Sarny, Ukraine
Rivne region

Yahad team investigation: January 2008

Witnesses interviewed: 5

Witness interview

Nina M. (N°563): This mass grave was dug by the Jews themselves one month before. There were no stairs, because the grave was not deep. Once they were undressed, the Jews descended into the mass grave, laid down and were shot. Then, another line descended, laid down and were shot in turn.

Soviet archives

RG 22.002M / 7021-71 / 70 : “They were ordered to lie in rows in the pit. Then, they were shot with machine guns with a single bullet in the head. When there were 10 layers of bodies in the pit, it was covered with earth and the shooting continued in another pit. In this way, 11,000 people were shot.”

German archives

B162-7286; B162-7287 : “On August 27 and 28, 1942, there was a massive execution Aktion of the Jews of Sarny. All the Jews of Sarny and surrounding communities – about 17,000 including Roma – were shot on the outskirts of Sarny (…). At that time, about 17,000 Jews were shot near the Jewish cemetery. Children were thrown alive into the graves, which had been dug beforehand.