Kolky (Kolki) | Volyn

Kolky is located on the banks of the Styr River, about 50 km northeast of Lutsk. The first records  of the Jewish community date back to the mid-16^th century. The Jews suffered from the waves of pogroms carried out in 1648. In 1897, the Jews represented the majority of the population, comprising 60% of total population. As this region is known for its timber, the majority of Jews work in the timber and agricultural products trade, while others were artisans, such as tailors, shoemakers, and blacksmiths. There were several synagogues in Kolky. During the interwar period, Kolky was under Polish rule. In 1939, it was annexed by Soviet Union following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Since that time, all Jewish cultural and political organizations, such as Zionist movements, were banned and the Hebrew school was closed. On the eve of the war, 860 Jews lived in the village.

The Germans units occupied the village on July 8, 1941. Shortly after the Germans’ arrival, all the Jews were registered and marked with yellow distinguishing badges. Their valuables were confiscated and they were forbidden from leaving the village. A Judenrat and Ukrainian police were created. The first execution was conducted during the  summer of 1941, during which about 50 Jewish men, under the pretext of being taken to carry out forced labor, were shot outside the village. In October 1941, the ghetto was established in the Jewish quarter and existed until its liquidation in late July, 1942. According to the local witness there were two synagogues inside the ghetto. The ghetto numbered about 2,000 Jews, including local Jews and Jewish refugees who had arrived from Poland. The majority of Jewish inmates were shot in late July, 1942. On this day, they were first held in the Jewish school building for 24 hours and then taken in trucks to the forest. Before being shot the Jews were forced to undress. The pit was filled by the requisitioned locals, who were present during the execution. This execution was conducted by the SD unit from Lutsk assisted by German gendarmerie and local police. For several weeks, the police continued to look for the Jews in hiding who had managed to survive the liquidation. Those who were found were shot and buried on the spot. Several isolated shootings took place at this time, including one big shooting during which circa. 100 Jews were shot at the same site in the forest. However, several Jews managed to survive and joined the partisans units. 

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