«Famine of 1946-1947: Documents and Facts»
National Museum “The Memorial in Commemoration of Famines’ Victims in
Ukraine” presents the exhibition “Famine of 1946-1947: Documents and
Facts”. The goal of the exhibition is showing the mechanisms
and consequences of the post-war famine, proving that the famine of
1946-1947 in the Ukrainian SSR was man-made, caused by the policy of the
regime which started “fighting for harvest” in spite of contrary
weather and the post-war situation. “Fighting for harvest” meant forced
grain requisitioning, collective farms members’ exploitation, inadequate
taxes imposition (for plants, fruit trees, cattle etc.) as well as
creating various taxation systems (e.g., compulsory loans system,
compulsory insurance system etc.). All of these innovations led to mass
starvation in 1946-1947. This post-war famine could be
avoided if the Soviet government granted the government of the Ukrainian
SSR the right of reducing grain requisitioning plan. In general,
inadequate requisitioning plans seem to be rather a political repression
as the government was profiting from literally robbing the peasants.
Grain export was increasing immensely. Export money was used for
strengthening military forces, industry as well as strengthening the
reputation of the Soviets among the countries of the “socialist
commonwealth”. According to different researchers’
calculations, the total number of victims is between several hundred
thousands and two million people. The exhibition consists of
ten information posters, several documents in show-cases and a video
installation revealing the causes, mechanisms and consequences of the
famine of 1946-1947 as well as the chronicles of the post-war famine. The exposition includes archival documents, excerpts of documentary videotapes and press materials. |