Selected text
July 10, 1941 German forces entered the city. Before the war 22,000
Jews lived in Vitebsk. After the occupation German propaganda portrayed
Jews as culprits of World War II and enemies of Germany. The destruction of
Jews in Vitebsk began with the order that all Jews should be registered
within two days and whoever does not do this could be shot. The following
sign appeared: "All Jews, from the age of 10 years, must sew yellow
symbols on ones clothing. One on the chest and the other on the back." My
mother did not obey the order. The next order was that all Jewish men must
show up for the work of cleaning the street, since the Germans said that
Jews were also the culprits of the fire in Vitebsk. All those who showed
up were sent to work for two days and then 400 men were sent to the Tula
ravine and shot as the punishment "for the burning of Vitebsk".
All remaining Jews were ordered to move to the other bank of the
Dvina, but were allowed to have only one trip's worth of belongings with
them. Since the bridge was destroyed the only way to cross was by boat.
The Germans placed criminals from the local population on the oars and they
carried women, children and the elderly out to the middle of the river and
threw them from the boats and drowned them. Those who tried to save
themselves were hit with the oars. Germans on the shore took pictures of
these scenes and together with the local police joked and laughed. In this
manner, several thousand people were murdered. The Jews who remained alive
were forced into the building of a local club, put barbed wire around it
and placed a post with the sign "Ghetto, beware of infection!" Germans
guarded the ghetto around the clock. It was forbidden to talk with the
imprisoned. At night drunk Germans would come and rape girls before their
mothers' eyes. The people in the ghetto did not receive any food and were
so weak that it was senseless to guard them. Even if there was a desire to
escape they did not have enough strength to do so. From our bank we could
watch how the prisoners moved and others, not moving, lay among the wreck.
Up to 60 people died daily in the ghetto. In some time according to
a fight against an epidemic, all those still alive were taken away in cars
to a ravine in Tula. At the same four or five cars came up to the ravine.
The people in them were tortured and shot while the rest waited their turn.
Children were thrown into pits alive. All in all 22,000 Jews were
murdered in Vitebsk. How many survived and left to evacuation, I do not
know.
Jews lived in Vitebsk. After the occupation German propaganda portrayed
Jews as culprits of World War II and enemies of Germany. The destruction of
Jews in Vitebsk began with the order that all Jews should be registered
within two days and whoever does not do this could be shot. The following
sign appeared: "All Jews, from the age of 10 years, must sew yellow
symbols on ones clothing. One on the chest and the other on the back." My
mother did not obey the order. The next order was that all Jewish men must
show up for the work of cleaning the street, since the Germans said that
Jews were also the culprits of the fire in Vitebsk. All those who showed
up were sent to work for two days and then 400 men were sent to the Tula
ravine and shot as the punishment "for the burning of Vitebsk".
All remaining Jews were ordered to move to the other bank of the
Dvina, but were allowed to have only one trip's worth of belongings with
them. Since the bridge was destroyed the only way to cross was by boat.
The Germans placed criminals from the local population on the oars and they
carried women, children and the elderly out to the middle of the river and
threw them from the boats and drowned them. Those who tried to save
themselves were hit with the oars. Germans on the shore took pictures of
these scenes and together with the local police joked and laughed. In this
manner, several thousand people were murdered. The Jews who remained alive
were forced into the building of a local club, put barbed wire around it
and placed a post with the sign "Ghetto, beware of infection!" Germans
guarded the ghetto around the clock. It was forbidden to talk with the
imprisoned. At night drunk Germans would come and rape girls before their
mothers' eyes. The people in the ghetto did not receive any food and were
so weak that it was senseless to guard them. Even if there was a desire to
escape they did not have enough strength to do so. From our bank we could
watch how the prisoners moved and others, not moving, lay among the wreck.
Up to 60 people died daily in the ghetto. In some time according to
a fight against an epidemic, all those still alive were taken away in cars
to a ravine in Tula. At the same four or five cars came up to the ravine.
The people in them were tortured and shot while the rest waited their turn.
Children were thrown into pits alive. All in all 22,000 Jews were
murdered in Vitebsk. How many survived and left to evacuation, I do not
know.
Period
Year
1941
Location
Vitebsk
Belarus
Interview
emma nikonova
Tag(s)