MIGRATION OF THE JEWS FROM THE UKRAINIAN SSR TO THE JEWISH AUTONOMOUS REGION (BIROBIDZHAN) DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1920-ies - FIRST HALF OF THE 1930-ies

Abstract

The Purpose of the Research. In this article, we will try to consider the reasons for the emergence of a programme for the creation in the Far East of the Soviet Union of the Jewish Autonomous Region (Birobidzhan) and to reveal the process of resettlement to it of the Jewish population from the Ukrainian SSR during the second half of the 1920-ies – the first half of the 1930-ies. The Methodology of the Reseach. During the preparation of the article there were used universal principles of scientific knowledge, basic methods of scientific and historical research, and modern conceptual approaches to the research of socio-economic, political history of the development of the Jewish community of Ukraine. The scientific novelty is determined by the combination of the published materials and archival ones that shed light on the organization of the Soviet government programme to resettle the Jews in the Far East of the USSR. A separate story of the article is dedicated to coverage of participation in the resettlement programme of the Ukrainian Society for Land Management of Jewish Workers (SLMJW). The resettlement of the Jews to Birobidzhan began in 1928 and was in an uneven manner. The colonization of the region took place under difficult natural conditions. During the early years, a relatively large number of migrants arrived. But because of difficult living conditions, poor climate, lack of work and social infrastructure, more than half of the 1928-ies – 1933-ies migrants returned. The Birobidzhan project caused controversy between supporters and opponents of the Jewish colonization of the USSR. The project criticized SLMJW management, pointing out the unfavourable conditions for the displaced persons and the enormous costs of moving and settling the displaced persons. Since 1929, the Society attracted funds from foreign voluntary Jewish organizations to assist the refugees. The agreements were concluded with “Agro-Joint”, the American Committee for the Resettlement of Foreign Jews in Birobidzhan. With their involvement, by the mid-1930-ies, roads were constructed in Birobidzhan, and wetlands were drained over a large area. The displaced Jews occupied leading positions in the region. The Jewish schools were created, newspapers and magazines were published. The Conclusions. The relocation to Birobidzhan from the very beginning of the campaign was propaganda. SLMJW offices were opened in all regions of the USSR in order to collect donations for assistance programmes for the impoverished and declassified Jews. The Society produced a huge mass of campaign materials, held lotteries among its members for the benefit of displaced persons. Delegations of workers and journalists were sent to Birobidzhan for further agitation. But in spite of all the measures, Jewish section officials acknowledged that the Jews vote with their feet, not their hands. Out of the newly created region, there was a constant outflow of migrants. In 1931, even demobilized Jewish soldiers were involved into resettlement. More than a thousand people went to Birobidzhan. The only year successful for resettlement was 1932, when famine raged in Ukraine. The Society managed to recruit fourteen thousand people to relocate from Ukraine, but by the next year, sixty percent returned back to Ukraine. Twenty-five thousand were planned to be resettled in 1933, and only three thousand were those who wish.