Month: December 2019

Chronicles From World War One:  Russian-Born Jews in England and Military Service in the Allied Armed Forces

“The Russian Jew does not object to fight either for Russia or for England.  What he objects to is to be deprived of the consequent reward – the right to enjoy the fruits of his toil in peace in those lands for whose cause he is ready to lay down his life.”

Paralleling the numerous items published in The Jewish Chronicle pertaining to the military service of Jews in the Russian army during the early years of the Great War, was another stream of reporting, albeit in a context altogether different:  News coverage of the debate and discussion – vigorous and animated; within English Jewry and beyond – concerning military service by recent Jewish immigrants to England from Russia (particularly resident in their newly adopted country’s major metropolitan areas), within the Allied – specifically British – armed forces.  The central issue at hand was not military service per se, but rather, military service within the context of a global war in which Imperial Russia was a central ally of England and France (the pre-war Triple Entente). 

In this sense, the conundrum facing Jews newly arrived in Britain from Russia, whether naturalized or not, was that military service in the army of their adopted country would – to degrees uncertain and abstract, but still definite – indirectly support the country from whose political system, society, and historical legacy they had fled (or escaped, as the case may be), with its host of ambivalent to negative associations and memories.  Given the nature, impact, and historical legacy of life in the Pale of Settlement upon Russian Jewry, perhaps such feelings could not have been otherwise.

Though I don’t know the extent to which this mindset animated newly arrived Russian Jews in England (I’m sure that this topic has been the subject of much study in the field of British Jewish history!), what it notable is the frequently commented upon ancestry of Jewish soldiers – specifically from the Russian Pale of Settlement then serving in the British armed forces – whose stories and letters appeared within the pages of The Jewish Chronicle. 

In this, the background of Jews serving in the armies of France and the United States (yes, especially the United States!) during the Great War was very similar. 

Below, you’ll find a smattering of articles from The Jewish Chronicle pertaining to this complex and intriguing topic, many other similarly themed items having appeared in the newspaper’s pages in the latter years of the war. 

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RUSSIAN JEWS IN LEEDS

July 7, 1916

Mr. Louis Rosenberg, hon. recruiting officer for the Jewish community in Leeds, says the Yorkshire Observer, is being supplied by the alien registration authorities with a list of Russian Jews in the city with a view to their services being secured for the Russian or British armies.  There are about one thousand Russian Jews of military age in Leeds, of whom one hundred and forty have joined the Army.

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THE PLEA OF THE RUSSIAN JEW
From Mr. S. PAUL, 26, Amisdale Grove, Reddish, near Stockport.  [TO THE EDITOR.]

July 21, 1916

SIR, – I have read with much discomfiture the rather lengthy letter by “Mentor,” addressed to the Home Secretary, with regard to the enlistment of the Russian Jews.  I think that the abuse heaped upon their heads is unjust and unfair.  The Russian regards himself as being put in a rather uncertain position.  The memories of his treatment in Russia are still too fresh in his mind; the present state of affairs there does not tend to relieve it.  He is well aware of the fact that while his kith and kin of military age whom he left behind are laying down their lives on the battlefield for the cause of the Allies, his fathers, mothers, little sisters and brothers are treated in a yet more stringent persecution than heretofore, in the full view of the civilisation and the cause he is called upon to fight for.  Now, let us have fair play.  The Russian Jew does not object to fight either for Russia or for England.  What he objects to is to be deprived of the consequent reward – the right to enjoy the fruits of his toil in peace in those lands for whose cause he is ready to lay down his life.

Suppose you and I had returned from the battlefield maimed for life; would we still receive the usual answer to our pleas: “Go back to your country”? and would jobs offered in the columns of the press still contain the informing words “not of Jewish origin,” or the more fashionable words “ne yevreyee?”  Would you and I be permitted to visit the graves of our fathers and fallen brothers in Russia without molestation?

With all these reflections in one’s mind one may well question the fairness of “Mentor’s” onslaught on the poor Russian Jews.

But if the status of the Russian Jews were assured and put on a level with all the other nationalities in the allied countries, I do not for a moment hesitate to state, on behalf of the majority of them, that they would not murmur a single word against Englishmen now resident in Russia and enjoying full freedom, while the Russian Jews brethren are fighting their battle.  He is quite used to such anomalies – Isn’t he in Goluth?

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RUSSIAN JEW’S APPEAL

November 17, 1916

A Russian Jew, aged twenty-seven years, who had lived in this country since he was two years old, appealed at Newcastle for exemption.  He was not a naturalised subject but two of his brothers had joined up at the beginning of the war, of whom one was killed and the other maimed.  The appellant supported his father and four sisters and the advocate who appeared for him said that his client attested under a misapprehension and as a Russian subject he was not liable to be called upon to serve.  An exemption until January 3rd was granted.

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RUSSIAN-BORN JEWS AND MILITARY SERVICE

November 17, 1916

In the House of Commons, yesterday week, SIR HENRY DALZIEL asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that there are over 30,000 Russian Jews of military age in this country who are not political refugees, he proposes to take any steps for this immediate recruitment.

MR. BONAR LAW: This matter has been carefully considered by the Cabinet and certain steps are now in operation.

SIR H. DALZIEL: Does that mean steps will be taken soon?

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Russians in the British Army
ATTESTATION IN EGYPT

February 2, 1917

In the case of one Kaufman, for whom a rule had been obtained for liabens corpus, the rule came on for argument before the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Ridley, and Mr. Justice Coleridge, on Wednesday.  The applicant had stated that he had enlisted in Egypt by signing attestation forms he did not understand.  He, therefore, submitted that he was not lawfully a member of the British Army.

The Lord Chief Justice (Mr. Justice Ridley, and Mr. Justice Coleridge agreeing), discharged the rule, because he totally disbelieved the story of the applicant upon which the rule had been obtained.  It was clear he understood fully the attestation form.

Chronicles From World War One: “Why The Jews Are Fighting Germany” – The Jewish Chronicle, June 4, 1915

The articles in recent posts focus upon the effect and impact of the Great War in the war’s Eastern Zone, in terms of Jewish military service in the army of Imperial Russia, and, the experience of the Jews of Eastern Europe during the great war.  These articles, primarily drawn from (microfilm!) pages of both The Jewish Chronicle and The Jewish Exponent, typically approach these complimentary topics as straightforward news items, albeit often in fascinating depth, detail, and sometimes very great length.

But, alongside news reporting, the Chronicle regularly published fascinating, often lengthy; often profound opinion pieces – editorials, letters to the editor; essays; musings and more – which make great and relevant reading – even a century after their publication, for the topics addressed remain as current in this year of 2019 – even after the Shoah; even after Israel’s reestablishment as a Jewish nation-state in 1948 – as they were over 100 years ago.

One such item (well, relatively brief) appeared in June of 1915.  The Chronicle republished a letter by an anonymous writer (“A Jew”) that appeared in the Daily Mail the previous month, regarding the conundrum – for the Jews of the United States – of the motivation (well, perhaps one motivation of several) of why Jews were serving in the Russian army.  The letter-writer suggests that the primary impetus of anti-Jewish sentiment and policy in Russia was a actually top-down (in modern parlance) policy of Russification instituted by “M. Pobiedonostzeff” [sic], by whom he certainly meant jurist, statesman, and tsarist advisor Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonostsev, which – in the letter-writer’s opinion – was implemented in order to consolidate national unity and thus strengthen Russia against German expansionism.  Thus – so the theory went – an alleviation or negation of German power would render the policy of Russification moot, and thus the ostensible impetus for Russian regime’s oppression of the Jews would be negated.

Well, the wheels of history turned very differently.  (Then again, when do the wheels of history ever turn as expected or desired, in the lives or men or nations?)  Given the actual nature of Imperial Russia’s withdrawal from the war, and the surrender of Germany to the Western Allies (not an actual military victory), the scenario of the optimistic letter-writer’s naive prognostication – akin to the alternate history scenario of writer Martin J. Gidron, in his novel The Severed Wing – never came to fruition.     

“WHY THE JEWS ARE FIGHTING GERMANY”
The Jewish Chronicle

June 4, 1915

Under this caption the Daily Mail of Friday last printed an article written by “A Jew,” who treats the manner in which Jews in all countries have flocked to the colours.  Discussing the sentiments of the Jews in Russia in this direction the writer observes: –

“The enthusiasm of the Russo-Jewish soldier is a puzzle, notably to the Jews of America, who liberally fed with German propaganda, cannot understand why the Jews should desire the victory of Russia, nor why English Jews do not feel some slackening of their enthusiasm in this war when they remember that Russia, the persecutor of all the Jewish race, is an Ally of this country.  Well, the Russian Jew, among his many virtues and despite his not few faults, has a remarkably clear insight.  He has an analytical mind, and accepting facts as they are, he, by habit, delves to the root causes of them.  He, therefore, asks why the Jew is persecuted in Russia.  He knows that the Slav character is not in itself of a persecuting nature.  Jewish persecution in Russia is a result of the policy of Russification which M. Pobiedonostzeff initiated.  His policy was dictated by a desire on the one hand to strengthen the national sentiment and the national bonds subsisting between the numerous races in Russia, and thereby, on the other hand, to counter the growing power and influence of Russia’s next-door neighbor, Germany.  Such was the Russian policy, and the stronger that Germany grew, the larger the influence she had, especially upon the border provinces of Russian Poland, the more intense was the attempt at Russification, and the more intense was the persecution of the Jew.  But the Russian Jew know that the crushing of German power would mean the removal of a menace and of a fear that have troubled Russia for half a century past.  With that removed, there will be no further need for the policy of Russification, and hence no need for the persecution of the Jew. 

Chronicles From World War One: Military Service of Jews in the Russian Army – Articles from 1916 and 1917

“What tragedy equals this one in pathos: while the Jewish soldiers are killed on the line of fire for the homeland – for the homeland anyway – the non-combatants, who are often their close relatives, die of hunger and misery.”

For the years 1916 and 1917, a survey of The Jewish Chronicle and other Jewish newspapers yielded far fewer articles pertaining to Jewish military service in the Russian Army than the twenty-four that appeared in 1915: Nine.  Of the nine, five appeared in the Chronicle, two in l’Univers israélite (France), one in the Chronicle’s brother publication, The Jewish World, and one in The Jewish Exponent (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). 

This far smaller number is probably attributable to the indeterminate and steadily deteriorating military fortunes of the Russian Army as the war continued from 1915, coupled with parallel economic, political, and social unrest within Russia itself.  (A subject utterly vast and beyond the immediate scope of this post.)  I suppose that these factors would not directly – per se – have been the impetus for decreasing news coverage of the actions and experiences of Jews in the Russian army in 1916 and 1917.  Rather, the vastly diminished news coverage of this topic by the Chronicle (and other Jewish publications) probably reflected the generalized perception of the decreasing centrality of the Russo-German conflict, and all its myriad major and minor related aspects – at least, in purely military terms – to the fortunes of the Allies as a whole.  As such, even as Russian Jewish soldiers – like other nationalities in the Russian empire – continued to serve in the Russian military, recognition and memory of their actions and experiences would have become moot, if not irrelevant, if not above all, ironic.

In any event, here are news items from 1916 and 1917.

I find it as symbolic as it is significant that the very last news item covering Jewish military service in the Russian army during the Great War – “Jewish Soldiers in the Russian Army”, published in The Jewish Exponent in May of 1917 – is actually a summary of statistics about military awards granted to Jewish soldiers through that time, albeit the total number of casualties – killed, missing, wounded, and prisoners of war – probably then unknown, and perhaps even now in 2019 definitively unknown – is not listed.  The Exponent’s article (again, the anonymous author, just like the Chronicle!) notes that the source of information is the newpaper Russky Invalid (Русский инвалид), albeit tantalizingly not specifying the date or number of the edition of Инвалид in which this article appeared.  (? – !)

Русский инвалид has been digitized (here’s the publication’s catalog record from the National Library of Russia), including issues for 1914 (starting with # 13, of January 17, 1914) through the newspaper’s final issue (issue # 247, of October 27, 1917) being available at the NLR, and in a different interface through the Национальная электронная библиотека (Russia’s National Digital Library).  A search portal for the former can be accessed here (the link directing you to records for 1914) while a portal for the latter, encompassing issues for 1915 through mid-1917, can be found here.

Since this post includes two articles from l’Univers israélite, the text of these French-language items has been (approximately) translated into english, and appears below each article. 

As for the article from The Jewish World, “Russian Jewish Volunteers“, this is something altogether different.  This article was published in November of 1917, subsequent to the passage of the Decree of Peace on November 8, 1917, and thus after the October Revolution.   The Jewsh volunteers referred to are Jewish soldiers – originally from Russia – then serving in the French Army, who requested of the French Government that they be allowed to return to Russia to serve in the “Free Russian Army”, under the assumption that once in the service of the latter, they would continue to participate in the war against Germany.  The fate of the 54 Jewish soldiers listed in the article is unknown (will probably never be known) but what is known is that Russia’s military participation in the Great War ended only five months later with the Treaty of Best-Litosvk, on March 3, 1918.  If they ventured to and remained in the Russia of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, a different fate could have awaited them, as for untold millions.

So, below, articles from 1916 and 1917…     

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GENERAL KUROPATKIN AND JEWISH SOLDIERS

February 4, 1916

The well-known member of the Duma and the former Russian priest Grigory Petrow has published in the Russian press an interview which he has had at the front with General Kuropatkin.  The general, who is at present the commander of the grenadier regiments, spoke in very warm terms of the Jewish soldiers who, he said, are fighting very bravely and loyally for their country.  He pointed out that the number of Jewish soldiers decorated with the St. George’s Cross for bravery is equal in proportion to the number bestowed on soldiers of other denominations.  General Kuropatkin’s Euologium has created a sensation as he was very hostile to the Jews. 

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AUTOUR DE LA BATAILLE
Les Juifs russes et la guerre

l’Univers Israelite
February 4, 1916

Les souffrances aussi effroyables qu’imméritées que le développement des hostilités ont attirées sur la tête de tant de nos coreligionnaires en Russie ne doivent pas nous faire oublier la participation aussi considérable que glorieuse du judaïsme russe à la guerre.  Au contraire!  Quelle tragédie égale celle-ci en pathétique: pendant que les soldats juifs se font tuer sur la ligne de feu pour la patrie – pour la patrie quand même – les non-combattants, qui souvent sont leurs proches parents, meurent de faim et de misère.  Quel contraste saisissant entre ces deux tableaux: les victimes juives de la guerre, – les héros juifs de la guerre!

D’après le correspondant du Jewish Chronicle à Pétrograd, près de cent cinquante juifs ont reçu l’ordre ou la médaille de Saint-Georges au cours des trois derniers mois, portant le nombre total des décorés à six cent cinquante environ.

Parmi les nouveaux médaillés on distingue deux engagés volontaires: Maltinskey, âgé de quatorze ans, et Frenkel, âgé de quinze ans.  Deux héros, Rubinstein et Dubovitzky ont reçu quatre degrés de l’ordre, six autres ont reçu trois degrés, et dix-sept deux degrés.

Plusieurs mé lecins-majors et membres de la Croix-Rouge ont reçu les ordres de Sainte-Anne et Saint-Nicolas ou des médailles d’or et d’argent.

Les journaux libéraux continuent à publier des lettres dans les quelles des officiers louent leurs subordonnés juifs.

Voici deux lettres d’officiers russes qui nous ont été communiquées, il y a quelque temps déjà, par M. J. Antokolsky, de Paris.

“Le hussard Méir Lavinsky est mort en héros sur le champ de bataille.  Je ne puis oublier ce glorieux soldat.  Il demandait toujours à être au premier rang, en avant des autres.  Le jour de sa mort, la bataille fut chaude.  Nous avons recherché son corps le lendemain et nous l’avons remis entre les mains de ses coreligionnaires, qui l’ont enterré avec tous les honneurs militaires dans un cimetière juif de Ladzova.” 

“J’ai eu sous mes ordres, dans ma compagnie, huit israélites.  Quand je fus blessé, il en restait encore deux de vivants.  C’étaient tous des réservistes.  Tous ont laissé des familles nombreuses.  Leurs pensées n’étaient pas pour la guerre et il me paraissait difficile d’attendre d’eux des vertus de guerriers héroïques.  Mais après le baptême de feu, je me suis convaincu que le soldat juif est un véritable guerrier.  Le sentiment du sacrifice, le mépris de la mort, le courage magnifique les animent tous.  Chacun cherchait à remplir de son mieux son devoir envers la patrie.  Je les ai vus tous à l’œuvre.  Au mépris de n’importe quel danger, sous la pluie des balles et des schrapnels, ils quittaient leurs tranchées pour ramasser les camarades blessés et les ramener à l’abri.  Un de ces braves juifs a reçu, en grimpant, deux balles dans le dos et est resté a côté de celui qu’il voulait sauver.  Alors un autre juif se dévoua et ramena le blessé.  Après l’attaque, je m’approche avec un brancardier vers un groupe de blessés.  Je vois deux soldats allongés côte à côte: un israélite et un Slave.  La figure pâle, la bouche pleine de sang, l’abdomen traversé par une balle, le juif agonise.  Le Slave a une blessure dans le dos et une autre au pied gauche.  J’ordonne à l’infirmier de prendre un de ces malheurcux.  Le Slave refuse, car, dit-il, le juif est dangereusement blessé; mais l’israélite, tout doucement, riposte et insiste qu’on emmène plutôt son camarade, car, dit-il, moi je n’ai qu’une blessure, tandis que lui en a deux!  Comme c’est beau et simple!  Je pourrais vous raconter encore d’autres faits, mais je me bornerais à vous déclarer qu’il faut croire aux forces morales de nos soldats juifs dans l’armée.” 

Ces lettres sont signées par les officiers Novikoff et Gogoulinsky.

Mais rien n’est plus beau, en ce genre, que les lignes suivantes inscrites par un officier russe, reçu dans une famille juive de Bielostok, sur l’album de la fille du maitre de la maison et qui nous ont été communiquées par un parent:

Biélostock, le 11 décembre 1914.

Conseils a Ninta de celui qui va au combat.

“Quand tu grandiras, ma chère Nînta, aime ton pays qui a tant souffert ot sois fière d’être juive.  Reçu dans ta famille avant la bataille, on a fait à nous, chrétiens, qui vous opprimons, un accueil si bienveillant et si chaleureux, que je me suis persuade que ton peuple considère les hommes; sans différence de religion, comme des frères.  Nous avons tous le même Dieu, nous le prions et il va vous amener, vous juifs, sur le chemin de la lumière.

“Ninta, tu dois ètre fière de commencer ta vie en un temps où, au bruit des canons et sous le crépitement des fusils, sacrifiant notre vie pour ta grande cause, nous nous employons à réunir par notre sang tous les peuples dans une même famille.  Quand cette grande guerre sera terminée, n’oublie pas ceux qui ont célébré dans les tranchées la naissance du Christ qui a sacrifié son sang pour l’amour du prochain.  Cet amour n’a pas été observé depuis deux mille ans et c’est pourquoi nous en subissons le châtiment; mais nous expierons par notre sang les fautes de nos pères et tu rentreras dans la vie normale.

“Cette vie sera claire, radieuse.  Pour toi, jeune fille, il y aura beaucoup à faire et tu devras travailler sans trêve.  Toutes les voies où tu pourras déployer la réserve de tes forces seront ouvertes devant toi.  Et tu dois consacrer ces ressources à ton âme et à toute l’humanité.  A tes enfants, inspire l’amour de nos semblables et la haine de celui qui a violé la loi de Dieu et a dévasté les grands monuments de la civilisation humaine.  Il n’y a pas d’excuse pour celui qui violente les femmes et les enfants, envahit un pays pacifique et laborieux et détruit ses monuments les plus sacrés.

“Nous allons remplacer nos frères qui s’épuisent dans celte lutte.  Beaucoup de nous ne survivront pas, mais ceux qui auront la vie sauve se rappelleront plus d’une fois l’accueil de la famille Kaplan.  Si je ne suis pas tué, mais blessé seulement, je ferai une visite à ta famille pour vous remercier encore une fois de vos bons procédés.

“Nicolas MASLENNIKOV
sous-lieutenant de réserve en second
au 247eme d’infanterie.”

Quant aux sentiments qui animent les soldats juifs de Russie, voici deux lettres qui les traduisent admirablement: l’amour de la patrie et l’amour du judaïsme.

Lisez cette lettre écrite par un volontaire juif blessé à la bataille de Staloupen; elle a été publiée par la Reitch.

“…J’espère, chers frères et sœurs, que vous saurez apprécier à leur juste valeur les raisons qui m’ont fait partir en qualité de volontaire dans cette guerre.  Je n’ai pu rester indiffèrent devant les grands événements que nous voyons se développer et j’ai cru accomplir, en ce faisant, mon devoir de patriote.

Ici, je me sens très dispos, étant très bien soigné.”

Celui-là parle en patriote; celui-ci parle aussi en juif (lettre publiée par la Odesskaïa Novosti):

“Cher Oncle,

Nous nous mettons en marche pour la frontière autrichienne.  Je suis tout à fait tranquille, car je vais avec la certitude qu’après la guerre les choses changeront en bien pour les juifs.  La mort ne m’effraie pas et je suis prêt à mourir pour ma patrie et pour le people juif.  Que je serve donc de dernier sacrifice expiatoire à l’aurore d’une vie nouvelle du peuple d’Israël.  Je vois les premières lueurs de l’aurore, je sens le souffle d’une vie nouvelle et cela me donne de l’énergie et du courage pour regarder la mort en face.”

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AROUND THE BATTLE
Russian Jews and the War

The Jewish World
February 4, 1916

Sufferings as appalling as they are, the expansion of hostilities has [drawn the attention] of so many of our fellow-believers in Russia [that] must not make us forget the great and glorious participation of Russian Judaism in the war.  On the contrary!  What tragedy equals this one in pathos: while the Jewish soldiers are killed on the line of fire for the homeland – for the homeland anyway – the non-combatants, who are often their close relatives, die of hunger and misery.  What a striking contrast between these two pictures: the Jewish victims of the war, – the Jewish heroes of the war!

According to the correspondent of the Jewish Chronicle in Petrograd, nearly one hundred and fifty Jews received the order or medal of St. George during the last three months, bringing the total number of decorated to about six hundred and fifty.

Among the new medalists there are two volunteers: Maltinskey, aged fourteen, and Frenkel, aged fifteen.  Two heroes, Rubinstein and Dubovitzky received four degrees of the order, six others received three degrees, and seventeen two degrees.

Several senior staff and members of the Red Cross received orders of St. Anne and St. Nicholas or gold and silver medals.

Liberal newspapers continue to publish letters in which officers praise their Jewish subordinates.

Here are two letters from Russian officers communicated to us some time ago by Mr. J. Antokolsky of Paris.

“Hussar Meir Lavinsky died as a hero on the battlefield.  I cannot forget this glorious soldier.  He always asked to be in the front line, ahead of the others.  The day of his death, the battle was fierce.  We searched for his body the next day and handed it over to his co-religionists, who buried him with all military honors in a Jewish cemetery in Ladzova.”

“I had under my orders, in my company, eight Israelites.  When I was wounded, there were still two of them alive.  They were all reservists.  All have left many families.  Their thoughts were not for war, and it seemed difficult to expect from them the virtues of heroic warriors.  But after the baptism of fire, I convinced myself that the Jewish soldier is a true warrior.  The feeling of sacrifice, the scorn of death, magnificent courage animate them all.  Each sought to fulfill his duty to his country to the best of his ability.  I saw them all at work.  In defiance of any danger, in the rain of bullets and shrapnel, they left their trenches to pick up the wounded comrades and bring them back to the shelter.  One of these brave Jews received, climbing, two bullets in the back and stayed next to the one he wanted to save.  Then another Jew devoted himself and brought back the wounded man.  After the attack, I approach a group of wounded with a stretcher-bearer.  I see two soldiers lying side by side: an Israelite and a Slav.  The pale face; the mouth full of blood; the abdomen crossed by a bullet; the Jew is in agony.  The Slav has a wound in the back and another in the left foot.  I order the nurse to take one of these unfortunates.  The Slav refuses, because, he says, the Jew is dangerously wounded; but the Israelite, very gently, retorts and insists that his comrade should be taken away, for, he says, I have only one wound, while he has two!  How beautiful and simple!  I could tell you more facts, but I will confine myself to declaring to you that one must believe in the moral force of our Jewish soldiers in the army.”

These letters are signed by officers Novikoff and Gogoulinsky.

But nothing is more beautiful, in this way, than the following lines inscribed by a Russian officer, received in a Jewish family of Białystok, on the album of the daughter of the master of the house and which were communicated to us by a parent:

Białystok, December 11, 1914.

Advice to Ninta who is going to battle.

“When you grow up, my dear Nînta, love your country that has suffered so much and be proud to be Jewish.  Received in your family before the battle, Christians, who oppress you, so warmly and so kindly, that I have persuaded you that your people consider men; without difference of religion, like brothers.  We all have the same God, we pray for him and he will bring you, Jews, on the path of light.

“Ninta, you must be proud to begin your life at a time when, with the sound of cannons and the crackling of guns, sacrificing our lives for your great cause, we are working to bring together all our peoples in the same family.  When this great war is over, do not forget those who celebrated in the trenches the birth of Christ who sacrificed his blood for the sake of his neighbor.  This love has not been observed for two thousand years, and that is why we suffer punishment; but we will expiate with our blood the faults of our fathers and you will return to normal life.

“This life will be clear, radiant.  For you, young girl, there will be a lot to do and you will have to work without [respite].  All the ways where you will be able to unfold the reserve of your forces will be open before you.  And you must devote these resources to your soul and to all humanity.  To your children, inspire the love of our fellow men and the hatred of those who have violated the law of God and devastated the great monuments of human civilization.  There is no excuse for the one who violates women and children, invades a peaceful and laborious country and destroys its most sacred monuments.

“We are going to replace our brothers who are exhausted in this struggle.  Many of us will not survive, but those who are saved will remember the Kaplan family more than once.  If I am not killed, but only wounded, I will pay a visit to your family to thank you again for your good behavior.

“Nicolas MASLENNIKOV
Second Lieutenant, Second Reserve
247th Infantry.”

As for the feelings which animate the Jewish soldiers of Russia, here are two letters which translate them admirably: the love of the country and the love of Judaism.

Read this letter written by a Jewish volunteer injured at the Battle of Staloupen; it was published by the Reitch.

“… I hope, dear brothers and sisters, that you will appreciate the reasons that made me leave as a volunteer in this war.  I could not remain indifferent to the great events we see developing, and I thought I was fulfilling my duty as a patriot.

Here, I feel very well, being very well cared for.”

He speaks as a patriot; this one also speaks in Jewish (letter published by the Odessa News):

“Dear Uncle,

We set off for the Austrian border.  I am quite quiet because I am certain that after the war things will change for the Jews.  Death does not frighten me and I am ready to die for my homeland and for the Jewish people.  May I therefore serve as the last atoning sacrifice at the dawn of a new life of the people of Israel.  I see the first light of dawn, I feel the breath of a new life and it gives me energy and courage to look at death in the face.”

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A RUSSIAN JEWISH HEROINE
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]

February 11, 1916

The Jewish Red Cross nurse, Madame Bernstein, has been awarded the Medal of St. George for conspicuous bravery in the field in rescuing wounded under strong fire. 

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RUSSIAN RABBIS EXEMPTED FROM SERVICE

March 31, 1916

The Tsar has exempted Rabbis from military service.  Those who are already enrolled in the army will be drafted into non-fighting units. 

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A RUSSIAN COMMANDER OF JEWISH SOLDIERS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

April 21, 1916

The Retch states that a prominent Colonel has informed its representative that the percentage of Jewish Chevaliers of the Order of St. George is the same as that of the Christian soldiers, and that the commander of an Army Corps informed him that in this was the soldiers of all nationalities, without distinction, fought well. 

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JEWS AND FIELD WORK IN RUSSIA
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
PETROGRAD.

July 21, 1916

A large number of Jews in the Elizabethgrad district have volunteered as labourers for trench digging and other defensive works.  In the Kieff district the Jews were informed that they were expected, together with the Christians and on the same terms, to contribute to the war labour contingents. 

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Jewish Soldiers in the Russian Army
The Jewish Exponent

May 18, 1917

The official military organ, “Russki Invalid,” published data of soldiers who won distinction during the three years of war.  Not less than 60,791 Jewish soldiers received decorations of one kind or another.  Among these, 8,681 were awarded the Order of St. George; 25,474 the medal of St. George, and 26,636 were raised to officer’s rank.  This is a remarkable showing, especially when we consider that all these decorations were given under the old regime, when it was to the interest of the government to suppress the reports of Jewish bravery.  The same journal which now publishes these data would not have dared to make known these figures under the old regime.  It shows that more than ten per cent of the Jews in the Russian army distinguished themselves for their courage and bravery.  

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  A Jewish Legion Formed in Russia
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

July 27, 1917

With the permission of the military authorities of Kromenitz, Wolliner, Gubernis, there has been organised a volunteer regiment of Jewish soldiers who wish to fight for the new Russia.  More than two hundred men have already enrolled.  While some of those joining deserted previously, most of the volunteers are men who were freed from military service or whose age places them in classifications which have not yet been reached.

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Les Volontaires juifs russes
l’Univers Israelite
November 23, 1917

Une des conséquences de la Révolution russe a été qu’un grand nombre des juifs qui s’était engagés volontairement dans l’armée française ont demandé au gouvernement la permission de rentrer en Russie pour combattre dans les rangs de l’armée russe libre.

Au point de vue général, cette demande surprendra peut-être, car en a partout le même ennemi à combattre et les volontaires juifs étaient bien à leur place sur le front français, où pendant pins de trois ans, ils ont lutté et sont morts pour la France républicaine.  Mais il y a des considérations d’ordre psychologique, des sentiments contre lesquels tout raisonnement est impuissant.  C’est que ces hommes, quoique chassés de Russie par les persécutions tzaristes, ont gardé beaucoup d’attaches avec leur pays, où sont restés leurs parents et amis; ils s’y trouvaient dans leur milieu juif, tout leur y était familier.  Une fois la Russie devenue libre, leur premier mouvement a été le désir si humain et si naturel de rentrer dans leur pays pour continuer à combattre avec leurs frères d’armes russes l’ennemi commun.

Leur demande a été accueillie par le gouvernement français, grâce aùx démarches du Comité des réfugiés politiques, russes Oboronà, qui s’est créé à Paris au début de la Révolution et qui a pour but de rapatrier en Russie tous les réfugiés (juifs et non juifs) qui sont en mesure de contribuer – militairement où civilement – à la défense nationale de la Russie libre contre l’invasion allemande.  C’est grâce à l’activité de ce Comité – dont l’auteur de ces lignes fait partie – que sont retournés en Russie de nombreux groupes de propagandistes et de champions de la cause des Alliés, afin de combattre la funeste propagande des léninistes rentrés en Russie par l’Allemagne.

Les juifs sont en grand nombre parmi les réfugiés rapatriés par l’“Oborona”, qui est reconnu par le gouvernement Provisoire et reçoit de lui les fonds nécessaires aux rapatriements.  

Dans le premier groupe de volontaires partis par les soins du Comité se trouvent les juifs dont les noms suivent:

Isaac Alpérovitch, Alficher, Boris Artzichewsky, Michel Bassakévitch, Jacques Bassman, Paul Berkovitch, Wolf Bernstam, Blouwstein, Joseph Brodsky, M. Biélinky, Isaac Wargartick, Hirch Wolphowitch, A. Galachter, Manuel Guendlin, David Glousman, Joseph Goloskow, Salomon Goldenberg, Zeilig Griner, Chmoul Gousovsky, Moïse Dinovetzky, Moïse Zandberg, Bernard Semelchitter, W. Joffé, Emmanuel Kogan, Léon Kaplan, David Kelstein, Jacques Keilin, Alexandre Kogan, Koffman, Joseph Leiser, Joseph Lerner, Jacques Liberman, D. Louvsky, Joseph Margouliès, J. Markovitch, Simon Mirelman, Haïm Mickelin, Jacques Mauder, Joseph Perloff, Jacques Perkon, Isaac Privinan, Michel Rabinovitch, Naoum Soutine, Feldman, Fichman, Zélig Kacklovitch, Novae Zoukerman, Isaac Zoukoria, Lazar Chmerkovitch, N. Chrener, Haïm Gross, Simon Konstartinvowsky, David Krel et Naftou Kackarsky.  Soit en tout 54 volontaires; les autres suivront dans les groupes ultérieurs. 

Il est important de souligner que ces volontaires – déjà incorporés dans l’armée russe et partis pour le front – accomplissent une mission spéciale d’une grande utilité dans l’armée alliée: ils y sont devenus des propagandistes de la cause des alliés en général et tout particulièrement de la cause de la France.  Ce sont eux qui disent aux soldais paysans russes – pour la plupart illettrés – le rôle de la France dans l’histoire et dans la lutte pour la liberté.  Ce sont eux qui combattent les maximalistes qui empoisonnent l’armée russe par leur propagande germanophile et pacifiste.  C’est pourquoi ils sont doublement utiles et méritent notre reconnaissance et notre admiration, – comme soldats et comme défenseurs de la cause démocratique des Alliés.

J. BIÉLINKY.

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Russian Jewish Volunteers
The Jewish World
November 23, 1917

One of the consequences of the Russian Revolution was that a large number of Jews voluntarily engaged in the French army asked the government for permission to return to Russia to fight in the ranks of the Free Russian Army.

From the general point of view, this demand may be surprising, because everywhere there is the same enemy to fight and the Jewish volunteers were well in their place on the French front, where during three years they struggled and died for Republican France.  But there are psychological considerations, feelings against which all reasoning is powerless.  It is because these men, although driven out of Russia by Tsarist persecutions, have kept many ties with their country, where their relatives and friends have remained; they were there in their Jewish environment, everything was familiar to them.  Once Russia became free; their first movement was the human and natural desire to return to their country to continue fighting with their Russian brothers in arms the common enemy.

Their request was welcomed by the French Government, thanks to the efforts of the Committee of Political Refugees, the Russian Oborona, which was created in Paris at the beginning of the Revolution and which aims to repatriate to Russia all the refugees (Jews and non-Jews) who are able to contribute – militarily or civilly – to the national defense of Free Russia against the German invasion.  It is thanks to the activity of this Committee – of which the author of these lines is a part – that many groups of propagandists and champions of the Allied cause have returned to Russia in order to fight the fatal propaganda of the Leninists who have returned in Russia by Germany.

Jews are in large numbers among the refugees repatriated by the “Oborona“, which is recognized by the Provisional Government and receives from it the funds necessary for repatriations.

In the first group of volunteers left by the Committee’s care are the following Jews:

Isaac Alperovitch, Alficher, Boris Artzichewsky, Michel Bassakevitch, Jacques Bassman, Paul Berkovitch, Wolf Bernstam, Blouwstein, Joseph Brodsky, M. Bielinky, Isaac Wargartick, Hirch Wolphowitch, A. Galachter, Manuel Guendlin, David Glousman, Joseph Goloskow, Salomon Goldenberg , Zeilig Griner, Shmul Gousovsky, Moses Dinovetzky, Moses Zandberg, Bernard Semelchitter, W. Joffe, Emmanuel Kogan, Leon Kaplan, David Kelstein, Jacques Keilin, Alexander Kogan, Koffman, Joseph Leiser, Joseph Lerner, Jacques Liberman, D. Louvsky, Joseph Margoulies, Markovich, Simon Mirelman, Chaim Mickelin, Jacques Mauder, Joseph Perloff, Jacques Perkon, Isaac Privinan, Michel Rabinovitch, Naoum Soutine, Feldman, Fichman, Zelig Kacklovitch, Novae Zoukerman, Isaac Zoukoria, Lazar Chmerkovitch, N. Chrener, Haim Gross, Simon Konstartinvowsky [Konstantinovsky?], David Krel and Naftou Kackarsky.  In all, 54 volunteers; others will follow in later groups.

It is important to underline that these volunteers – already incorporated in the Russian army and left for the front – carry out a special mission of great utility in the allied army: they have become propagandists of the cause of the allies in general and especially the cause of France.  They are the ones who say to Russian peasant soldiers – mostly illiterate – the role of France in history and in the struggle for freedom.  They are the ones who fight the maximalists who poison the Russian army with their Germanophile and pacifist propaganda.  That is why they are doubly useful and deserve our recognition and admiration – as soldiers and as advocates for the democratic cause of the Allies.

J. BIÉLINKY.

Chronicles From World War One: Military Service of Jews in the Russian Army – Articles from 1915

1915: The Great War continues with increasing ferocity and devastation, and – tragically; inevitably – generates carnage and casualties on a scale heretofore unimagined in man’s history. 

And so: While in 1914 at there were at least seven articles in the Jewish press (specifically, in The Jewish Chronicle) – at least, those I’ve identified! – covering or pertaining to the service of Jewish soldiers in the army of Imperial Russia, 1915 brought forth at least twenty-four such news items.  Of the twenty-four, twenty-one were published in The Jewish Chronicle, one in l’Univers israélite (France), and two in The Jewish Exponent (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

You can read (and in one case, find a link to) the text of all these items transcribed verbatim, below.  The single “linked” item (from the l’Univers israélite, “Les soldats juifs dans l’armee russe” – The Jewish Soldiers in the Russian Army) was the subject of a blog post of February 28, 2017.  (To simplify this post, only that article’s title is actually given.)

An observation: One of the articles from The Jewish Exponent, “Three Hundred Russian Jews Decorated”, of May 21, 1915, was obviously derived from an article in The Jewish Chronicle that appeared three weeks before, on April 30.  Entitled “Russo-Jewish Distinctions in the War”, clues to the article’s source are the mention of the recruit Markovitch’s shooting-down of a German airplane (or, “a e r o plane” in 1915 parlance), and the award of the Order of Saint Anne (or, Saint Anna), Second Degree, to the military physician Leipuner.  So, it would seem that despite the refreshing absence of Facebook and Twitter, information still had a way of getting around (via telegraph? via rapid conveyance of newspapers between England and America via ship?), albeit a bit more slowly than today.  

However, I don’t know the source of the Exponent’s article “A Jewish Girl in the Ranks” of June 11, 1915.  Possibly the Chronicle, as well? 

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Likewise, you can read the titles of the articles in this and related posts in Eastern European Jews – Soldiers and Civilians – in the First World War – An Overview.)

And so, the articles…

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MORE JEWISH BRAVERY IN RUSSIA
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

January 1, 1915

The Jewish soldiers Kane, Marslialek, and Tziz, have obtained the order of St. George for bravery.  The Jew, Shuler, was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant for skillful leadership.  He was, however, killed in the next battle.

General Volkoff last week wired to the Red Cross headquarters, praising the heroic conduct of the Jewish military doctor, Leo Dushansky, who, despite his poisoned hand, had remained at his post.  Dr. Dushansky died like a hero, and the Red Cross meeting honoured his name by rising. 

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JEWISH COLLECTIONS FOR RUSSIAN SOLDIERS

January 1, 1915

M. Margolin has received permission to go to the Front, to distribute presents to the soldiers purchased with the 25,000 roubles collected by the Jews at Kieff.  Under the direction of the Baron A. Gunzberg and Advocate Grusenberg, a similar collection is being made by the Jews at Petrograd.  At Wilna and other places warm clothes are being collected by the Jews for the Army.

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RUSSIAN ARCHBISHOP KISSES JEWISH HERO
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

January 1, 1915

During his visit to the Caucasian battlefront, the Archbishop of Grusia made many friends among the Jewish soldiers.  He expressed himself as very pleased with their behavior, and embraced and kissed one Jewish hero.

STIRRING TRIBUTE FROM AN OFFICER

Letters continue to reach the Press from Russian officers, in which thanks are expressed to Jewish soldiers for their bravery, very often displayed in saving the lives of officers and soldiers.  One officer wrote that in the very first battle he realised that the Jew was a real soldier.  His self-sacrifice, his contempt for death, and his courage are highly commended.

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Les soldats juifs dans l’armee russe

l’Univers Israelit

January 1, 1915

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YOUNG JEWISH HEROES IN RUSSIA
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

January 8, 1915

The Russo-Jewish volunteer Reichelson, aged only fourteen, has been promoted to the rank of sergeant for bravery in the field.  Two Jewish boys from Nicolayeff named Sharfinowitch and Gelfenstein, escaped to the theatre of operations after dispatching a petition to Grand Duke Nicholas, expressing their wish to fight for their country.

During the week the Jewish soldiers Goldschwanger, Daitelzweig, Teletnikoff, Reznik, Dubinsky, Spigel, Biedermann, and Koffmann obtained the Order of St. George for bravery.  Telatnikoff was also created corporal for capturing an Austrian General.  A report has reached Petrograd that eighteen other Jewish heroes had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

The ultra anti-Semitic Press is greatly annoyed at the continued reports of Jewish distinctions in the field, and it is endeavouring to counteract the good impression created by them by atrocious libels and by suggestions that the Jews bribe the newspapers to praise them.  The anti-Semites are also greatly annoyed at the success of the Petrograd Chanucah service which made a deep impression on the numerous Russian officers present.  The Mayor of Petrograd, Count Tolstoi, his deputy, M. Demkin, and the Perfect, Prince Obolensky, were profoundly moved by the march of the wounded Jewish soldiers, many of whom were accompanied by military nurses. 

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MORE RUSSO-JEWISH DISTINCTIONS AT THE FRONT
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

January 22, 1915

During the last few days two more Jewish soldiers, Goldner and Kaplan, were promoted to the rank of lieutenant.  Dr. Yapolski has received the order of St. Vladimir and a sword, and Dr. Goldberg the Order of St. Stanislav and a sword for bravery in the field.  The Jewish soldiers Panitch, Yosem, Grover, Duboff and Volmir won the Order of St. George.  The fact that the number of Jewish soldiers [who were thus] decorated is proportionately very large is due to their persistence in undertaking dangerous and heavy tasks, always coming to the forefront in case of [need].

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THE RUSSIAN ARMY AND THE JEWS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

January 29, 1915

Two more Jewish soldiers, Schuster and Holtzman, have obtained the Order of St. George for bravery.

The Jewish doctors enrolled in the Army Medical Corps are again covering themselves with glory.  They are repeating the heroic deeds which won them fame in the Russo-Japanese war.  They expose themselves to all kinds of dangers in their attempts to save the lives of the wounded.  In the last few days a bomb from a hostile aeroplane killed the oldest doctor of the Odessa Jewish Hospital (Itke) [?] while he was attending to the wounded in a Galician battlefield.  In another battle Drs. Fuchs, Volodersky, and Zederbaum were wounded in the exercise of their duty.

Wounded Jewish soldiers continue to arrive from the Front in all parts of the country.  Even in the small towns the synagogues are filled with them during the services. 

THE ANTI-SEMITES AT WORK

It is, however, a matter of deep regret that our enemies are at work even in hampering Jews in the efficient discharge of their patriotic duties.  Thus at Znamenka the authorities are offending Jewesses who had offered their voluntary services for the Red Cross, and for whom they could not find any other name than “Svidovki” when addressing them.  Our coreligionists were ultimately obliged to resign from the institution.  It is also reported from the front that one Commander on submitting the name of a Jew for promotion to the rank of officer received an intimation that it was preferable to award Jewish heroes the Order of St. George only.

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FURTHER JEWISH DISTINCTIONS IN RUSSIA
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

February 5, 1915

Rabbi Treistman, who has recently had some trying experiences under the Geman regime at Lodz, is back again to his community.  The Germans allowed him to return to guide his coreligionists, and the Tsar has bestowed upon him a medal for zealous service in consideration of his successful work.

The Russian Jewish soldiers Simkin (aged sixteen, whose two brothers have also distinguished themselves at the front, one having been wounded whilst reconnoitering in an aeroplane), Klintchin, Henichovitch, Portnoi, Freidman, Rukman, Kukla, Domb, Kazdan, Victor, Katzenelbogen, Zelitchenko, Gurevitch, Borisovsky, Ezernitzky and Shapiro have obtained the order of St. George for bravery.  The Tsar and the Empress Marie visited Shapiro in the hospital.  The Tsar handed over the Order to him and the Empress requested the doctors to save the soldier’s arm, which they succeeded in doing.  The soldiers Rivkin, Dizur and Weiss have obtained the second class of the Order of St. George, and Dr. Gershun has received the third class.  Dr. Glickman has obtained the Order of St. Anne and a sword.  Both Dr. Glickman and Rivkin were, however, killed in subsequent battles.  The hero Davidovitch, whose fine work was reported some time ago, has also died from his wounds.

Baron A. Gunzburg and Advocate Grusenberg, who have just returned to Petrograd from the front where they distributed thousands of presents to the soldiers (including four million cigarettes), have brought with them cheerful messages.  The General in command and the officers were delighted with the presents.  The officers expressed their admiration of the Jewish soldiers, and they were deeply moved by the kindness of the Jews in sending them presents and encouraging messages.  The Jewish guests dined with the officers.  A similar reception was accorded at the front to the deputation of the southern Jews, headed by Crown Rabbi Temkin, and to the Rabbi of Novidvor who distributed the presents.

I might add that far from desiring to reduce the number of the Jewish soldiers, it was last week officially announced that even Jewish only sons will be called for service in the next recruiting year.

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GROWING LIST OF RUSSO-JEWISH HEROES.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
PETROGRAD

February 12, 1915

Within the last few days the Russian Jews, Chwollis, Reichenstein, Konstantinovsky, Grodsky, Edelmann, Sheinfen, Berenstein, Sergeant Dechman, and the two brothers Brodkin have obtained the order of St. George.  Safian obtained the rank of lieutenant and the second class of the order of St. George, while his brother, in the capacity of a military doctor, obtained the Order of St. Anne and St. Stanislav.  Kaplan was awarded the second class of the Order of St. George, and was promoted a sergeant.  The military doctor Sorin received the Order of St. Stanislav and Ratnev became a sub-lieutenant.  The wounded Jewish volunteers Gutman (aged thirteen) and Seltzer (aged sixteen) were also awarded the Order of St. George.  A member of the Imperial Family visited Seltzer in the hospital. 

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RUSSIAN JEWS AND THE WAR
MORE RUSSO-JEWISH DISTINCTIONS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
PETROGRAD

February 19, 1915

The Russian Jewish soldiers Kolnik, Derzavetz, Stern and Bogdanoff have received the Order of St. George.  The same Order has been bestowed on eighteen Jews serving in a Red Cross section at the front.

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RUSSIAN JEWS AND THE WAR
DECLARATION IN THE DUMA
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
PETROGRAD

February 26, 1915

Deputy Freedman stated in the Duma the other day, amidst loud applause, that though the Jews had suffered heavily during the last six months and their plight was terrible they would overlook all the hardships they endured and fight loyally for the Empire.  Many noble Russians continue to be deeply impressed by the loyalty of our coreligionists.  Three officers addressed a striking letter to a Jewish family at Bielostock, praising the fair treatment of Christians by Jews, and promising to fight for Jewish rights after the War.  At the Wilna Jewish Hospital, the Priest Rozmainsky asked the wounded Christian soldiers, whenever the heard of the spreading of anti-Semitic libels, to remember how good the Jews were to them.  Prince Urusoff at Elizabethgrad spoke in similar terms at the Jewish Military Hospital, and the Army Commanders continually note the absence of Jewish cases of desertion.

It must not be supposed, however, that matters are smooth everywhere.  Last week the Premier received a memorial from the Nationalist Party, complaining that the Jewish students were allowed to finish their courses instead of being summoned to the front, and expressing the fear that such a policy would result in an abundance of Jewish intellectuals after the war.
M. Purishkevitch, too, has once again changed his front.  Addressing the Real Russians last week, he gave ample proofs of his return to his old anti-Semitic policy, although he announced that he would only take the Jewish problem in hand after the war.  On the other hand, M. Stolypin (brother of the late Premier) has condemned in the Novoe Vremya the stringent regulations concerning the right of domicile of Jewish wounded soldiers and of their relatives who visit them in the hospitals outside the Pale.

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ANOTHER STRIKING LIST OF RUSSIAN HEROES.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
PETROGRAD

February 26, 1915

During the past week another batch of Jewish heroes have won the Order of St. George.  The names of the soldiers are Magasayeft, Azrel, Lichtenstein, Levitin, Goldblum, Kornfeld, Bornstein, Kapulsky, Tchornt, Hershkovitch, Wasserman, Brenner, Nachtigal, Rosen, Vedman, Kuzmitz, Peckar, Lusky, Katz, Ogol, Ginzburg, Tzalkovitch, Saphirstein, Bolotin, Frank, and Poliak.  The military doctor, Zeldoff, obtained the Order of St. Stanislav, and the volunteer Samuel Finkelstein (a distinguished pupil of the Petrograd College of Music, who is only twelve years of age), won a military medal and was raised to the rank of corporal.  The young hero is now lying wounded in a hospital here, but hopes soon to return to the front.  The number of Jewish heroes is growing so rapidly that at Moscow alone eighty Jewish Chevaliers of the Order of St. George were registered during the last half-year.

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LARGE RUSSO-JEWISH HONOURS LIST
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

March 12, 1915

The latest battles have brought more glory to the Russian Jewish soldiers, a particularly large number of them having obtained the Order of St. George in the past week.  The recipients (who, together with those already recorded since the beginning of the war, number 200) were: –

Meyerovsky, Yanovetz, Eisen, Val, Pakshver, Glotman, Kostovsky, Lebedinsky, Canter, Yankelevitch, Burtmn, Ostrovsky, Gubkin, Nazimov, Breinovsky, Grusenberg, Stolpner, Borispolsky, Corporal Rabbinowitch, Katzenelsohn, Alpert, Bliazer, Mornenetz, Nefedoff, Plachuta, Pleshakov, Zadikoff, Shmutkin, Sretensky, Sterhnoff, Shevelin, Blagoslovensky, Tongkonogl, Fridenson, Emin, Shotz, Slutkovsky, and Samsonoff.

The Jew, Helfman, obtained the rank of Lieutenant, the Order of St. George and the Order of St. Stanislav, and the military doctor, Asness, obtained the Order of St. Stanislav.

BOY HEROES

The Jewish boys, Elijah Giznburg, aged fourteen, and Rudzki, aged fifteen, have won the Order of St. George.  The former, who was wounded, was also promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  The two youths joined the army as volunteers.

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MORE RUSSO-JEWISH DISTINCTIONS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

March 19, 1915

During the past week the Jewish soldiers Bichovsky, Skrotzky, Shochnik, Farfel, Kirsh and Yochelson, have won the Order of St. George.  Five other Jews won similar distinctions, but the military censor at the front, for reasons best known to himself, only permitted the mention of their initials or first names.  The military doctor, Alexander, received the Order of St. Stanislav.

Lieut. Kaplan enjoys the distinction of having remained at the front despite the fact that he was wounded twelve times.

The Duma Red Cross Company deeply deplores the loss of the distinguished Jewish female medical assistant, Olshwanger, who died at the Caucasian front.

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RUSSO-JEWISH DISTINCTIONS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

March 26, 1915

Another Jewish boy, Lazare Koffman (of Ekaterinoslav), who is only thirteen years of age, has won the order of St. George on the battlefield.  It is anticipated that he will be admitted to the Cadet Corps to be trained for commissioned rank, by a special permit of the Tsar.
The Jewish soldiers, Markovitch and Shlionsky, also received the Order of St. George, and thirty-six members of the Bielostok Jewish Red Cross Field Company were recommended to the Tsar for awards for bravery.  The military doctor, Monosson, received the Order of St. Stanislav.

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RUSSO-JEWISH WAR HONOURS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

April 9, 1915

During the week the Jewish nurse Annie X. has won the St. George medal for bravery under fire.  X. (the censor is responsible for the suppression of her full name) is the first Jewess to obtain the distinction.  In addition, M.M. Agol, Katznelsohn and Moshkovsky, Jewish pupils of the Wilna gymnasium, who volunteered for active service, won the Order of St. George.  Their colleague Klioner obtained a military medal.  The Order of St. George was also bestowed on twenty-three Jews whose initials alone were recorded, and on Corpl. Zelkovich, the volunteer Shimel (aged sixteen), and Chaim Abramovitch, who distinguished himself in the Japanese war.  In the present campaign the latter captured a regimental flag, and was wounded during the exploit.  The Commander in Chief, Grand Duke Nicholas, personally congratulated the hero on the brave deed, and the Commandant of Kieff ordered the account of M. Abramovitch’s achievement to be read out before the garrison, which cheered the hero.  The son and son-in-law of M. Abramovitch were also wounded during the war.
The military doctor Sternberg has been appointed a State Controller.

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RUSSIAN JEWS AND THE WAR
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

April 16, 1915

In the course of the week the Jews, Nuchimson, Churik, Ruchlak, Oska, Krul, and Rosenthal, as well as sixteen other Jews whose initials only were published, have won the Order of St. George.  One military doctor also obtained the Order of St. Stanislav.

The Commander of the Forces at Wilna has expressed to the Chief Rabbi there his high appreciation of the valour of the Jewish soldiers.

The Jewish communities in many cities sent large numbers of Easter presents to the soldiers at the front, without distinction of creed.

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RUSSO-JEWISH DISTINCTIONS IN THE WAR
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

April 30, 1915

A young Jewish recruit, Markovitch, has been awarded all the four degrees of the Order of St. George for bringing down a German aeroplane.  Another Jewish boy (aged fourteen), Lev Israel, who serves as a volunteer at the front, won a military medal.  The military doctor, Leipuner, obtained the Order of St. Anne (second degree).  He had has a distinguished career in the army.  In the Russo-Japanese campaign he won the Order of St. Stanislav.  In addition thirteen Jews, whose initials alone were allowed to be published, received the Order of St. George, thus bringing up the total of Jews to whom the Order has been granted during this war to three hundred.  Five of the partially-named thirteen heroes also became non-commissioned officers.

THREE HUNDRED JEWS POSSESS THE ORDER OF ST. GEORGE

A further bestowal of the Order of St. George within the last few days has brought up the number of Jews possessing this distinction to three hundred.  In one case, Markovitch, a young recruit, received all four degrees of the Order for having brought down a German aeroplane.

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HEAVY LIST OF RUSSO-JEWISH WAR HONOURS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

May 14, 1915

Another heavy list of distinctions won by Jews in the recent battles appeared during the week.  The soldiers Rizik, Shlioma, Zelkovich, Brazel, Cohen, Reles, Ketner, Zeifman, Chorovitzer, Grinkevitch, Lebovich, Farkhman, Fisher, Chaitov, Tarnovsky, Hendler and Gunzberg, have obtained the Order of St. George.  Levinson obtained the same Order for the second time during this war, and Abraham Zelkovitch, Tabakoff and Bershakovsky, who won the Order in the Russo-Japanese campaign, received higher degrees.  The Military Doctor State Councillor Abelman has received the Order of St. Vladimir (third degree) and Dr. Goldberg, who recently won in the field the Order of St. Stanislav, has just obtained the Order of St. Anne (third degree) for a fresh act of bravery.

THE TSAR THANKS MANY COMMUNITIES

The Tsar has sent his thanks to the Jews of Borisov, Mozir, Pinsk, Ihumen and Osipovitch for their loyal messages on the occasion of the fall of Przemysl.  His Majesty has permitted the Russo-Jewish emigrant, Dr. Chargin, who was one of the medical officers of the Ophthalmic Hospital at Bolgona, to return to Russia and to enter the Army as a military doctor. 

JEWISH WAR GIFTS TO THE TSAR

Jewish deputations representing the communities of Kamenetz-Podolsk and Nicolayeff have been received by the Tsar.  The deputations handed to the Tsar substantial contributions to the war fund, for which his Majesty tendered his hearty thanks to the donors. 

JEWS IN THE ARMY

All the Liberal organs, without distinction, and even the former organ of the Synod, the Kolocol, have condemned the agitation commenced by the Russkoe Znamya and Zemstchina in favour of the exclusion of Jews from the army on the alleged ground that they were traitors and cowards.  The Liberal organs paid great tribute to the brave Jewish soldiers.

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Three Hundred Russian Jews Decorated
The Jewish Exponent

May 21, 1915

The number of Jewish soldiers in the Russian army who were decorated with the order of St. George for bravery now exceeds three hundred.  In one case, Markowitch, a young recruit, received all four degrees of the order for having brought down a German aeroplane.

A military doctor, Leipuner, obtained the order of St. Anna, second degree.  He has had a distinguished career in the army.  In the Russo-Japanese war he won the order of St. Stanislav.

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A Jewish Girl In The Ranks
The Jewish Exponent

June 11, 1915

Chaya Salkind, aged eighteen, a Jewish girl, has been discharged from the Russian army, in the ranks of which she fought with distinction, until her identity was disclosed.  She volunteered disguised as a man some time ago, and won the esteem of the superiors at the front. 

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RUSSO-JEWISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN GERMANY

September 3, 1915

TO THE EDITOR. – From Mrs. R.S. TOWNSEND, 2, Orchard Studios, Brook Green, W.
SIR, – I have in my possession a number of postcards written to the Evening News Prisoners of War Fund from Russian Jewish prisoners of war in Germany begging for help to trace their relatives in London, in the hope that they may send them occasional letters, money or parcels.  I should be immensely grateful if you could be of any assistance to these men through the medium of your paper, either by tracing their relatives or by interesting any of your readers in their fate.  I may say that the postcards are mostly written in Russian.
The following is a list of the prisoners’ names and the relatives whom they seek: –

Kiva Kopersteiun seeks a brother-in-law by the name of Maks Ruz.
Schaja Golomb seeks a brother by the name of Chaim Golomb.
Jacob Erichevitch seeks a relative by the name of Isaac Feldman from the town of Slonim.
Morduch Kahan seeks his brother Max Cohen.
Chaim Breinisen seeks a sister by the name of E. Zatz.
P. Goichman, from the Kovensky Government, Novo-Alexandrovsky District, seeks his brother.
Yehiel Kuretsky seeks any relative who may be in London.
Isaac Nizinsky seeks two uncles by the respective names of Abraham Nizinsky and Osher Litenberg.

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FIVE HUNDRED RUSSO-JEWISH HEROES
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

September 3, 1915

During the last two months the roll of Jewish soldiers who won the Order of the Medal of St. George for conspicuous bravery in the battlefield has increased by another hundred.  The total number of Jews who have obtained the Order or the Medal during the present campaign is now five hundred.  Among those newly decorated heroes were the Jewish volunteers Kayema (aged fifteen), Gorodovsky and Kellin (both aged sixteen), Palomnise (aged eighteen), and Koshkin and Greitel (both aged nineteen).  Alperovitch, Sergt. Kapnelson, Zismanovtich, and Palomnise won three degrees of the Order.  Advocate Meyerovitch received “gold arms” for bravery.  In addition sixty-five more Jewish doctors and members of the Army Medical Corps have won decorations.

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MORE DISTINCTIONS FOR RUSSO-JEWISH SOLDIERS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD

December 24, 1915

During the past three months the list of Jews who received the Order or Medal of St. George for bravery at the front has increased by about another hundred and forty.  The total number of Jews who obtained the Order or Medal is now six hundred and forty-six.  Among the new knights are the youths Maltinsky (aged fourteen), and Frenkel (aged fifteen), who volunteered for service in the army.  Rubinstein and Dubovitzky obtained four degrees of the Order of St. George, and Blacher, Laivenberg, Michailovitch, Moshkovsky, Mandel and Meineter obtained three degrees of the Order.  Seventeen others among the new knights obtained two degrees of the Order.  In addition, many Jewish military doctors and members of the Red Cross received the Order of St. Anne and St. Stanislaus and gold and silver medals.