Joseph Yuzefovich

Trade union and public activist. Born in Warsaw. He lived in Moscow from 1916 onward. A member of the Bund and the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). During the 1930s, he worked clandestinely in New York and San Francisco as a representative of the Profintern. In the 1940s, he served on the Main Editorial Board of the Soviet Information Bureau (Sovinformburo). He was one of the defendants in the ‘Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee case’–the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee having been established in 1942 to raise support for the Soviet Union from ‘Jewish brothers throughout the world’. The Committee's activities helped facilitate the opening of the Second Front.

He was arrested in January 1949 and charged with Jewish nationalism, creating an anti-Soviet underground organization, maintaining ties with American intelligence, and treason. The testimony against him was fabricated, and he was subjected to beatings and torture. The trial was held behind closed doors–without the public, the prosecution, or the defense present. In July 1952, he was sentenced to death by firing squad with confiscation of property. He was executed on 12 August 1952. His ashes were buried in Common Grave No. 3 for unclaimed remains at the New Donskoy Cemetery in Moscow. He was rehabilitated in 1955.

1950s

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The Final Statement

‘I never deceived the Party or acted duplicitously. I never participated in any anti-Party groups and have always upheld the Party’s line.’

I ask the court, when deciding my fate, to take into account that it has been established during the trial that I did not participate in any conspiracy with American businessmen.

I ask the court to take into account that I never passed any intelligence materials to anyone. I handed over Institute Material No. 205 while carrying out Lozovsky’s instructions, and I made the mistake of failing to obtain written authorization. For that, I should bear responsibility through Party disciplinary procedures.

I believe that my participation in selecting materials for the Black Book should likewise be dealt with through Party disciplinary procedures.

The court also established that I took no part in drafting the memorandum concerning Crimea.

I believe that the trial has established that I harbored no nationalist ideas or sentiments and that I consistently spoke out against them.

I ask the court to take into account that, during the trial, all the defendants withdrew the testimony they had given during the preliminary investigation concerning my alleged statements about the leaders of the Party and the Government.

It never occurred to me that hostile activities could have been carried out within the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, since its work was supervised by the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks). That is why, with a clear conscience, I can tell the Military Collegium and the Party that I am not guilty of the crimes imputed to me.

I ask the court to take into account that I served the Party and the Government faithfully and honestly for 30 years and had no connection with Jewish organizations.

I never deceived the Party or acted duplicitously. I never participated in any anti-Party groups and have always upheld the Party’s line. I may have made mistakes or shown a lack of foresight, but I could never betray the Party or my Motherland. This accusation is monstrous.

My conscience before the Party and the Motherland is clear.

If the Military Collegium harbors even the slightest doubt about my honesty and innocence, then I ask that I be sentenced to the supreme punishment.

11 July 1952,
Military Collegium of the Supreme Court, Moscow, USSR.
Source: Unjust Trial. The Last Stalin-Era Execution.
Further reading: Wikipedia.
Photo: Jewish-memorial.narod.ru.