Plans of Deportation in Yad Vashem Studies, Volume XVI

Plans for Deportation of the Rumanian Jews and Their Discontinuation in Light of Documentary Evidence July-October 1942

In September 1942 the Romanian prime minister approved plans for the deportation of Romania's Jews to the Belzec extermination camp. The Jewish underground leadership, learning about the plan from the Nazi press and from Romanian officials, organized a petition in protest. The U.S. government warned that if deportations are carried out “measures shall be taken against Rumanians living in America.” The American protest made a strong impression on Romania’s ruling circles; also, they did not wish to become a puppet state of Germany. Therefore, despite official approval of the German plan, it was not implemented (see reprinted documents on pp. 391–420).