Childhood during the Holodomor 1932–1933 in Ukraine (in the South of Ukraine)

Abstract

The article examines how the Great Famine 1932–1933 in Ukraine (Holodomor), which took more than 3.8 million (according to other estimates—6–8 million) innocent lives, affected the lives of children, adolescents, and youth. Ukrainian families were forced to choose survival strategies in extreme conditions. These strategies rarely considered the interests of children who lost financial support as their parents were arrested, exiled, or dead. As a result, children became homeless or even fell victim to cannibalism. Nevertheless, most of the children received parental care and support as parents made every effort to keep the family together.