Murder story of Priluki Jews in the Pliskunovka Ravine

My dear brother! It all so happened suddenly so that we remained in Priluki, in German captivity. Brother, you will not be able to imagine what kind of [terrrible] months we experienced – hunger, cold, abuse, robbery … [original punctuation]. So many times did I want to die rather than to live such a life! I was sorry that I did not die from the bombing … [illegible] but I had one hope – to see you - even for a minute - before dying, but that was not my fate. Yuzik, I know that tomorrow I will die, but I am strong, I am not … [illegible, perhaps "afraid"], I am certain that you will take revenge for the … [illegible] death of your sister. Take revenge the enemies for … [illegible] Tolya, Mara, and thousands ... [illegible, probably "of others"]! I kiss you and send greetings to your friends, to my brothers and sisters, who will, I hope, take revenge for us. Kisses, Eleonora

I am writing back to you to let you know that your mother, your father, Nona, Goda, and Roza were shot by bastards outside the town, next to Pliskunovka, where 3,000 people were killed. Your brother Milya was conscripted to the Red Army during its retreat. The son of Goda died a natural death. Also all the Khaimovich family was killed, and Grisha was taken to the Red Army. On May 20, 1942, all the Jews of Priluki were murdered, as well as 5,000 Russians. They had sold most of their belongings because they intended to leave, but they did not have enough time. They managed to sell part of their belongings - they had to live on something for another year; another part was taken away from them by policemen. They were driven from the house they had lived in and put into School No. 4, where everybody was taken. No belongings were left in their house. I, your parents’ neighbor, am writing to you. I lived in Totsky's apartment and knew your family very well. I am not acquainted with you. Let's become acquaint

… I was in the ghetto with my parents and brother in the period of September 1941 through to May 20, 1942, when the Germans posted an announcement commanding all Jews to proceed to Pliskunivsky Bridge for resettlement. On a wonderful sunny day in May when everything in nature was blossoming, a group of barely alive Jews was taken at gunpoint towards Pliskunovka, into a ravine. There, they were put in rows and shot. I hid behind my mum's back and when we fell into the pit I was not wounded. The Germans thought I had been killed. When it got dark, I climbed out of the pit and went away without knowing where. I was thirteen then, and my parents were killed. By May 20, 1942, the Jewish population of the town of Pryluki no longer existed. All Jews had been killed …

… On May 20, 1942, the worst happened. It was a wonderful spring day. Everything was blossoming all around, and the trouble came up unexpectedly. Neighbors spotted a black police wagon on the bridge. The car stopped near the Bugayov family home; they had a Jewish daughter-in-law named Dora. The young woman ran towards the river and jumped in, she wanted to drown herself. But they pulled her out, resuscitated her and took her into the car. I quickly ran towards the ghetto to see what was happening there. A huge column of people was moving slowly from the ghetto to the street; there were four people abreast. A policemen rode on a horse ahead of the column and armed guards marched alongside the column. At first all residents of Pryluki thought that the Jews were being taken to the railway station to be sent to Poland, but the column moved past the railway's street, then towards the prison and on. Now the column was approaching me and I saw among the poor people our friends, Eva Bolotina, and Chernin, the blacksmith, and weak Dora Bugayova supported by two men. Seska Kaspin, a neighbor of my own age, saw me. Before the war we had played football together for the city school cup; now we looked at each other in terror. The column went on towards the far end of the town. There was an open spot behind the prison and I was afraid of going further with the prisoners. A deep ravine lay behind a small wooden bridge. Here my neighbors and compatriots went into eternity …