The Iasi Pogrom

On June 22, 1941, "Operation Barbarossa", the Romanian-German offensive against the USSR, was launched. Iasi became an important railway hub for transporting troops to the front. At that time, about 45,000 Jews lived in Iasi.

The Soviet bombing of the city did not cause significant damage, but rumors spread about the Jews in Iasi offered aid to the Soviets.

On June 27, 1941, Ion Antonescu ordered the Iasi garrison commander, Colonel Lupu, to evacuate the Jews from the city. On the night of June 28/29, the Army, the Police, and the Gendarmerie, along with German soldiers and civilians began arresting and executing Jews.

On June 29, 1941, several thousand Jews were gathered in the Iaşi Police Station`s courtyard, and they were shot.

On June 30, 1941, at dawn, two trains with wagons for animal transport, crowded with Jews, left Iasi. 

The Iaşi-Călăraşi Train had 35 wagons in which approximately 5,000 people were crowded. The road lasted 6 days and stopped in several places to disembark the bodies of the deads: Târgu-Frumos, Mirceşti, Săbăoani, Roman, Mărăşeşti, Inoteşti. Only 1,011 people arrived in Călălaşi alive.

The Train Iaşi- Podu Iloaiei traveled 20 km in 8 hours. Approximately 1,900 Jews were loaded into 19 wagons. Only 706 survived the journey.

IANCU ȚUCĂRMAN survived the Iaşi-Podu Iloaiei train. Of the 137 Jews in his wagon, only 8 survived.

After a few months, they were allowed to return to Iasi. Until the end of the war, Iancu submitted forced labor at the Electric Factory, at a textile factory, at the CFR Socola station, or clearing away the snow during winters.

Those who survived the Death Trains, as well as the Jews who remained in the city, continued to be discriminated against and restricted until the end of the war.

In early July 1941, the authorities decided that Jews should have a distinctive sign. In many localities in Moldova, the Yellow Star has been worn for several months.

Iancu Ţucărman kept until nowadays that piece of material that in 1941 he was forced to wear for the guilt of being born a Jew.