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  4. The German Occupation of Šiauliai and the First Roundups

The German Occupation of Šiauliai and the First Roundups

When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, hundreds of Jews began fleeing the city, heading deeper into Soviet territory. At the same time hundreds of Jewish refugees fleeing from the advancing German Army arrived in the city. Four days after their invasion of the Soviet Union, the Germans conquered Šiauliai. As they entered the city they were accompanied by armed Lithuanian nationalists.

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Jewish women ironing, Šiauliai, 1941
Jewish women ironing, Šiauliai, 1941

The photograph was taken by a German airman by the name of Schroder, who was stationed in Lithuania in 1941. The original album remains in the hands of his son, Emil Schroder.
An inscription next to the photograph reads: “Our Jewish Women”.

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 5667/2

Jewish women ironing, Šiauliai, 1941
Jewish women and Wehrmacht soldiers in Šiauliai, 1941
Jewish women and Wehrmacht soldiers in Šiauliai, 1941

The photograph was taken by a German airman by the name of Schroder, who was stationed in Lithuania in 1941. The original album remains in the hands of his son, Emil Schroder.
An inscription next to the photograph reads: “Our Jewish Women”.

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 5667/3

Jewish women and Wehrmacht soldiers in Šiauliai, 1941
A Jew in Šiauliai wearing the Yellow Star
A Jew in Šiauliai wearing the Yellow Star

The photograph was taken by a German airman by the name of Schroder, who was stationed in Lithuania in 1941. The original album remains in the hands of his son, Emil Schroder

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 5667/1

A Jew in Šiauliai wearing the Yellow Star
Two Jews digging pits in Šiauliai
Two Jews digging pits in Šiauliai

The photograph was taken by a German airman by the name of Schroder, who was stationed in Lithuania in 1941. The original album remains in the hands of his son, Emil Schroder.

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 5667/4

Two Jews digging pits in Šiauliai
Jews digging pits, apparently in the Kužiai Forest not far from Šiauliai. The Einsatzgruppen would later use these pits to bury the Jews of Šiauliai after they were murdered.
Jews digging pits, apparently in the Kužiai Forest not far from Šiauliai. The Einsatzgruppen would later use these pits to bury the Jews of Šiauliai after they were murdered.

The photograph was taken by a member of the SS.

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4216/22

Jews digging pits, apparently in the Kužiai Forest not far from Šiauliai. The Einsatzgruppen would later use these pits to bury the Jews of Šiauliai after they were murdered.
A group of Jews under SS guard, standing by the gates of the so-called White Prison in Šiauliai, before they were murdered in the Kužiai Forest between 26 and 29 June 1941.
A group of Jews under SS guard, standing by the gates of the so-called White Prison in Šiauliai, before they were murdered in the Kužiai Forest between 26 and 29 June 1941.

First row, from right: Rabbi Nachumovski, the city’s religious court judge. Second from right: Rabbi Aaron Baksht. First from left: attorney Azriel Abramovich

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 2502/1

A group of Jews under SS guard, standing by the gates of the so-called White Prison in Šiauliai, before they were murdered in the Kužiai Forest between 26 and 29 June 1941.
A group of Jews before their murder in the Kužiai Forest, between 26 and 29 June 1941
A group of Jews before their murder in the Kužiai Forest, between 26 and 29 June 1941

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 3150/128

A group of Jews before their murder in the Kužiai Forest, between 26 and 29 June 1941
SS men standing behind Jews, aiming their guns at the backs of their necks.
SS men standing behind Jews, aiming their guns at the backs of their necks.

The photograph taken by a German soldier in 1941, apparently in Siauliai.
The prisoners were forced to dig their own graves before they were murdered.
From a series of five photographs depicting the massacre.

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 3150/122

SS men standing behind Jews, aiming their guns at the backs of their necks.
The Nazi Occupation of Šiauliai

The Nazi Occupation of Šiauliai
The Roundup of the Children and Elderly Jews from Šiauliai

The Roundup of the Children and Elderly Jews from Šiauliai
Jewish women ironing, Šiauliai, 1941
Jewish women ironing, Šiauliai, 1941
Jewish women and Wehrmacht soldiers in Šiauliai, 1941
Jewish women and Wehrmacht soldiers in Šiauliai, 1941
A Jew in Šiauliai wearing the Yellow Star
A Jew in Šiauliai wearing the Yellow Star
Two Jews digging pits in Šiauliai
Two Jews digging pits in Šiauliai
Jews digging pits, apparently in the Kužiai Forest not far from Šiauliai. The Einsatzgruppen would later use these pits to bury the Jews of Šiauliai after they were murdered.
Jews digging pits, apparently in the Kužiai Forest not far from Šiauliai. The Einsatzgruppen would later use these pits to bury the Jews of Šiauliai after they were murdered.
A group of Jews under SS guard, standing by the gates of the so-called White Prison in Šiauliai, before they were murdered in the Kužiai Forest between 26 and 29 June 1941.
A group of Jews under SS guard, standing by the gates of the so-called White Prison in Šiauliai, before they were murdered in the Kužiai Forest between 26 and 29 June 1941.
A group of Jews before their murder in the Kužiai Forest, between 26 and 29 June 1941
A group of Jews before their murder in the Kužiai Forest, between 26 and 29 June 1941
SS men standing behind Jews, aiming their guns at the backs of their necks.
SS men standing behind Jews, aiming their guns at the backs of their necks.
The Nazi Occupation of Šiauliai
The Nazi Occupation of Šiauliai
The Roundup of the Children and Elderly Jews from Šiauliai
The Roundup of the Children and Elderly Jews from Šiauliai