Pogroms and Retaliation: The Jewish Experience in the Russian Civil War

This chapter examines the historiography of Jewish pogroms during the Russian Civil War, highlighting differing interpretations among historians. It focuses on the violent events in Ukraine between 1918 and 1920 and the subsequent assassination of Ukrainian leader Petlura by Samuel Schwarzbard as vengeance for familial losses. Through harrowing accounts of the pogrom in Kiev, the chapter portrays the brutal reality faced by innocent Jewish communities amidst the chaos, exploring themes of trauma and the desire for retribution.