Herman Goldstein

Herman Goldstein

Herman Goldstein was born in Iași, Romania on April 23, 1923.

Herman was Jewish. His Parents were Ester and Iancu.

From 1940-1944, Romania allied itself with Nazi Germany. It was a very Antisemitic Country- many believed that Communism was to be blamed on the Jews.

Romania operated similarly to Nazi Germany. Romania even had its own Concentration Camps. Hitler himself was surprised at times by the brutality of the Romanian Government.

It was no shock in when Romania aided the Nazi invasion of the USSR in June of 1941. Around the time of the Invasion, the Romanian Leader ordered that all Jews between the ages of 18 and 60 in Herman’s Region were to be deported to the Romanian Concentration Camp of Târgu Jiu.

Herman, who had recently turned 18, was included in that order. However, he did not go. He stayed in his home.

On June 24^th, the city of Iași was bombed by the Soviets. The damage was not severe, but it sent the Residents into a mass hysteria.

Two days later, another bomb strike occurred which killed 600 People (including 38 Jews). The surviving Residents blamed the Jews for the bombings and a violent Pogrom broke out.

From June 29^th to July 6^th, 13,266 Jews were killed by Romanian Police and a mob of “Civilians”.

Women and Children were raped, People were tortured, beaten, shot, and lynched. Just because they were Jewish. Non-Jews who tried to save Jews (including the Clergy of the town) were shot.

Herman was one of those 13,266 that were murdered.

In 1946, 57 People were tried for the Massacre. One was executed and the rest received heavy prison sentences.