Daily Life of Ukrainian Jewish Children in the Zhmerinka Ghetto during the Holocaust in Transnistria

Abstract

Abstract:Established at the end of August 1941 in the region then known as Transnistria, the Zhmerinka ghetto was exceptional for several reasons. Though historians have portrayed it as a "model ghetto" or "miniature state" given its organization, maintenance of Jewish community life, and higher survival rate, the individual experiences of the ghetto inmates, particularly those of children, have been largely excluded from historical scholarship. Drawing on survivor accounts, this article addresses the everyday lives of Ukrainian-Jewish children in Zhmerinka's unique environment. By examining family dynamics and gender roles in various settings, this study explores how the artificial "normality" of the ghetto included for children new roles and responsibilities, forced labor and violence, and survival strategies that helped them cope with these distorted realities.