Babyn Yar and the Holocaust in Ukraine: Sites of Memory and “Layers” of Oblivion
Babyn Yar and the Holocaust in Ukraine: Sites of Memory and “Layers” of Oblivion

Summary/Abstract: The massacre at Babyn Yar is part of the phenomenon known as the “Holocaust by bullets”, a term inspired by the title of Father Patrick Desbois’ book. A first positive step has indeed been taken, considering that the memorialization of the Holocaust functions as a litmus test revealing the degree of democratization within a society. Ukraine’s capacity to acknowledge and commemorate the crimes committed against the Jewish population demonstrates her attachment to European values and her commitment to the principles underlying the Western pattern of civilization. Yet the problems remain open – especially in the context of the war that began in 2022. Will the memorialization of the Jewish population’s painful past continue to be a priority for the Ukrainian state, once the war is over?

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