Vedmezhe | Sumy

Execution of Jews in Vedmezhe

1 Killing site(s)

Kind of place before:: Trench on the hill
Memorials:: Yes
Period of occupation:: 1941-1944
Number of victims:: 16

Soviet archives

“In the first days of the occupation an auxiliary police group was created in the village of Vedmezhe […]. All its members committed violence, torture and killings against the defenseless civilian population. The first victims of these criminals and German invaders were the Jews of Vedmezhe shot on September 27th, 1941. Among them was the family of Boris Ilkovich Khlevner […] and 10 other Jews evacuated from Chernihiv Jews. They were shot in a trench on the hill close to the road leading to the hamlet Khreshchatyk. [...]
On November 11th, 1941, another execution of three young Jewish girls aged 17-18 from Chernihiv took place. They were the daughters of the people shot on September 27th, 1941. Before being shot near the brickyard, they were raped by the police and the Germans.” [Act of the State ExtraordinaryCommission; RG22.002M: 7021-74-483]

Historical note

Vedmezhe is located 120 km west of Sumy. As far as we know based on the archives and Yahad’s field research, there were few Jews living in Vedmezhe before the war. They lived off small-scale trade or handcraft. The village was occupied by the German troops in early September 1941.

Holocaust by bullets in figures

Unfortunately, Yahad was not able to find the witnesses to the execution in Vedmezhe. However, after having analyzed the historical sources and engraved plaques of two monuments found in Vedmezhe, Yahad can conclude that there were two executions committed by the Germans and the auxiliary police in Vedmezhe. During the first execution that took place on September 27^th, 1941, 3 local Jews and 10 Jews evacuated from Chernihiv were shot in a trench on the hill. The second shooting was conducted on November 11^th, 1941. The victims were the daughters of Jews killed during the first execution. Three young Jewish girls aged 17-18, who had probably been hiding, were raped and shot near the brickyard.

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