Blood of the Bronny Mountain

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Archives about the slaughter which occurred near Brest in the summer — fall of 1942, were declassified only in the early nineties. Up to this point history of 50 thousand locals shot here by fascists, the authorities tried not to remember.

THE FIGURE HAS A PERSON

About the tragedy which happened in Bronnaya Gore's natural boundary in Berezovsky the area I for the first time heard from the grandmother. More precisely, about people with whom the destiny reduced it and which life broke there, on Gore, during mass executions of the Holocaust in the 1942nd. But these simple stories from her youth impress more than dry historic facts. When you hear a story about real people, with their habits, a manner to put on and speak, figure of "50 thousand", namely it was shot on Bronny so much, just statistical report is perceived as something bigger, than...

− Mendel very much cared for the Sara, - the grandmother once again remembers the Jewish couple at which she rented the room, being a student. - Lived modestly, white loaf was in pleasure. But Mendel always baked for lunch for the wife magnificent wheat flat cake, and itself ate that he remained. Spoke: "The hostess has a bad health, she should be eaten well".

− And what Sara was?

− Attractive woman. Very much watched herself. Never tea drank, only water: was afraid to do much harm strong drink to heart... We for it laughed at it.

"We" are it a grandmother about three girls - sisters with whom shared housing - Esterke, Hinke and Sar.

− You would see how they sewed! So quickly fabric is podsobenut, as you will not notice when were in time. With all the district dresses ordered from them. Girls dreamed to marry, liked to tell about an old Jewish wedding ceremony, sang sad "nevestina" of a song. Explained that when the orphan, marries, such melody sounds, - the grandmother heaved a deep sigh.

The poor - both sisters, and Mendel with Sara Germans in a ghetto drove all of them, and then on Bronnoy Gore... shot.

HISTORY WHICH WAS TRIED TO BE FORGOTTEN

The other day I visited this natural boundary. Now about its terrible past speaks unless the funeral stone which hid among high birches and a stele in memory to the victims of fascism slightly at some distance. The silence is broken only by the song of a cuckoo and wind. Frankly speaking, it is heavy to present that on this footpath Germans drove tens of thousands of people - as cattle on a slaughter. Here once there passed also Mendel with Sara, and three unfortunate sisters... Short stories which my grandmother, perhaps, the only memory which remained from them in this world likes to repeat.

− Shot people where the stone lies. And the memorial was established slightly further, on donations, - the local teacher Elizabeth Mshar explains. This keen woman, the local historian, readily agreed to tell about the tragedy on Bronnoy Gore. We put small pebbles to the bottom of a stone. Couple of seconds we are silent. - That Jewish tradition of commemoration deceased, - my accompanying explains.

By the way, in many respects exactly thanks to her efforts history with executions did not sink Into oblivion. Till 1991 to historians did not allow to study archives on this case. Referred to the fact that the local military unit (which was located exactly near the Bronny Mountain) had the status all-Union moreover confidential value. Generally, the teacher and her adherents had to collect testimony on particles. With assistance of rural executive committee and commandant's office sent letters to the Ministry of Defence, contacted search groups. Gradually history of events managed to be restored.

THE WHOLE CITY - IN ONE GRAVE

Germans were in our corner of the world already on June 27, 1941. In total in few weeks they created two parts of the Berezo-Kartuzsky Jewish ghetto. In part "A" brought together ailing old men and children, in "In" - able-bodied, - Elizabeth Borisovna tells. - Chasteners forced prisoners to dig practically at once holes on Bronny. Said that in the fall here in burta potato will be put. And at the beginning of August destroyed the first part of a ghetto here - children and old men. When it happened, already anybody did not have doubts: prisoners are the way out. But also it was necessary to pay for them. By then in a ghetto yudenrata, so-called self-government institutions which collected from inhabitants daily contribution – warm things, jewelry were everywhere created. Thus, Jews, half-starved, fenced off from the whole world by a high fence, with a six-pointed star on clothes, were forced to redeem for themselves from Germans one more morning of life...

Massacre began in the summer - fall of 1942. On Bronnuyu Gore took Jews from Antopol, Drogichin, Kobrin, Pinsk. The largest round-up was in Brest. On October 15 early in the morning politsa surrounded a ghetto, began to expel dozing and half-naked people from houses. The few who managed to escape remembered then that: terrible panic reigned in the city, the fire broke out, Germans shot people directly in front doors... The others were shipped in cars and sent on Gore.

− Here 8 deep svezhevskopanny holes already darkened. To them people adjusted on a narrow path, forced to undress, shot, filled up with lime, brought to break of the following. So far graves were not filled up to the top. Locals say that within several days after punishment the earth moved here, everything was impregnated with blood. The terrible place will be avoided for a long time...

And next day in a ghetto there was a cleaning − looked for survivors who hid in toilets, wells. Found undermining through which Jews got out to the city (about this "Road of Life" Germans were told by someone from local). Blew up. Underground it appeared a lot of buried alive.

− How many it was killed on Bronny, we initially did not know, - Elizabeth Mshar says. - But later documents according to which Germans pedantically kept account of national structure of Brest for each certain day were found. Working in archive, I found paper where for October 15, 1942 it appeared 16 thousand 934 inhabitants of the Jewish nationality, and for October 17 the number is already deleted. And it only in one city... In the general complexity on Bronnoy Gore 50 thousand people, mainly Jews are shot. By the way, on number this population of pre-war Brest.

In March, 1944 retreat of fascist army began. Germans understood that on Bronnoy Gore it is necessary to pay for deeds two years ago, and tried to hide traces of crime quickly. Drove about 100 prisoners of war, forced to dig out remains. 48 wooden barracks were sorted, remains shifted a tree and set fire. Within two weeks in the district it was impossible to breathe from a stench, the handle of doors, windows of houses became covered by a fat soot... When fires of death otgoret, shot prisoners of war. On this place chasteners povysazhivat bushes and considered that traces of crime hid.

When later the special commission on investigation of crimes of fascists worked here, the set of hairpins, hairpins, a skin scrap from a boot was found, and all earth on the area over 16 thousand sq.m was impregnated with the cadaveric weight and ashes from the burned bones. "Many say that we have on Bronnoy Gore a burial. No, as you understand now, there are no buried. All were burned, to uniform", - Elizabeth Borisovna sighs.

TO DUMP BURDEN OF UNCERTAINTY

According to official figures, in punitive operation on Bronny nevertheless 19 people survived. Thanks to the help from above, and still - to locals who hid prisoners, risking the life. By the way, the people of other nationality rescuing Jews during the Holocaust, the Israeli authorities call "Righteous persons of people of the world", in honor of everyone in Jerusalem plant a tree. As the symbol of gratitude to Belarusians on the Israeli earth turns green more than 700 kroner.

I heard one history of rescue on Bronny, however, not considered by statistics too. My grandmother told that before war in local places the doctor by the name of Goltfayn worked, once it cured of a serious illness of the rural little boy. And when got to a ghetto, the grateful father just pulled out the woman from crowd and covered in the cart with hay. According to some data, until the end of war the fugitive hid in the Pruzhansky monastery, and later went to the daughter to France.

My interlocutor was inspired:

− Perhaps we will manage to find for her relatives or relatives of the man who rescued it? Or perhaps even to achieve that to it gave the rank "The righteous person of people of the world"... You know what is written on the medal handed to "righteous persons"? "The one who saves one life saves the whole world". It will be very important for his relatives.

Again we approach a stele. On a plate − a memorable inscription in four languages, from above − a small bell. Elizabeth Borisovna wipes dust and corrects flowers.

− the Stone to which we put pebbles, - she says, - it was established to the 50 anniversary from the date of destruction of a ghetto on October 15, 1992. And this - 2 years later, by anniversary of release of Berezovsky of the area. Money was raised by locals, relatives of the killed. At opening of a memorial representatives of three faiths - Judaic, Catholic and orthodox read a prayer. There were many people. It is impossible to forget about such things. We still search for names of those who are executed on Bronny, and those who, perhaps, helped them to escape. During all the time we identified the personality of 25 killed, sent biographic sheets to Jerusalem. Relatives of these people were very touched, now they know where their relatives died, and can arrive here, pray and, perhaps, to dump the burden of uncertainty weighing for many years from soul.

To us, young people, importance of this moment it is heavy to realize, in a monument on Bronny and in another similar to it, not our vital history is stored. "So why to pull out such stories from the past?" − the neigbour when I returned from business trip asked me. Yes at least in order that in our environment there are a lot more people for whom steles and obelisks of military years, names on granite, antiquated awards in an old casket mean something bigger, than just a reminder on the past.

In total on Bronnoy Gore 50 thousand people, mainly Jews are shot. On number this population of pre-war Brest.

Elena ORLOVA

The author thanks for assistance in preparation of material of the chairman Sokolovsky of village council of Mikhail Opolko.

Orlova, E. Krov of the Abusive Mountain / Elena Orlova//Memory. – 2012. – July 27. - August 2. – Page 18. About execution of the Jewish population on Bronnoy Gore, including and kobrinchan. 

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