Odessa, 1941-1944: A Case Study of Soviet Territory under Foreign Rule

by Alexander Dallin

Overview

Odessa, 1941-1944 is a comprehensive study of the Romanian administration in Odessa and Transnistria during World War II. It draws a sharp contrast between occupation policies in Odessa and Transnistria, under Romanian administration, and those of Nazi-occupied areas of the Soviet Union. Originally prepared as a Rand Corporation report, it is essential reading for anyone interested in the occupation of Soviet territory during World War II and its consequences.Alexander Dallin provides a detailed study of the Romanian administration in Transnistria, illustrating important aspects of the development of this Soviet territory after the removal of the Communist system. Dallin argues that “ The absence of terror and forced labor, and greater opportunities for self-expression, both economic and cultural, go far to explain the overwhelming popular preference for Romanian over German rule.” A noted expert in Soviet history, Alexander Dallin (1924-2000) was a former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies and professor emeritus at Stanford University in California. The book includes an introduction by Larry L. Watts, an American specialist on Romania during World War II.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592111275
Publisher:	Histria Books
Publication date:	07/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	298
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

A noted expert in Soviet history, Alexander Dallin is a former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies. He is a professor emeritus of international history and political science at Stanford University in California. His other books include German Rule in Russia, 1941-1945.

Table of Contents

Preface to the RAND Report 7

Preface to the 1998 Edition 9

Introduction "Alexander Dallin and Romanian Historiography" Larry L. Watts 13

I Odessa from Peace to Occupation 29

Background 29

Invasion 31

Siege 38

The End 48

II Transnistria: Theory and Practice 55

Romania and the War 55

Transnistria: Vital Statistics 61

The New Order 65

Capture and Terror 72

Transnistria: The Government 75

Odessa: The Primaria 81

Romanization 87

Attitudes toward the Romanians 91

III Social and Economic Trends: The Rural Areas 94

The Setting 94

Plus ça change 98

The Peasantry 103

The Harvest 108

Social and Economic Trends: The Urban Areas 111

Urban Society 111

The "New NEP" 114

The New Elite 121

Industry, Management, and Labor 124

Money, Prices, and Standards of Living 130

The Criminal Fringe 137

Social Change and Economic Initiative: Summing Up 139

IV Education, Culture, Church, and Press 141

Schools 142

Higher Education 146

Press and Propaganda 151

The Arts 156

The Church 161

City Life 167

V Politics: Attitudes, Ideas, and Action 172

Major Trends of Attitude and Behavior 172

The Communists 179

Ersatz Politics 181

Program for Tomorrow 182

Emigre Politics 185

The Nationality Question 193

The Ethnic Elite 197

The Ethnic Dumping-Ground 204

Appendix: Forced Labor in Transnistria 213

VI Moscow's Long Arm 217

The Opportunities 217

The Odessa Catacombs 221

The Transnistrian Partisans 228

The Partisans and the People 232

VII The Last Phase 237

Between Battlefield and Round-Table 237

Military Government 243

Again in Soviet Hands 248

VIII Some Conclusions and Implications 255

Summary 265

Appendix 273

Bibliography 277

Index 293

Editorial Reviews

The principle goals of this 1956 study are to examine the behavior of Soviet citizens while Odessa was the capital of the improvised province of Transnistria and to compare the rule of Romanian occupation with German occupied territories. The author identifies three main periods of the occupation, the most significant of which was the spring of 1942 to the summer of 1943, witnessing substantially increasing activity in economic, cultural, and social life before Axis losses caused the populace to expect the return of Soviet power. He argues that the relatively benign rule of the Romanians acted as a microcosm of how Soviet citizens would act without the centralized controls of the Bolshevik regime. Distributed by ISBS. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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