This book represents a new reading of a key moment in the history of East European Jewry, namely the period preceding the collapse of the Russian Empire. Offering a novel analysis of relations between the Russian army and Jews during the First World War, it points to the army and military authorities as the 'gravediggers' of the Jews' fragile co-existence with the tsarist regime. It focuses on various aspects of the Russian army's brutal treatment of Jews living in or near the Eastern Front, where three quarters of European Jewry were living when the war began. At the same time, it shows the enormous harm this anti-Jewish campaign wreaked on the Russian empire's economy, finances, public security, and international status.

Represents a new reading of a key moment in the history of East European Jewry Points to the army and military authorities as the 'gravediggers' of the Jews' fragile co-existence Focuses on various aspects of the Russian army's brutal treatment of Jews

Autorentext

Semion Goldin is Senior Research Fellow at the Leonid Nevzlin Research Center for Russian and East European Jewry, Israel.

Inhalt

1. The Russian Army and the Jews at the Start of the Twentieth Century.- 2. Army Authority and Activity in the Sphere of Civilian Administration.- 3. The Russian Army Command and the Negative Stereotype of the Jew.- 4. Deportations of the Jewish Population and Hostage Taking, 1914-1915.- 5. The Military Authorities and the Jews.- 6. Soldiers, Officers and the Jewish Population of the Frontal Zone.- 7. 'The Jewish Question' and the Political Situation in Russia.