Articles about Kobrin: 1941 - 1945

Passional of Kobrin Jewry

Terrible losses were put to Kobrin's population by the genocide which is carried out by fascist invaders in the Great Patriotic War. Already soon after occupation of the city, in July, 1941, parts of Gestapo carried out a round-up as a result of which more than 200 captured Jews were shot on fields of a suburban manor of Patriki on city streets. The following large group of Jews was exterminated in August. This time under the pretext of registration for delivery of grants in the building of SSh No. 1 brought together 180 disabled and sick Jews. They were shot near. Name-day.

In the fall of 1941 in Kobrin for Jews the ghetto consisting of two isolated parts was organized. Larger on the area and the population of a ghetto "And" in which slaves were enlisted "perspective and useful" (from the point of view of invaders): various experts and in general stronger physically people. However, for solid bribes the well-founded families which are not meeting the requirements of "usefulness" got here. This ghetto settled down in the southern part of the city limited from the West to the left side of Suvorov Street, southern and east Liberty Square and the right sides of streets May Day and Kirov. In intervals between facades of the facing the street houses the space was enclosed with a solid board fence.

The ghetto of "B" intended for old men, women, children and patients. Served as its borders: the western part of Liberty Square to the bridge, the right sides of the Soviet and Sports streets. Unlike the main ghetto here borders had more symbolical character, even the protection was absent.

Resettlement of Jews was carried out to extremely short time. From the streets allocated under a ghetto all non Jews were moved immediately. The dwellings left by Jews, mainly in the central part of the city were provided for them at choice.

The ghetto was operated by own administrative self-governed body — "yudenraty" which was placed in the house of the former Jewish hospital on Pervomayskaya Street. The large merchant wholesaler Angelovich was at the head of "yudenrat". Besides various other services, at the disposal of "yudenrat" there was the police armed with rubber bludgeons. All communication of the population of a ghetto with the German administration was conducted through "юденрат". Directed to works out of limits of a ghetto marched a system under escort of own police officers who were responsible for them. Circulation on sidewalks was forbidden to Jews. Each Jew was obliged to carry the identification mark sewed on clothes — the yellow circle called by Germans "шандесфлек" — a shameful spot. Any communication with a ghetto of non Jews and furthermore rendering any help, was cruelly pursued.

In the summer of 1942 the population of a ghetto of "B" was collected at Liberty Square where from a house balcony at the corner of Internatsionalnaya Street Angelovich addressed them with the soothing speech. Apparently, informed on true intentions of Germans, he, nevertheless, called all for tranquility, having assured that nothing bad threatens them. Just sending for work is necessary. Therefore recommended to take away with itself the most necessary things and food. After that the confused crowd surrounded with SS-men with dogs under cries of women and shouts of the frightened children was led on railway station. There they were waited by commodity cars into which with use of force began to push up to 200 people. It is difficult to imagine what was created in tightly the closed cars, at the terrifying closeness, total absence of fresh air during a row of terrible and terrible hours. Weaker, especially women, children, old men did not maintain fire and brimstone and to the destination reached corpses. Terminal station was Bronnaya Gore, near Kartuz-Bereza.

... On the eve of 300 neighboring peasants by order of Hitlerites dug out 8 holes 40 — 80 m long, 6 wide and 4 m in depth everyone. The site was enclosed with a fencing from a barbed wire. On specially prepared platforms fateful to death forced to strip to the skin, come downstairs on a bottom of a hole and to lay down ranks facing the earth. The unfortunate people brought to the last degree of despair and dullness executed the order implicitly. Then they were shot. On the killed and dying the following ranks laid down while the hole was not completely filled with the blood-stained human bodies. This "meat grinder" processed over 50 thousand people brought here from Kobrin, Gorodts, the Birch, Brest, Drogichin, Ivanov, Pinsk.

Were cruelly deceived in the hopes to escape also those inhabitants of a ghetto "And" which were firmly sure that they will manage to survive until the end of war thanks to their usefulness. Punishment over them took place late fall 1942. All operation was thought carefully over and executed with notorious German accuracy.

This time the place of massacre was chosen on the fields of collective farm "New way" adjoining the southern suburb of Kobrin. Previously 160 men of of Hidra were told to be with shovels here. Without having counted 2 tens, chasteners warned the others: at the appointed time all of them will be shot for work non-performance. Naturally, work began to boil...

The place of punishment was surrounded by submachine gunners. And again passive humility, incomprehensible for normal people, before inevitable worked. By hearsay, the first the chief rabbi who addressed brothers in faith with admonition fell to a hole: "As Jehovah betrays us in hands of enemies — it is necessary to obey resignedly his ox".

These tragic days the wave of combings swept on the deserted ghetto several times. The locked doors were broken, attics and cellars were carefully searched. Iron probes checked the land plots because many hid in in advance prepared and disguised shelters. For the indication of shelters children were attracted, promising them for this preservation of life. The sick, ailing and left in houses old men were adjusted on the place. Only the most insignificant handful managed to escape from a cordon and to make the way in the wood to guerrillas.

Till December, 1943 on "illegal", so to speak, situation local authorities supported the 72 most qualified handicraftsmen of Jews of different specialties in Kobrin prison. Temporarily life was kept by it for service of employees of a gebitskomissariat. Then they were shot.

Similar punishments over inhabitants of a ghetto took place in 1942 in the towns of Divin (1450 people died) and Gorodtsa (269). The chief of local SD Pichman directed all this. In the spring of 1944, having felt unsteadiness of the situation created at the front, invaders made the next attempt to destroy material traces of sodeyanny crimes. For this purpose hands of the next party of prisoners dug out mass graves at Divinskoye Highway and the remains of shot were burned on huge fires. Did not feel sorry for fuel on this purpose. The stinking smoke within several weeks poisoned the atmosphere of the adjacent district. After all over 400 corpses were "processed" here. In conclusion the prisoners who were taking part in this terrible auto-da-fe were also shot and here are burned. In post-war years on the place of execution the memorable sign was established.

A.M. Martynov

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