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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE November 7, 1986 Page 3 Historian: Waldheim facilitated deportations by Richard Bono TSI staff writer It is to the credit of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) that the organization did not stop its investigation into the apparent Nazi past of Austrian President Kurt Waldheim after being told by historian Robert Herzstein that it was not Jews who bore the brunt of the large-scale deporta tion in the Kozara region of Yugoslavia in the summer of 1942. “They did not say to me when I found out this information ‘This does not interest us. We’re a Jew ish organization and that’s not our business,”’ said Dr. Herzstein. “Quite the contrary, they felt that on human terms, this was equally important. This has not been brought out in the press, which loves to relish this as a Jewish issue.” Dr. Herzstein, who teaches contemporary Europe and facism at the University of South Carol ina, was contracted by the World Jewish Congress in March of this year to research Waldheim’s past. He quickly discovered it was Yugoslavians, Italians and Greeks who were the main victims of the Nazi “pacification” campaign in the Kozara region of Yugoslavia where an estimated 80,000 peo ple were sent to German labor camps. In a recent speech to the annual board of governors meeting of B’nai B’rith District Five, Herz stein also noted that his interest in Waldheim, the former secre tary-general of the United Na tions, is that of an historian. “I don’t have any strong per sonal feelings towards Waldheim,” Herzstein told The Southern Israelite. “My point is to present a completely objective view of his missing years, both wartime and postwar. I am an historian. I want to show what he was doing during the years that he com pletely blotted out of his record.” Herzstein’s work for the WJC has been completed. But, having been subsequently asked by both ABC News and the New York Times to conduct further research on Waldheim’s past, Herzstein said he decided to write a book, which he has tentatively titled “Waldheim, The Missing Years. EXECUTIVE PARK CHIROPRACTIC • Occupational Stress • Headaches • Neck & Back Pain • Sports Injuries • Pediatric Chiropractic • Personal Injury • Workers Comp DR. CRAIG A SENFT CHIROPRACTOR 35 Executive Park Drive Suite 3505 Atlanta. Georgia 30329 (404) 633-6787 An Historian’s Personal Search for a Hidden Past.” He said he does not expect to be finished with the book until 1988. After months of denial and controversy, Waldheim finally acknowledged that he had played a role in the Nazi “pacification” operation during World War II. He previously maintained that he was transferred almost imme diately after the operation began to an Italian infantry division 180 miles away where he served as a liaison officer. “He did deny it at one point,” Herzstein said. “His son told me to my face that he wasn’t there. But Waldheim was on the list that I showed him, proving that he had to have been there for payroll purposes.” Herzstein said, however, that Waldheim’s admission that he was a “supply officer” at the time of the “pacification” effort “does not further my knowledge of what he was specifically doing. He has not told us what he was doing in Kozara to deserve the (King Zvonimir) medal (for hero ism under fire).” Observers have noted the cur ious connection of one being awarded such a medal for being a “supply officer.” “I’m trying to be fair to Wald heim,” the historian said. “The worst thing to do is to make an accusation and then have to back off. You don’t make charges you cannot support because then he can say everything else is ba loney.” Herzstein said that while he does not think Waldheim was a sadist, “he made the deportation machine work. Waldheim was responsible for the deportation of more than 25,000 Italians— non-coms and enlisted men. He did it personally.” Herzstein adds, “These were labor camps, to be fair. These were not death camps. But this man made possible the deporta tion to a program that was ad judged so criminal after the war, nor a commander, but rather a “facilitator.” “Thanks to people like him and other Waldheims, the depor tations could be carried out without a hitch,” Herzstein said. Commenting on Waldheim’s apparently unrepentent attitude toward his past, Herzstein said, “I don’t know what was in his heart, but he did say he did his duty as a soldier. “I think Waldheim was a pliant, very talented individual,” Herz stein said. “He said he did what ever he was supposed to do and it’s my job to show what that was. In some cases, it’s not par ticularly pretty. In other cases, it’s ordinary, legitimate military work.” Herzstein is preparing to travel abroad to research the European archives about Waldheim’s past. He said the fact that Waldheim was an officer of junior rank makes it a difficult task for he did not leave a “paper trail” like commanding generals do. Temple Sinai features Howard Stone Nov. 21 Robert Herzstein that the man who headed it, Fritz Alpo, was hanged as a major war criminal.” Meanwhile, Attorney General Edwin Meese has been ponder ing whether to bar the Austrian president from entering the Unit ed States because of his alleged involvement in Nazi operations. The Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigations recom mended six months ago that Waldheim be denied entry into this country. Meese has yet to make his decision. Herzstein said he considers Waldheim neither an originator Howard Stone, writer and consultant to Jewish organiza tions, will be the guest speaker at the Temple Sinai-Israel Bonds Friday night services on Nov. 21, according to Peter Savitz, chair man of Temple Sinai’s Israel Bonds committee. Formerly vice president of a major advertising and public re lations firm, Stone joined the United Jewish Appeal in 1971 and served as director of the Young Leadership Cabinet as well as director of overseas pro grams. He lived on a kibbutz in Israel for several years and later lived in Jerusalem as an adviser to the Ministry of Health. His short stories, poetry and articles have appeared in leading publications around the world. He studied at Brandeis Uni versity and the Hebrew Univer sity of Jerusalem and holds a master’s degree in English and in Near Eastern Studies. Howard Stone Stone recently left the UJA to devote his time to writing and lecturing and to serve as a con sultant to a number of travel companies, Jewish organizations and corporations doing business in the Middle East. For more information, call Temple Sinai or the Israel Bonds office, 634-9500.