on the 28th November 1918.

At this congress, it was proposed that the entire territory of Bukowina be
annexed to Romania. This was because the Ukrainians, the second biggest
nationality in the territory (whose northern domain included Czernowitz),
demanded the annexation of the area to the Ukraine. The Jews, the third
biggest nationality in the territory, were able to influence the decision of
the congress through their determined stand. After hours of difficult
negotiations, a group of able and courageous men who headed the Bukowina
Jewish community took matters in to their own hands.

On the day before the congress was due to take place, the Jewish National
Committee decided to adopt a neutral stance (in the conflict) and to decline
the invitation to attend.

This memorable document, which is attributed to Mr Meyer Ebner, President of
the National Committee and a participant at the first Zionist Congress read:

'Mr President' stated in response to your invitation to attend the congress
on the 28th November 1918 and to accept your programme unconditionally we
would like to inform you of the decision of the Jewish National Committee:

The Jewish National congress in Bukowina adheres to President Wilson's
principles for elf-determination of all nations which states that national
demands should be satisfied to avoid animosities which might disturb the
peace of Europe and the entire world again should be eliminated.

The Jewish National Congress recognises the unification of the Romanian
territories into one state and within it the principles of
self-determination to which the Romanian people is entitled. In light of the
fact that Jews in Romania did not enjoy equal rights and because the current
situation does not seem to promise equal civil and political rights under
the law to Jews in Romania in the future, the Jewish National Congress
demands that unconditional equal rights be accorded to the Jews in Romania.
In view of the position adopted by the Jewish people everywhere and in light
of the neutral stance which has been adopted by us we are unable to
participate in this Congress.

Signed in Czernowitz 27th November 1918,
Dr Meier Ebner, Dr Jacob Pistiner and Dr Bertholt Friedman.

It took was a brave and difficult letter to write. Many participants voiced
fears that the refusal to participate might provoke pogroms and plunder.
Everyone knew that their decision might affect the fate of the Jewish
inhabitants of the Bukowina in their battle for rights.

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-72529257-3499296_at_list.cornell.edu
[mailto:bounce-72529257-3499296_at_list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Miriam Taylor
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 7:01 PM
To: cornel fleming
Cc: Alex Denisenko; czernowitz-l_at_list.cornell.edu and History
Subject: Re: [Cz-L] Sinagoge Gasse 9/ WW1 and Austrian army

I think the attitude of Czernowitzers during WW1 and immediately afterwards
was completely supportive of Austria. Most Czernowitzers had relatives who
fought in the Austrian army and during the war, whenever the Russians held
the city, they plundered and burned parts of it.

At the end of the war, a plebiscite was held in Czernowitz, and the
population, consisting mainly of Ruthenians (Ukrainian subgroup) and Jews,
voted overwhelmingly against annexation to Romania.

The Romanians wanted to get rid of all non-Romanian minorities and threw out
anybody who could not prove that he had lived in Czernowitz or the Bukovina
before the war.

Mimi
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Received on 2012-12-17 11:04:32