Jewish pogrom in Berdychiv on January 5, 1919

The aim of this article is to examine the Jewish pogrom in Berdychiv on January 5, 1919, specifically focusing on its prerequisites, progression, and the search for its main perpetrators. The methodology of this scientific research is grounded in both general scientific and specialized historical methods, incorporating the fundamental principles of historical analysis. The principles of historicism and scientific rigor enabled the reconstruction of the events surrounding the Jewish pogrom in Berdychiv on January 5, 1919, while considering historical contexts and the reproduction of cause-and-effect relationships. The principle of objectivity facilitated a critical examination of the outlined issues, taking into account objective historical patterns and a thorough analysis of the literary and source materials. Employing the principle of systematicity allowed for a comprehensive review of the entire literary and source base available to the author, ensuring a well-rounded exploration of the topic. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the fact that, for the first time, a thorough investigation of the main prerequisites and specific characteristics of the Jewish pogrom in Berdychiv on January 5, 1919, has been conducted based on an extensive source base, alongside an attempt to identify the perpetrators of the pogrom. Consequently, the author concludes that the prerequisites for the Jewish pogrom included a deteriorating security situation, reduced support for the garrison soldiers, and the activation of the Bolshevik underground in Berdychiv. This situation was further exacerbated by rumors regarding Jewish support for the Germans and the military authorities' demand for an indemnity of three million rubles. The Jewish pogrom was perpetrated by a military detachment under Colonel Oleksandr Paliienko, who was subordinate to Mykhailo Kovenko, the head of the “Main Investigative Commission under the Directory”. The reason for the pogrom was information regarding a Bolshevik uprising, which was reportedly being planned in the town for January 5 and was expected to occur following a meeting of the council of workers, Cossacks, and peasants’ deputies at the local theater. The pogrom was orchestrated and had the nature of a robbery.