Experiencing History Making

My work, Transnistria under Romanian Rule, 1941 – 1944 represents the result of four years study in English and History and I hope it offers a possible answer to an extremely controversial matter: the experience of Transnistria under Romanian Rule...

Now, I can affirm beyond doubt that a such intent to bring out one of the most delicate situations in the Eastern Europe, having direct implications on Romania was a real challenge.

As proud as I would be of my work, I must admit that I’ve passed thought difficult moments during my research caused either by the absence of relevant documents or by my inaccessibility to the existant ones.

And I will first reffer to the problems issued during my work with the Primary Sources.

• The printed collections of documents such as Trial of the Major War Criminals and other materials emanating from the Nürenberg trials, contain only a minimum of pertinent information. Among the useful sources are depositions made to the Soviet authorities by Gheorghe Alexianu, wartime guvernor of Transnistria and by other Romanian officials. But these are available at the National Archives, Washington DC, so my access is blocked and the internet sources are incomplete and insufficient.

• The German records and the Captured Records Section are voluminous but of small value. This records are of interest for the formal and administrative arrangements governing the Romanian occupation and Romanian – German dealings for 1941 and 1944. But they are poor in information on attitudes and in political reporting; the crucial period from late 1941 to early 1943 is missing almost entirely.

• Other conteporary documents :

- Romanian records are unavailable;

- U.S. diplomatic and wartime reports are of practically no value – a few documents including translations of paragraphes from newspapers;

- Of considerable greater value are the periodicals and newspapars published in the Odessa area ( under Romanian occupation), excepting those in German. However I had no acces to them;

- Files of Bucharest papers contain a number of pertinent items – but only a few concentrate informations about my subiect.