Timkovichi Ravine Related Communities
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Murder story of Timkovichi Jews in the Timkovichi Ravine
Murder Site
Timkovichi
Belorussia (USSR)
The first local mass execution of Jews took place on March 25, 1942. Children and old people were killed during this operation. Afterwards many Jews fled to join the partisans. In the second operation, either on April 25 (according to testimonies and an inscription on the memorial from 1945), or on May 25 (according to a list of murdered Jews from Soviet sources), 1942, the Germans shot dead about 900 Jews. Adults were murdered in this mass murder. Only specialists were left alive. In order to conceal their intentions and prevent resistance the Germans ordered the Jews of Timkovichi to take 5 kilograms of clothing and food on the way - to deceive them into believing they were going to be resettled. However, in fact the Germans made the Jews take off their clothes and then shot them in a ravine. A Lithuanian murder squad and Belarusian policemen assisted the Germans.
Related Resources
Written Testimonies
Soviet Reports
Interview in Timkovichi, July 1990 - with Nathan and Sarah Bratkovski, Tamara and Semion Rozin, and Sima Bratkovski (the widow of Grisha Bratkovski)
...[QUESTION:] At the beginning of the war what was the first thing that happened to the Jews of Timkovichi?
[ANSWER:] We were all taken into the ghetto near Tamara's house. At first all the Jews were there, and they put 2 or 3 families in every house and a fence was put up around it. After the first shooting or "action," only specialists were left - drivers, bakers, etc. - people whom the fascists considered useful.
[QUESTION:] Who was killed in the first operation? (March 1942)
[ANSWER] Tamara - all the members of the intelligentsia were killed: teachers, engineers, doctors.
[ANSWER] Nathan - all were killed except the specialists. Children were also killed during the first operation.
[QUESTION:] How did Tamara and Nathan escape from the ghetto?
[ANSWER:] Some of those who were left went to join the partisans. Those who remained in the ghetto were killed during the second operation. (April 25, 1942)
[QUESTION:] How were they killed?
[ANSWER:] They were forced to take off their clothes, and they were shot and fell into a pit (ravine)....
[QUESTION:] Did the Belarusians collaborate with the fascists?
[ANSWER:] No, they were different...
YVA O.33 / 2708
Timkovichi
ravine
Murder Site
Belorussia (USSR)
53.065;26.986