2 Execution site(s)
Vladimir G., born in 1927: "Just before the shootings, the people were taken near the graves, which had already been dug. The Rabbi went first and asked the people to stay calm because it was their destiny." (Witness N°348 interviewed in Shchuchyn, on November 10, 2010)
"At the end of April, a group of POWs, civilians and women were transferred to Camp 521 in Shchuchin. 98 prisoners, 40 civilians and 128 women were confined in this camp. All the inmates had to work, repairing shoes and clothes for the German army. The POWs were taken to perform other hard labor in the city and on the highways." [Act of the Soviet Extraordinary State Commission, RG 22.002 7021-81/15]
"There was an Aktion in Shchuchyn and Vasilisski on May 6 and 7. 5,000 Jews were killed." [Testimony of Wilne Churban, B162-3408]
Shchuchyn is a city 60 km east of Grodno. In 1939, out of a population of 5300, there were 3000 Jews. The city was famous for its market, which brought together the Jews from all of the regional districts. There were 2 synagogues and 2 Jewish cemeteries. The city was under German occupation from 1941 to 1944.
On June 27– 28, 1941, between 300 and 400 Jews were killed by local Polish residents during a pogrom that occurred during a power vacuum. On July 14, 97 Jewish men were also shot by local Polish police. According to witnesses interviewed by Yahad In - Unum, hangings were also regularly organized in the city square.
In August, a fenced ghetto was established on Krzywa Street. In the following days, almost 600 Jews were shot in the Jewish cemetery. When the ghetto was liquidated in 1942, nearly 2000 Jews were killed near a forest close to the city. Yevgueni K. witnessed the shooting with his binoculars, hidden in the forest. He said that the Jews had to undress close to the pit, and then put their clothes in different piles, according the type of clothing.
Today, this site is situated on the territory of a former and abandoned Soviet strategic bomber base.
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