A Case Study of Genocide in the Ukrainian Famine of 1921-1923:
Famine as a Weapon
A New Book by Historian Wasyl Veryha, The Edwin Mellen Press,
2007. 384 pp.
Dr. Wasyl Veryha’s study in the areas of Ukrainian and Russian
history examines the discriminatory ways of com-bating famine in two different
areas: in the Volga Valley of Russia and in the south-eastern Ukrainian
provinces. Since Russia and Ukraine were governed by Moscow’s
War Communism economic policy, every province had an assignment contingent of
grain to deliver to the state, and to the Volga Valley,
but not to the starving Ukrainian provinces. During the famine in Ukraine, 1921
to 1923, it is estimated that 2 to 2.5 million people starved to death. This
book contains 6 black and white photographs. Foreword by Professor Valerian
Revutsky.
Reviews
“Although there was no historian to document the
[Ukrainian] famine of 1921-1923, beginning in 1972, exactly 50 years after the
tragedy, Dr. Wasyl Veryha, a historian and librarian of the University of Toronto,
began his mission to delve into the many unanswered questions. After a quarter
of a century of research, Dr. Veryha has produced what seems to be a pioneer
work. Indeed, this famine is virtually unknown compared to the Holodomor of
1932-1933, especially among the two younger generations of the Ukrainian
population. ... I have to acknowledge that this is an exceptional documentary
work about the famine in Ukraine
in 1921-1923, which also coincided with the
famine in Russia’s Volga region. Dr. Wasyl Veryha rightly indicates that Moscow was more interested in relief to the Volga Valley
than to Ukraine.
... In view of the collected documentary material about this lesser known
famine, as well as the methodical description of the relief organization and
extensive bibliography, I believe Dr. Veryha’s work should become the manual of
the famine in Ukraine
of 1921-1923.” - Dr. Valerian Revutsky, Professor Emeritus,
Department of Slavic Studies, University of British Columbia
“Fortunately for the academic community, the
important but comparatively neglected subject of the famine in Ukraine of
1921-1923 has attracted the attention of a reputable and conscientious [person]
of Dr. Wasyl Veryha’s calibre. Considering the interest both scholars and the
general public have focused on the great famine [Holodomor] of 1932-1933 and
not the lesser known [famine] of 1921-1923, he has painstakingly collected,
evaluated and organized a vast amount of information concerning this critical
period. ... Throughout the book ... Dr. Veryha displays his competent scholarship
and keen critical judgment.” – [The Late] Dr. Bohdan Budurowycz, Professor
Emeritus, Department of Slavic Studies, University of Toronto
Dr. Wasyl Veryha received his Ph.D. from the
Ukrainian Free University in Munich and worked
for over twenty-five years at the John P. Robarts Research Library at the University of Toronto.
For a limited time only, this book may be
purchased for $39.95 USD including shipping and handling (taxes not included).
Other conditions apply. To order, write The Edwin Mellen Press, PO Box 450, Lewiston,
NY 14092-0450
or email: sales@mellenpress.com
For more information, visit www.mellenpress.com .