The Great Famine in Ukraine, which occurred in 1932-33, is one of the greatest tragedies in 20th century history. Joseph Stalin needed to raise the funds necessary to build a strong army that would establish Soviet order around the world. The crisis artificially created by the communist government claimed nearly 10 million lives. - The world turned into hell for us, there were not even enough weeds in the meadow," recalled Zofia Pawłowska, a Polish woman who survived that ordeal.