Murder Story of Veisiejai Jews at the Katkiškės Estate

On October 30, 1941 the ghetto of Lazdijai was sealed and its inmates, including Jews from Veisiejai, were no longer taken out to work. Lithuanians carrying shovels could be seen from a distance, and a Lithuanian officer told the Jews that pits were being dug for them. Hearing this, many Jews tried to flee and were shot by the Lithuanian guards. Some were killed and many others were wounded and brought back to the ghetto. In order to prevent any more escape attempts the Lithuanians locked the huts and sealed the doors and windows with nails and iron bars. The inmates were trapped inside without food or water, yet 180 managed to escape on the first two nights. On November 3, 1941 the Jews were taken out of the huts, forced to undress, and then led to the pits 300 meters from the ghetto. They were made to stand at the edge of the pits and then shot. The murder operation was carried out by Einsatzkommando 3a, headed by Karl Jaeger. According to the Jaeger report a total of 1,535 Jews – 405 men, 511 women, and 539 children - were murdered in Lazdijai.