A Tiny Fraction of the Truth The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the New York Times, and the London Times on Majdanek and the Operation Reinhard Death Camps, 1940-1944 Andrew Shaffer Master’s thesis in Holocaust and Genocide Studies University of Amsterdam, June 2015 Supervisor and First Reader: Dr. Karel Berkhoff (NIOD) Second Reader: Prof. Dr. Johannes Houwink ten Cate (NIOD) University of Amsterdam Graduate School of Humanities Department of Holocaust and Genocide Studies !2 Contents Contents.…………………………………………………………………………………………..2 Acknowledgements..………………………………………………………………………………4 Introduction.……………………………………………………………………………………….7 Historical Nature of this Study (7) Goals and Aims (9) The Sources and the Historiography (9) Importance (13) Chapter 1: Majdanek.…………………………………………………………………………….14 A Historical Overview (14) Majdanek: The Article Collection (17) The JTA on Majdanek (17) The New York Times on Majdanek (28) The London Times on Majdanek (35) Conclusions (37) Chapter 2: Belzec.………………………………………………………………………………..39 A Historical Overview (39) Belzec: The Article Collection (41) The JTA on Belzec (41) The New York Times on Belzec (44) The London Times on Belzec (49) Conclusions (49) Chapter 3: Sobibor……………………………………………………………………………….52 A Historical Overview (52) Sobibor: The Article Collection (54) The JTA on Sobibor (54) The New York Times on Sobibor (57) !3 Conclusions (58) Chapter 4: Treblinka……………………………………………………………………………..60 A Historical Overview (60) Treblinka: The Article Collection (62) The JTA on Treblinka (62) The New York Times on Treblinka (72) Conclusions (74) Conclusion.………………………………………………………………………………………76 The Numbers (76) Comparing the Sources (76) Comparing the Themes (82) Final Thoughts (84) Appendices..……………………………………………………………………………………..86 Bibliography.…………………………………………………………………………………….97 !4 Acknowledgements One of the benefits of the technological age has been the advancement of online archiving. Undoubtedly, without the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), the New York Times (NYT), and The London Times (The Times) online archives, this thesis would not be possible. In addition, the wonderful staff at the University of Amsterdam’s library were quick to answer my questions, as I sought access to the NYT and The Times archives. Two other places that have benefited the thesis, throughout its duration, were the NIOD library and the Science Park Study Center and Library. The NIOD offered an array of literature for perusal, and an incredible place to work. The Science Park Study Center and Library bore the entirety of my printing needs, which were seemingly limitless to my peers. I thank their staff for their patience and assistance throughout the process. I would also like to thank my professors from this past academic year for their advice and suggestions that helped me better myself as a researcher, writer, student, and person. Thank you Dr. Nanci Adler, Dr. Kjell Anderson, Dr. Karel Berkhoff, Prof. Dr. Johannes Houwink ten Cate, and Dr. U"ur Ümit Üngör for your support, guidance, and aid throughout this past year. Your guidance meant more than you could ever truly know, and added to the great depth of knowledge you presented to me. I am grateful to call myself your student, as the education you have provided me was rich, abundant, and created a strong foundation to pursue my academic career further. I also thank those whom served on the Board of the Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship (AES), and elected to put their trust in me in the form of the AES Scholarship. Without this scholarship, I would not have had the good fortune to attend one of the most stimulating universities in the world. Thank you for the great honor of this prestigious grant that enabled me to pursue my dreams at your excellent institution. Prior to my studies at the University of Amsterdam, I had the joy of undertaking my undergraduate degree at West Texas A&M University, and Jagiellonian University. I thank Drs: Bruce Brasington, Jim Calvi, Paul Clark, Anand Commissiong, Marty Kuhlman, Jessica Mallard, Keith Price, Wade Shaffer, Dwight Vick, Bryan Vizzini, and Reed Welch from West Texas A&M. I also thank my former mentors. First, Dr. Elizabeth Morrow Clark, one of the finest professors a !5 student could ever ask for. She taught me invaluable lessons during my time at West Texas A&M: 1) a cluttered desk is a sign of a functioning intellectual, 2) passion and emotion are central to finding yourself as a researcher, writer, and historian - when used correctly, you can produce something amazing, 3) she pushed me to take risks, and to never settle for the mundane, 4) she helped me find my voice not only as a writer, but in the classroom as well, and finally, 5) for never giving up on me as a student, writer, and friend. You remain an invaluable part of who I am today, and who I hope to be tomorrow. Another mentor along my journey was Dr. Annamaria Orla-Bukowska of Jagiellonian University. When I attended Jagiellonian University, I believed I would end up studying European history - specifically, the rise and use of nationalism. Luckily, Dr. Elizabeth Clark knew Dr. Annamaria Orla-Bukowska, saw that she was teaching a class on the Holocaust and its Cultural Meanings, and recommended it immediately. It was this class that sparked my interest in Holocaust and genocide studies. Her class was always stirring, vivid, engrossing, and invaluable. It influenced me so greatly, that for the remainder of my courses, I made sure to write papers that reflected both the course and the Holocaust. Her passion and knowledge were vast, and she was kind enough to meet with me to suggest future universities to apply to and attend. For her support, caring spirit, and vibrant lectures, she is thanked profusely. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and my family. To my Dutch peers, I thank you for the constant reminder that you can always make time to relax. I especially thank my closest friends: Koen Sinke, Robbin Looye, Jos Ruijter, Mark Spill, Chung Dang, Pedro Jordana, Gerben Post, Tessa Bouwman, Danielle Schalkwijk, Tim van Noord, and Marieke Verweij for their constant support, hospitality, and reminders to enjoy this beautiful city with friends over a beer or a party. Finally, I would not be half the man I am today, nor student for that matter, without the unwavering support of my family. No matter what changes I made in my life, or what adventures I sought to go on, my parents always supported my choice. Be it fiscally, physically, emotionally, or psychologically, they have always been there for me. I thank them for this, as my life to date would not be possible without them. From birth to late night Skype calls, they never failed to answer. For all the times that they said they were proud of me, they believed in me, and that they !6 loved me, I thank them. And it is far past time to say, that I am proud to call you my Mother and Father. I love you both, and believe in you too. Before turning to the chapters themselves, I want to dedicate this work to my grandmother. She passed away in October, after her battle with dementia, depression, and multiple injurious falls. In my life, nothing hurt more than the day I received the news, and not being able to return home for her funeral. She was a wonderful woman, and her spirit lives on in us. Not a day goes by where I do not miss her, especially this past spring. She taught me: 1) the difference between being a child and a man meant: being respectful, helping others, and not starting conflicts, 2) that time with family is to be cherished and treasured, as life makes no guarantees, and 3) always bleed blue when supporting anyone, anything, or any team because loyalty is important throughout life. Undoubtedly, she would have loved watching our Kentucky Wildcats basketball team play and chase history. She would have loved to see her grandkids graduate with two receiving Master’s degrees, and one a Bachelor’s degree. She would have loved to see us today, and been proud of us for every step we have taken since childhood. In honor of her life, love, and lessons, I dedicate this work to my grandmother. !7 Introduction One of the most important sources that has provided information to society has been the media. Broadly, the media can be understood to mean newspapers, radio broadcasts, television and television reporting, Internet news, and podcasts. During the Holocaust, of these aforementioned methods, the newspaper was the predominant means to keep informed. Surprisingly, only a select few works have dealt with journalism and the Holocaust. As a result, this thesis was intended to contribute to the scant literature on this subject. Unlike most extant studies, this work does not deal with a single newspaper, or the Holocaust as a whole. Instead, this thesis utilized two newspapers, one news agency, one main time period, the Operation Reinhard camps, and Majdanek; similar in many ways to the Operation Reinhard camps. It should be clarified here, that the term Operation Reinhard camps applies to Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka. This term will be used throughout the thesis to combine these camps under a single phrase, as it has become a widely-used moniker for them. Thus, when it is used within the analyses of the articles, it is my own use of the term; not the article’s or journalist’s. Historical Nature of this Study Between 1940 and 1944, Majdanek, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka were constructed, and functioned as killing centers for the Nazis. Whether they ended in 1943 or 1944, they all ended the same way. They were all liberated by the Red Army, and neither the US nor the British saw them - until of course, correspondents were allowed to visit the camps in 1944 and 1945.1 It was then that journalists like W.H.