46 Friday, October 10, 1980 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Ukrainian Trial in Philadelphia Adjourned for Medical Treatment PHILADELPHIA (JTA) — The denaturalization trial of Wolodymir Osidach has been adjourned until Wednesday due to his hos- pitalization with chest pains. The 76-year-old Osidach, who is accused of concealing his collaboration with Nazi forces occupying the Ukraine in order to enter this country and ob- tain citizenship, has had a history of heart problems. Before the trial adjourned last week in Federal Dis : W.C. Trojan trict Court, the prosecution had completed its case which included eyewitnes- ses testimony on Osidach's role as police chief in the Ukrainian village of Rawa Ruska. Witnesses had been brought from Israel, Canada, and the United States, and on videotape from the Soviet Union. The defense, which opened its case Sept. 25, maintains that Ukrainian police were only responsible for keeping order in the non-Jewish part of Rawa Ruska. According to defense attorney Louis Konowol, they never entered the ghetto, never rounded up Jews, never herded them to cattle cars for transport to the death camp at Belzec or guarded the slave laborers who turned the Jewish cemetery into paving mate- rial. As its first witness, the defense called Petro Mir- chuk, a retired Ukrainian political science profes- sor who himself survived three years in Auschwitz and has been honored by the Philadelphia Asso- ciation of Jewish New Americans and the local Jewish Identity Center for his book, "In the German Mills of Death." Jewish collaborators, not Ukrainian policemen like Osidach, assisted the Nazis in "beating, tortur- ing and murdering the Jewish population," he testified. Mirchuk contended that evidence to the contrary was the result of "Jewish brainwashing." "At one point, I thought Ukrainian police might have helped transport Jews," he said, "but I was brainwashed by German Student Promoting Holocaust Awareness Here Jewish literature, and since that time I have changed my thinking." Under cross-examination by Justice Department at- torney Rodney Smith, how- ever, Mirchuk admitted to have done no research about the treatment of Jews by the Ukrainian police and that he knew nothing specifi- cally about Rawa Ruska. He also conceded that he had leapt to the defense of his friend Osidach without knowing the charges against him. Both Mirchuk and Osidach were members of the Organization of Uk- rainian Nationalists. The defense tried to show that one of the presecution's witnesses, whose deposition taken in Sarasota, Fla., was admitted into evidence, was himself a "worker" for the Nazi secret police. Two gov- ernment witnesses, vid- eotaped in the Soviet Union, identified Miroslav Stasiu, who deposed under the name of Jaroslaw Tesarowycz, said that Osidach commanded the Ukrainian police in Rawa Ruska, as a "worker of the Gestapo criminal police." The defense showed reporters a May 23, 1980 deposition in which Stasiu admitted entering the U.S. in the 1950s using an assumed name. He also admitted failing to provide immigration of- ficials with complete in- formation about his war- time activities and failing to admit being arrested in the 1930s for Ukrainian nationalist activities. Neal Sher, deputy direc- tor of the Justice Depart- ment's Office of Special In- c vestigations and chief pros- ecution attorney, refused to discuss any of the allega- tions made against Stasiu. He also declined to indicate whether Stasiu was ul investigation for possi,i immigration violations. During the two weeks that the Osidach trial has been going on, considerable hostility has built between the local Jewish and Ukrai- nian communities. While Judge Bechtle has strictly enforced courtroom de- corum, threatening to have spectators removed after the one outburst that oc- curred in court, several con- frontations have taken place in the crowded hall- ways. youth the opportunity to By HEIDI PRESS "It's not only the Jews participate in acts of re- who say 'Never again!' but conciliation with those who suffered under others too." Susanne Willems, a Nazism. The agency promotes in- "Son of C. Trojan" Christian, West German university student is tergroup and interfaith re- CUSTOM FURNITURE spreading this message lations in the hope of pre- & CARPET CLEANING throughout the U.S. this venting another tragedy ON_ LOCATION year as an intern for the Ac- like the Holocaust. It also FREE ESTIMATES tion Reconciliation-Service sends student interns to for Peace in North America perform various social serv- Phone organization, working in ice functions. Some 40 576;1140 cooperation with the Anti- people go to Israel every PARAMONT PROMOTIONS Defamation League of Bnai year to perform social serv- ice tasks. GREATER DETROIT 855-1400 Brith. What can Ms. Willems was in De- Asked how she was re- ceived, a Christian and a troit recently to speak to Jewish groups, among the German, speaking about DO FOR YOU? them CHAIM — Children of preventing another Holocaust Survivors Asso- Holocaust, Miss Willems We can provide: ciation in Michigan, Temple said most of the reaction October 17, 18, 19 • your candlelighting ceremony in poetry Israel religious school was positive, "but I met W. 8 Mile Rd. Armory • , a Balloon Man for your child's birthday party classes and at Mercy Col- people who did not feel com- Near Northland • Strolling Strings for wedding ceremony and dinner music lege classes on the fortable with me speaking Daily 12 to 10 a magician to entertain at Bnai Mitzvah Holocaust, taught by Sister about the Holocaust." Sun. 12 to 6 • a woodwind quintet for the unique wedding Carol Rittner, who She said she learned • - a caricature artist for any kind of_get-together 135 EXHIBITORS spearheaded the univer- about the Holocaust from • professional hostesses for a club golf outing sity's current lecture series • -a classical guitarist and flutist for smaller receptions her mother, who also intro- and art exhibit on the duced her to Holocaust sur- ................* • a "double-talker" to liven things up at your corporation party Holocaust. vivors. The schools don't • a "pick-pocket" who will "steal your guests blind" Action Reconciliation, teach students about the SUITE 110-HERITAGE PLAZA . p a mime artist to astound at any function an organization formed Holocaust until the 10th • a Dixieland band to blend with your New Orleans theme 24901 NORTHWESTERN HWY. A in 1958 by a branch of the grade, she stated. • a friendly staff who will be most happy to answer your most SOUTHFIELD Protestant Church, is common or uncommon requests! SUMMER HOURS: V Miss Willems said she aimed aid giving German M.-F. 9-5, Sat. 10-3 got involved because "we realize we want to make JEWELERS good — we want to pre- * vent a repetition" of the Holocaust. She said her "mission" was a learning experience. "There is more need for in- `A Unique Shopping Experience - A Cut Above the Rest!" 1 tergroup understanding, interreligious dialogue." Including (East of Northwestern) She said her motivation . PACKAGE to work in the Jewish com- LIQUO Southfield munity came out of reading DEALER Sunday 11-8 Monday Thru Saturday 9-11. Auschwitz survivors' re- ports and a trip to Au- schwitz. "(It) gave me more insight into what history means to people." U.S.D.A. PRIME U.S.D.A. PRIME FRESH FRESH Her family supports her ROUND PORTERHOUSE OR BEEF BEEF work, but they were un- happy that she interrupted Parties STEAK Weddings T-BONE STEAKS LIVER BRISKET her history and law studies at Freiburg University. Real Estate Wills FENBYESTEIN TALENT AGENCY ANTIQUE SHOW 357-1056 I IS STILL BUYING • MARKET Gold Silver & Platinum 26020'W. 12 MILE RD. Sterling • • ♦ Tea Sets & Tableware • ****************+( VIDEOTAPING 354-2666 NOW! A FULL LINE OF PRIME BEEF AND POULTRY $4.49 lb. , $ 1.99 lb. U.S.D.A. PRIME FRESH GROUND 100% ALL BEEF HAMBURGER $1.29 lb. LOX NOVA SCOTIA OR REG. X8.89 16 . WHOLE NEW YORK STRIP STEAK $ 1 59 X1.39 16 . MUENSTER CHEESE $ 1 " lb. COMPLETE LINE OF CHEESES COMPLETE DELICATESSEN DEPT. HOT & COLD SANDWICHES DAILY TO GO ONE OF MICHIGAN'S LARGEST LIQUOR AND WINE SELECTION PRODUCE SPECIALS DAILY • v< A COCA COLA 8-PACK 9 99] HEAD LETTUCE 49c We Accept Visa and Mastercharge Miss Willems said that she has seen a lot of documentaries about the Holocaust. The American mini-series "Holocaust" helped break the taboo about not coming to terms with the Nazi era, she said. On the upsurge of neo- Nazi activities, Miss Willems said that part of her duties as an Action Re- conciliation intern is to point out the danger of these groups. She said she rejects those "who want to renew the Hitler ideology." Hopefully, by promoting Holocaust awareness she will insprie other young adults to do the same. Children Speeches Screenings PROFESSIONAL QUALITY Contact Barry Minowitz 552-9013 videocraft, inc.