Germanization

Kobrin → Outstanding persons → Alexey Mikhaylovich Martynov

In the first half of this century through Kobrin twice fire also we throw violent German Drang na Osten rushed (a pressure on the East). In total dvukhkratno the mode repeated occupational lasted over six years. And though both attempts to be fixed strongly on desired east open spaces suffered shattering crash, their consequences for inhabitants of Kobrin district left indelible marks.

Well-known, what huge influence Germans at the imperial yard had and in the top echelons of power. In a miniature it appeared also at us. Though in pre-revolutionary Kobrin the layer of the German population was insignificant (hundreds of people), however their influence was so big that the administrative position of the district leader of the nobility, the first on the importance, a long time was held by the thoroughbred German Volfring.

In World War I having failed a row in the Polish territory, the Russian army in the middle of 1915 was slowly rolled away on the East. Already completely unapproachable Brest fortress did not equal the hopes laid on it, apparently. For fear to appear in an environment it was handed over without fight. Especially furious resistance was shown at further retreat. To that the certificate tens of extensive German cemeteries which literally covered both Kobrin, and adjacent counties. It is regrettable that the vast majority of these witnesses of history were barbarous destroyed in post-war years: concrete gravestones of brotherly and individual burials went under the bases of the next structures.

Our approach of the front was marked hasty nasilstvenny by evacuation of the population on the East. Rather few families left by rail whereas the overwhelming part of country people was forced to use own cartage. Evacuation completely did not concern the Jewish majority, citizens and inhabitants of certain farms and the most remote backwoods. The villages left by inhabitants immediately were burned on the basis of the order: to leave to the enemy a scorched earth.

While from hundreds of villages there were one brands, the city was damaged in small degree. On the Market square burned out malls and places separate houses. At retreat by order of burned the railway station, military proviantsky warehouses over Mukhavts and two-storeyed stone barracks on Brest, Suvorova and Railway streets. And here the military camp which is built up with small wooden log houses escaped before repeated German occupation.

As as a spoken language of the remained Jewry served "slang", in a most up-to-date way "Yiddish" which to a certain extent is a kind of German, for Jews came easy to cope with invaders, doing quite good deals. Tttogda as in memory little avoided occupation not - Jewish was especially remembered original hunting of conquerors behind products from non-ferrous metals, so necessary for war industry. The bronze eagle was at once removed from a pedestal of a monument of 1812, it was followed by church bells, copper samovars, candlesticks, pans, up to door handles.

Free work of the peasants who remained here and there mercilessly cut down the most valuable forests, perfect wood went to East Prussia. The remained cattle and various agricultural products was requisitioned. In the city on the place of the burned-down malls the two-storeyed shop in the typical-German style was built. It was the only construction left in the city by invaders. Reminded the German military cemetery near B. hospital liquidated in the late thirties when Hitlerites took away the escaped German stones with the permission of the Polish administration for a reburial "na faterlyand" of them.

Such is there was the first attempt of germanization of our lands in 1915-1918 which to some extent had the standard, rather civilized character. Its continuation in 1941-1944, this time in Hitlerite option was absolutely other.

Already beginning of the second occupation was marked by reckless executions of civilians. As envisioned by Hitlerites, this cruelty had to serve as the severe prevention for more obstinate, hostile part of the population, having commanded at the same time trembling respect for other weight cringing to force. The occupations published since the morning of the first day uncountable resolutions steadily came to an end with an expressive ending: For the slightest disobedience – death!

Long time all completeness of the power was in hands of often changing military commandant's offices and therefore had unstable, chaotic character. Only after establishment "цивильмахт" (the civil power), carried out "gebitskomissariaty", the true regularity and focus was felt. The "arbeytsant" (bureau of work) having special powers became one of influential departments. All efficient population was subject to the account, and then in a compulsory, unconditional order went for any works and positions, up to police which only right at the beginning was replenished with anti-advisers volunteers. The slightest attempt to evade from shameful compulsion was punished by a concentration camp or a hard labor in Germany.

According to strange "gentleman's agreement" city self-government, magistrate headed by the burgomaster, remained in hands of pre-war Polish administration with office-work Polish. It especially is amazing that formally Kobrin gebit was a part not of a zabuzhny generalgubernatorstvo, and in rayskomissariat Ukraine that was symbolized by free circulation of the Ukrainian karbovanets.

Introduction of "gebitskomissariat" has especially an adverse effect on a fate of the Jewish population. Literally for several days of all Jews violently lodged in specially picked up quarters from where previously moved all not - Jewish. They officially were called as Getto-A and Getto-B and were carefully isolated from other part of the city. The ghetto had the self-government, "юндерат", police and other authorities. On a breast and a back the Jew needed to carry the yellow circle made of cloth called "шандесфлек", a shame sign. If to "gebitskommisariat" bloody massacres over Jews had incidental character (execution of group of the Jews seized during a round-up on streets, or trapped by a promise of humanitarian aid), then the subsequent scenarios were developed already on more to "a standard sample".

For attraction on the party of some part of the unstable population the status of some kind of semi-German called "folksdoychy" was thought up. The trickster who managed to show that in his veins the unlimited amount of supernoble German blood flows could become that. Bribed them various tips, especially generous food rations. In exchange absolute obedience, praise of blessings of a new order yes blind implementation of instructions was required from above. Secretly vigilance, shadowing neighbors and denunciations of true and imaginary enemies of the third Reich was imputed to them. In many families on this soil the present tragedies were played. However, contrary to expectations, at us folksdoychev it appeared not so much.

The guerrilla movement became unusual and extremely disturbing phenomenon for boastful conquerors of Europe. Its separate flashes declared themselves in Kobrin in the first months of war. Further it uncontrollably spread, having turned into terrible force. In Kobrin there was even a battalion of the horse gendarmerie specializing on fight against guerrillas. The crew of Chapayev which sat down at the Dakhlovsky woods became the main core of a guerrilla warfare. 398 enemy echelons were derailed only between Kobrin and Pinsk. At the end of occupation even to enemy motorcades began to move risky on highway highways in darkness. Entirely guerrilla sharpness was repaid: In the afternoon the power German – at night Soviet. Neither gallows on a city square, nor the mass executions of country people accompanied with burning of the whole villages helped taming of the national movement which captured many thousands.

Failure near Moscow was apprehended by Hitlerites as an annoying episode, but defeat near Stalingrad was the original shock which caused the undisguised alarm and confusion marked by three-day mourning. From prisons even separate categories of prisoners were let out.

To centuries-old existence of Kobrin Jewry the end came, since summer of 1942 when inhabitants of smaller getto-B were sent in the crowded cars on Bronnuyu Gore where all of them were shot along with tens of thousands of compatriots who are brought together from all Brest region. However, escaped in getto-A not on long endured the brothers in faith. For punishment of them the southern suburb of the city where huge holes were in good time dug was chosen. Within a week late fall the same ill-fated year thousands of our fellow citizens were coolly exterminated there. Causes bewilderment that among the numerous victims of this punishment cases of active resistance were not observed. Went to slaughter as if with the depressing consciousness of hopelessness. Before flight of invaders in 1944 remains of shot were dug out of mass graves and burned on fires. It became hands of prisoners who then were comprehended by the same fate.

After fight on the Kursk arch there was a fundamental change. Further desperate attempts of Hitlerite command to detain an uncontrollable pressure of Red Army failed. It became clear for the podjyaremny population: the end of the bloody occupational mode approaches. Original panic among Kobrin Germans was caused by the message on break of the front in Sarn, these are a little more than 200 km., forced to evacuate hastily all German families. Folksdoych followed their example, and there and in general panic flight on the West of huge weight of those who had the basis to be afraid for the destiny began. As a result of this outcome in the city there were no more than 2-2,5 thousand inhabitants. At last, after short fight in the morning on July 20, 1944 splinters of the broken Hitlerite eagle with a swastika already rolled at the building of a gebitskomissariat.

Generally, Kobrin who appeared on an edge of the main blow of a Hitlerite military vehicle suffered relatively much less, than it was necessary to expect. As in one and in the opposite direction war as if "jumped" through it, having only slightly singed the pernicious breath, but not having caused essential destructions. But losses among the population were a vestma impressive, considerably having exceeded 12 thousand dead on fronts and in the back.

If to think of the main outcomes of two attempts of germanization of Kobrin district, then "by and large" they are as follows:

1. Mass evacuation of the vast majority of the population to Russia in 1914 as nothing else promoted the subsequent spontaneous russification of a spoken language of kobrinets.

2. A total disappearance of the many thousands Jewish ethnos brought here by whims of historical destinies over four centuries ago and which played a big role lives of Kobrin district.

October, 1995.



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