My prior posts, such as The Tragedy of Israel in Poland, The War and the Jews of Russia, Loyalty of Jews in War Lands Unshaken, How Russian Jews Suffered in War, and others, reached into a century-old past to present accounts of the experiences of Jewish civilians in Eastern Europe during the early years of the Great War, as published in various organs of the Jewish press from 1914 through 1916. The central focus of these articles was the appalling effect of the war upon the Jews of Poland, in the general context of unpredictably shifting battle front between the military forces of the Central Powers – essentially, Germany – and the Allies – effectively, Russia – specifically in light of the policies of the political and military leadership of Imperial Russia towards Jewish civilians in areas of Russian military occupation.
“This” post represents a continuation of and yet a segue from that topic, for it focuses on another complex facet of the events of that era: The service of Jewish soldiers in the armed forces of Imperial Russia and the policies and attitudes of the Russian government and population at large towards Jews in the Russian Army, during that conflict.
Like the above-mentioned posts, “this” post is comprised of transcripts of articles from The Jewish Chronicle, in this case the seven such items published during 1914. In subsequent posts, you can read similarly themed articles from the Chronicle, published from 1915 through 1917. Thus, this set of articles is presented chronologically, rather than by topic, precisely because any randomly chosen article may itself pertain to several subjects at once: It’s the easiest way to arrange them. (You can read the titles of the articles in this and forthcoming posts in Eastern European Jews – Soldiers and Civilians – in the First World War – An Overview.)
To make the post “readable”, all these news items, transcribed verbatim from the Chronicle, are separated from one another by a pair of “lines”. Thus:
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The articles also include the date of the issue in which they were published.
Notably, the name of the Chronicle’s Petrograd-based “Correspondent” is never given. Similarly, in most cases, the actual source of the information provided in the article is not specified, even for news stories about military commendations and awards received by Jewish soldiers. However, sources of information are listed in three articles. They are:
September 11, 1914: The Special (again, anonymous!) Correspondent of the Evening Standard
October 16, 1914: Un-named Russian newspapers
October 23, 1914: The newspaper “Novoe Vremya” (Actually, Novoye Vremya – Но́вое вре́мя).
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FREEDOM FOR THE RUSSIAN JEW
TO SERVE AS OFFICERS
BAN REMOVED.
REWARD OF BRAVERY.
September 11, 1914
The Special Correspondent of the Standard at Petrograd telegraphs as follows, under date of September 5th: –
Jews will in future be admitted as officers of the Russian Army and Navy.
The announcement of this important change in the position of the Jews in the Russian Empire is made on official authority, and has been well received in all quarters.
Up to the present no Jew has ever been allowed to be a military or naval officer. The decision to admit them to the highest ranks of both services is officially stated to be due to the gallantry which Jews serving as common soldiers have displayed in the battles already fought.
An Imperial decree has enabled the Russian Commander-in-Chief to confer officers’ commissions on several hundred Jews who gained exceptional distinction in the fighting that preceded the capture of Lemberg.
I am authorised to state that the admission of Jews as officers of the Army and Navy will be followed in due course by the removal of civil law restrictions on members of the Hebrew community. The Pale will be swept away, and Jews will be admitted to full rights of Russian citizenship.
Those Russian newspapers which were formerly advocates of a relentless anti-Semitism not only refrain from raising any objectives to this startling innovation, but express their approval in the warmest terms.
I find the same feeling prevails in those circles of Russian society in which it was formerly almost a breach of etiquette even to mention the name of a Jew. The war has swept away this particular remnant of medieval barbarism, and has inaugurated a new era for the Jews of Russia.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
PETROGRAD
The Jewish volunteer Katz has gained much fame in a battle in East Prussia. The Commander of the Army not only personal handed over to him the Order of St. George for bravery, but also presented him to the rank of sub-Lieutenant.
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RUSSIAN JEWS AND THE WAR
Christian Soldiers Commend Jews
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT)
PETROGRAD
October 9, 1914
One of the pleasant features of the War is the good feeling established between Christian and Jewish soldiers in the active army. The wounded soldiers in the hospitals speak highly of the conduct of their Jewish comrades on the battlefield. They are also full of praise for the treatment they receive in the military hospitals organized by the Jews.
JEWS PREFERRED
Striking evidence of what the authorities now think of Jewish loyalty has been forthcoming at Bielostock. Some five hundred and fifty Jews offered their services to the Red Cross for the purpose of assisting in the removal of wounded soldiers to the hospitals. At the same time seventy Poles also enrolled themselves, but they refused to co-operate with the Jewish contingent. The authorities thereupon accepted their resignations and refused to dismiss the Jewish volunteers.
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RUSSIAN JEWS AND THE WAR
MORE HEROES
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
October 16, 1914
The Russo-Jewish soldier, Paradiztal (of Lodz) has been awarded the Order of St. George for bravery. The Russian newspapers also describe the wonderful heroism displayed by a Jewish musician who extricated many wounded from danger in a battle with the German army.
At Lodz, 150 Jews have formed a cyclist company and offered their services to the Russian army.
OFFICIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE JEWISH RELIGION
During a recent battle, the Jewish soldiers in a Russian Army Corps, now operating in Galicia, received orders to proceed from their trenches to a townlet, where they were awaited by a Tsadick who had obtained a special permit to address and bless the Jewish soldiers. At Moscow, the appearance of a hundred and fifty wounded Jewish soldiers at a synagogue service created great enthusiasm.
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RUSSIAN JEW’S DARING EXPLOITS
CAPTURED GERMAN TRAIN AND ARMOURED MOTOR CAR
[PETROGRAD, October 10th]
October 16, 1914
General Rennenkampf has recommended a Jew named Miller, twenty years of age, serving with the Cossacks, for almost the highest class of the Order of St. George, for conspicuous bravery in East Prussia.
Miller, a volunteer, was soon promoted to non-commissioned rank in the Don Cossacks.
One of his exploits was to lay an ambush, in company with another man, for an armoured motor car, the two men having first concealed their horses. The driver was killed by the first shot fired. The motor was stopped and most of the occupants were either killer or wounded. Miller them took the car under fire through the German lines to the Russian forces.
On another occasion, Miller, when scouting with ten other Cossacks, was cut off, yet he managed to capture a German train.
Some time after, concealing his uniform under a cloak and speaking German, he talked with some peasants and ascertained the whereabouts of a number of rifles and a quantity of ammunition, which he carried out.
When the Russians were nearing Suwalki, Miller went on in the direction of the German lines disguised as a peasant and driving a haycart. The first Germans he met ordered him to deliver the hay to the German artillery authorities at Suwalki. This he did, and cleverly utilized the opportunity to obtain valuable information for the Russians. – Reuter.
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RUSSO-JEWISH HEROES
LIST STILL GROWING
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD
October 23, 1914
Joseph Trumpelman, a Jewish corporal in one of the Russian southern regiments, has gained the high distinction of being mentioned in the general order of the commander for his exemplary bravery. Although he lost one arm, he begged his colonel to permit him to remain in the army. His request was granted. Trumpelman also obtained the Order of St. George and the rank of sergeant. The Jewish soldier Ziprinsky, was recommended for a high reward for remaining at his post though he was wounded. At Moscow, a Jewish volunteer, Israel Kroshkin, aged sixteen, was brought in a wounded state from the theatre of war where he fought with distinction. The participation of this youth in the war is by no means an isolated case. Recently Archbishop Anthony was astonished to find a mere youth lying among the wounded at Kharkff. “I am a Jew,” was the proud reply of the youth to the inquiry of the Archbishop as to his identity. Even the Novoe Vremya has paid a touching tribute to the Jewish volunteer, M. Mazur, who had invented an improved field telegraph and lost his life in an attempt to repair a well damaged by the Prussians.
The wife of General Rennenkampf has visited the Jewish military hospital at Wilna, and distributed presents among the wounded soldiers.
Among the missing Jewish soldiers are the Titular Councillors Avigdor Benenson and Michael Shlinderman. The Kieff Jewish Advocate Frenkel, a Lieutenant of the Reserve, has been killed in a battle in which he distinguished himself for bravery.
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TRIBUTES TO JEWISH LOYALTY IN RUSSIA
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
PETROGRAD
November 27, 1914
The continued efforts of the Jews to erect military hospitals in many towns, and their generous response to fresh appeals for war funds, in addition to the further manifestations of Jewish loyalty in the Caucasus in connection with the declaration of War against Turkey, have evoked high tributes to our brethren from notable persons. The Governor-General of Warsaw, General Turbin, in thanking the Jews for opening a new military hospital, assured them that at the end of the War they would have cause to be satisfied with the consequences of their loyal attitude. Deputy Purishkevitch denied the charges made against the Polish Jews and praised their loyalty, and Archbishop Platonoff, of Kishineff, expressed to a Jewish deputation his satisfaction with the loyalty and generosity of their coreligionists, all of whom had acted in complete unison with the Christian subjects of the Tsar. From the front a message arrived stating that the Jewish Field Hospital of the Petrograd community was working splendidly, providing accommodation for twice, and sometimes three times, the number of wounded originally arranged.
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RUSSO-JEWISH LOYALTY – MORE DISTINCTIONS
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
PETROGRAD
December 25, 1914
The Military Doctor, Davidoff, a member of the Right, who formerly believed in all anti-Semitic libels (as he himself confessed) declared on his return from the Front that the information given by the Jews to the Russians concerning the enemy often proved of great value, and that the sacrifices made by the ruined Jews in Poland for the comfort of the soldiers was most praiseworthy.
JEWISH SUB-LIEUTENANTS
The Jewish soldier, Yoffin, has obtained two degrees of the Order of St. George for acts of bravery. He also was appointed an Acting Sub-Lieutenant.
The Jewish volunteer Korman received the rank of Lieutenant for bravery and skillful leadership, but unfortunately he was killed in the next battle.
The Governor of the province has received a deputation of the Jews of Pabianitzi (Poland), and has promised to alleviate their sufferings in the war area.
The Jewish soldiers Umansky, Zeitlin, the two brothers Chutz, DavidoviTch, Amstchislavsky and Tchertkoff have received the Order of St. George for distinguished bravery in the field.
M. PURISHKEVITCH PRAISES JEWS
Deputy Purishkevitch read a report at a Real Russian meeting at Petrograd in which he described the excellent work done by the Jews in the war area in forming battalions to guard the telephone and telegraph lines. The Jews were obliged to form such battalions because the responsibility for any interruption was thrown on the whole of the Jewish communities as a result of the denunciations by the Poles.
(More, to follow…)