The Bolshevik Myth · Chapter
XXVIII: Fastov the Pogromed explained
The narrator arrives in Fastov, a town devastated by repeated pogroms.
What happens
The narrator arrives in Fastov, a town devastated by repeated pogroms. Walking through the deserted, ruined streets, they encounter survivors, including an old woman who leads them to Reb Moishe. The market is sparse, with only a few stalls trading by barter. The narrator meets a man whose daughter has been traumatized into silence after a brutal attack, and Reb Moishe recounts the horrors of the pogroms under Petlura, Denikin, and the Poles, culminating in a four-day massacre where many were killed in the synagogue despite promises of safety.
Themes in this chapter
Human Suffering and Dehumanization
The chapter vividly portrays the physical and psychological trauma of pogrom survivors, including a girl frozen in terror and a father recounting the murder of his family.
Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
The pogroms are carried out by various nationalist and anti-Bolshevik forces (Petlura, Denikin, Poles) targeting Jews, highlighting ethnic violence.
Betrayal of Revolutionary Ideals
The promise of safety by Denikin's commander, which is betrayed when the synagogue becomes a site of massacre, reflects the betrayal of ideals.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator walks through Fastov, observing the destruction and speaking with survivors, learning about the pogroms.
- Moishe
Reb Moishe, an elder and former well-to-do resident, guides the narrator through the pogromed streets, recounting the atrocities committed by Denikin's forces and others.
- Dr. G⸺
Not directly mentioned; no match in excerpt.
Key passages
“The place seems deserted. The houses stand vacant, most of them windowless, their doors broken in and ajar—an oppressive sight of destruction and desolation.”
Fastov appears abandoned, with empty, ruined houses that convey a sense of devastation.
Describes the physical state of the town after pogroms.
“They killed my husband before my eyes. … I had to look on, helpless. … I can’t talk about it.”
A woman recounts witnessing her husband's murder during a pogrom.
Illustrates personal trauma and loss.
“She has been looking like that ever since the night when I ran away from our house with her. … They took her from me and left me for dead.”
A father explains that his daughter has been in a state of shock since she was attacked and he was left for dead during a pogrom.
Shows the psychological impact of violence.
“But Denikin was the worst of all, worse even than the Poles, who hate us so. The last time the Denikins were here the pogrom lasted four days.”
Reb Moishe states that Denikin's forces were the most brutal, carrying out a four-day pogrom.
Highlights the severity of Denikin's atrocities.