Kalush (Kałusz) | Ivano-Frankivsk

/ Ambiance in the witness’ house © Markel Redondo - Yahad-In Unum Maria S., born in 1929, recalled that the Jews were gathered in a ghetto. She managed to go into the ghetto with a Polish friend. © Markel Redondo – Yahad- In Unum Maria S., born in 1929, witnessed the mass shooting of about 50 Jews at the Jewish cemetery © Markel Redondo - Yahad-In Unum Yaroslav M., born in 1932, saw the column of Jews, escorted by the Jewish police. He was in the yard of his friend’s house when he saw the column. Some Jewish men were forced to dig a grave near the Jewish cemetery. © Markel Redondo - Yahad-In Unum The Yahad team during the interview © Markel Redondo - Yahad-In Unum Location of the execution site at the old Jewish cemetery © Markel Redondo - Yahad-In Unum

Execution of Jews in Kalush

1 Killing site(s)

Kind of place before:
Jewish cemetery
Memorials:
Yes
Period of occupation:
1941-1944
Number of victims:
6000

Witness interview

Maria S. describes: “One time in the city, I saw the shooting of around 50 Jews in the Jewish cemetery. A grave was dug in advance. There were some men, women and children. I didn’t see the specifics of the shooting.” (Witness N°1834, interviewed in Kalush, on September 3, 2013.)

German archives

“After several small aktions in October and November 1942, during which the elderly people and the people who couldn’t work were shot, the liquidation of the ghetto took place in December 1942.”[Deposition of Anna R., November 2, 1954; B162-4996,].

Historical note

Kalush is located 27 km north- northwest of Ivano-Frankisk. According to different sources, in 1939, there were about 4,000-5,000 Jews living in the town. The majority of Jews lived off of trade. Under  Polish administration, the town was occupied by Soviets in September 1939. When WWII broke out, the town was occupied by Germans from 1941-1944. 

Holocaust by bullets in figures

The first anti-Jewish Aktion conducted by the Security Police took place at the end of August 1941.  During this operation, 380 Jews were shot. Meanwhile, a ghetto was established in which 6,300 Jews remained living, according to some sources. In April 1942, 800 Jews who were unable to work were shot. In August 1942, about 200 families were forcibly displaced to the Kalush ghetto from neighboring villages, like Perehinske, Uhryniv, Yaseniv, Sivka, Yasen, Zaviy, Berlohy, Petriv, Novitsa, Grabovka, and Kamin.  There were several small-scale executions of Jews from the ghetto, which took place in mid-September or mid-October 1942 until the remaining Jews were deported to Belzec.

Other links

Nearby villages

  • Sivka-Kaluska
  • Broshniv-Osada
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