Thread by @H_Bouwmeester

Thread. In November, I wrote this article:
Without understanding the Holodomor, you cannot grasp the current stance of Ukrainians in the war. I usually write in Dutch, but here I’m sharing a thread in English for my non-Dutch speaking followers.hiddebouwmeester.nl/zonder-de-holo…

Many in Western Europe know of Ukrainian Nazis like Bandera from WWII, but not the Holodomor. Without understanding the Holodomor, you cannot grasp Ukraine's actions in the current war with Russia or why some Ukrainians collaborated with Nazi Germany from 1941.

Ukraine commemorates the Holodomor, a famine orchestrated by Stalin 90 years ago that killed millions of Ukrainians. @TimothyDSnyder in his book Bloodlands, argues this famine was intentionally created by the Stalinist regime. Highly recommend reading it for deeper insights.

The West admires Ukraine's resolve in the current war, but often doesn't understand it due to a lack of knowledge about the Holodomor. During the 1930s, 2.5 to 7.5 million Ukrainians died due to this genocide.

Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term genocide, called the Holodomor a genocide in 1953. It was a systematic attempt to destroy Ukrainian culture. Today, Russia similarly seeks to erase Ukrainian culture by Russifying place names and abducting children from occupied areas.

The Holodomor was not just a famine. Stalin created it to deprive Ukrainian farmers of their harvest and property, displacing millions. Today, Russia seeks to 'de-Ukrainize' Ukraine by similar means, including abducting children and Russifying place names.

Writers like @anneapplebaum describe the suffering of Ukrainian farmers, robbed of all their possessions by Soviet brigades. This shows that the famine was no accident but a deliberate genocide.

@anneapplebaum , in her book Red Famine, describes the suffering of Ukrainian farmers, robbed of all their possessions by Soviet brigades. This shows that the famine was no accident but a deliberate genocide. Highly recommend her book for deeper insights.

The Holodomor and current Russian actions, like deporting Ukrainian children, show ongoing Russification and genocide. Ukrainians fear a repeat under a guise of peace, explaining their resistance to making peace now. Knowing this history is crucial.

I am a Dutch publicist, writer, and historian, focusing on Eastern European history. Given that crucial historical context is often missing in the media, I will aim to translate one of my articles into English each month to share these insights.

Just like Wilders projected people with distorted hands, AI-generated images show why we should stick to traditional photos. I tried to create a Holodomor image but the AI wouldn’t do it. Then I asked for a 1930s Ukrainian family, and this bizarre result proves the point. Look at their faces 😑😑😑😑