Genocide in Ukraine: The Holodomor | Into Context | War in Ukraine 01

What do you get when you combine vigorous grain-tax policies, bad harvests with Stalins fear and animosity for the rural population of Ukraine? A man-created murder famine, designed to kill millions of Ukrainian men, women and children.

Hosted by: Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson, Astrid Deinhard, Iryna Dulka
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson
Creative Producer: Marek Kamiński
Community Management: Ian Sowden
Written by: Indy Neidell and Spartacus Olsson
Research by: Naman Habtom and Spartacus Olsson
Edited by: Daniel Weiss, Iryna Dulka
Artwork and color grading by: Mikołaj Uchman
Sound design by: Marek Kamiński

Sources:
- Applebaum, Anne, Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine (2017).
- Lewin, M, 'The Immediate Background of Soviet Collectivization,' in: Soviet Studies 17-2 (1965) 162–197.
- Kuromiya, Hiraoki, 'Ukraine and Russia in the 1930's, in Harvard Ukrainian Studies 18-3/4 (1994) 327–341.
- Marples, David R, 'Ethnic Issues in the Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine,' in: Europe-Asia Studies 61-3 (2009) 505–518.
- Watstein, Joseph, 'The Role of Foreign Trade in Financing Soviet Modernization,' in: The American Journal of Economics and Sociology 29-3 (1970) 305–319.
- Wolowyna et al., ‘Regional Variations of 1932–1934 Famine Losses in Ukraine’.

Soundtracks from the Epidemic Sound:
Document This 1 - Peter Sandberg
Heroes On Horses - Gunnar Johnsén
Waltz for Celia - Leimoti
Jeanne in a Waltz - Leimoti
Epic Panorama 12 - August Wilhelmsson
The Cosmos - Jo Wandrini
Not Safe Yet - Gunnar Johnsen

A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

[TimeGhost]

Dear TimeGhost Community,

The last few days have come as a shock to all of us on the team. As we continue to edit and write regular videos, it has been harrowing to cover war exactly 79 years ago in the same cities currently under siege. This has been a grim and painful reminder of why we began this project, why all of us signed up to work here.

We want to reach as many people as possible with historiography which is factual, informative, and engaging, so that people around the world can learn from humanity's mistakes and successes of the past. We also strive to show history exactly as it happened, free from lies and distortions for political exploit.

Those ideals are now under an existential threat. While both peace and historical truth have been evasive since the end of the Second World War, this moment presents a heightened attack on these issues.

All of us here are more determined than ever to do our part as historians, as videographers, as human beings, to protect peace. Not to cover what is happening right now, as world leaders evoke history, as the cities we cover in weekly episodes are once again strangled by violence, would not be politically neutral, it would be a decision to ignore our values.

That is why we are launching a campaign to cover Ukrainian history. We hope that as millions of people around the world begin searching the internet to make sense of this all, they will see objective and factual historiography, not propaganda.

Right now, groups around the world are manipulating history for political ends. These lies are fuelling war and deaths each passing day. That is why we are taking on extra work, making videos on Ukrainian history, and asking all of you to join us in making a difference.

[peterrandall]

"Our entire body of work depends on that we can tell the truth without fear of being shut up, put in prison, or even killed."
Brilliantly put Spartacus.
That's what democracy is to the historian. Democracy means something different for each person, but it makes life richer for us all. May Ukraine's democracy be preserved, and her people saved.

[soupernova]

After reading the Live Chat, I have to say that Spartacus I have an unbelievable amount of respect for you. You have to deal with so much sputum and vile hate every day.

[solareclipse]

Please never stop making these documentarys, generations will thank you for the history you teach every week.

[HistoryHustle]

Very sad these recent developments. Wish your family all the best, Iryna!

[Shicksalblume]

I hope Iryna's family comes through this madness alright, and that Ukraine pulls through this as well.
Thank you for all you do, TimeGhost!

[tuiuanalmeidaveloso]

Wouldn't expect less of you. Thank you for being a beacon of tolerance and reason on a YouTube full of misinformation and lies these days.

[gunman]

Thank you for the video on Ukrainian-related topics, especially given the amount of misinformation and stuff these days. Yet another reason why I contribute to the TimeGhost Army as a longtime member, precisely in times like these.

[porkchopproductions]

It is eerie, but terrifying being a high school history teacher about to teach about the rise of facism and WWII in the coming week. I thought I never would see such open war in Europe in my lifetime let alone anyone elses. Thank you TimeGhost History team for all you do, especially in this time to better help people understand history and its relation to our world today. Never Forget

[ajc-ffcm]

You guys are amazing my heart hurts for that young woman, her family, and everyone caught in this madness, which I and many others thought unlikely if not impossible a week ago. Humanity needs to learn from its mistakes so all of us and our children can have a better future. May Ukraine remain free. May we in the west near or far from this conflict never take our freedom for granted. Thank you for all you do. I need to pony up and join timeghost, the things you share are so important and you tell it like it is: the truth.

[fredloewen]

When Putin tried to label Ukraine as "neonazis" I was outraged, remembering the coverage of some of the genocides you have talked about. The context you folks have provided and are planning on expounding on is so profound, compassionate and competent.

This kind of coverage and context is important. Please keep up the good work. Your work is appreciated!!!!

[TheRjee]

I was hoping (almost expecting) a reaction from you guys to the current events. Many thanks for this.
To Iryna, her family and friends I wish you all the best and to stay safe.

[trisblackshaw]

Iryna, your people's plight is in all our hearts. We must never stop teaching the world about the past so that we can hope for a more peaceful future.

[Arsagon]

What you said in the first 5 minutes was really spot on and nuanced. Thank you for that, and many thanks for your videos.

[illiteratedino]

Thank you.

I think everyone following this series knows how horrible and senseless war is after all these videos, and yet we have so many people who refuse to learn from past mistakes.

[mrrogersrabbit]

This is why I cringe whenever Putin talks about "denazifying Ukraine." Soviets and their apologists repressed the Holodomor for half a decade by denouncing anyone telling the truth about the Holodomor as fascists.

[JoshuaGapaz]

I have been watching you guys since the great war and saw you tackled so many sensitive & controversial topics in past. But I have never seen such vile hate being thrown against you guys on this one topic alone. I hope you guys are doing well and please ignore those apologist.

[Grimspear]

My heart is torn into a million pieces. Thank you TimeGhost. Never forget.

[twilightgryphon]

To Iryna and her family, may you and all the families who are suffering right now as a result of Putin's naked war of aggression know peace and prosperity again sooner rather than later. May the brave men and women defending Ukraine continue to show the determination, skill, and resolve they've shown so far in the face of what on paper should have been a much larger military steamrolling over a smaller one. To the Time Ghost team as a whole? Thank you for using your voice to raise awareness for not just the current conflict unfolding before our eyes day by day right now, but also the history of Ukraine and its relationship with Russia as well.

May this invasion be for Putin what the Winter War or the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were: humiliating defeat illustrating his incompetence and ineptitude as a leader that may, hopefully, result in him losing his hold on power after being in command of a country like Russia for far longer than he should have ever been allowed to be.

[finallyfriday.]

Glad to hear "Never forget" is not just a cliché and that you are taking action. Good on you.