ŢINUTUL HERŢA: CAUZELE OCUPAŢIEI SOVIETICE DIN 28 IUNIE 1940

Abstract

One of the less understood aspects of the Soviet aggression from 1940 and annexation of the Eastern Romanian territories Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina regards the Hertsa district. In the diplomatic note (ultimatum) of the Soviet Government were demanded Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. Hertsa district never was a part of Bessarabia or Bukovina. In the Romanian and Moldovan historiographies are used a few myths about the causes of the Hertsa district annexation: the exceeding of the border line from the map by the Soviet troops of occupation; Hertsa zone was a part of the Cernăuţi district (due to some recent modifications of the territorial-administrative boundaries within Romanian state), so the Soviet authorities annexed it with all Cernăuţi district; historically Hertsa zone was a part of the old Moldovan Cernăuţi district (ţinut); the role of Jewish community of Hertsa town in the days of the Soviet occupation (Junet 28-29, 1940) (oral sources); according to the Buftea treaty from 1918, Romania ceded some territories (including Hertsa zone) near Bucovina to Austria (i.e. Bukovina). The author demonstrates that from the very beginning the Soviet authorities wanted Hertsa district and did meant to occupy it in order to have a security zone near Noua Suliţă sector of the railway Lvov – Chişinău (evaluated as a strategic one) and, most probably, near Cernăuţi city.