Overview

• Introdcutory Remarks

• Condition of Mass Graves and Existing Memorials in Ukraine

• Protecting Memory: Pilot Project and Sites

• Protecting Memory: Current Project Historical Background Mass Grave Sites with More than 500 Victims (Total: 300) Holocaust Mass Graves in Ukraine Sites that have fallen into disrepair or were vandalised.

Barashi, Zhytomyr Region Vakhnivka, Vinnystia Region Holocaust Mass Graves in Ukraine Limits of memorialisation during the Soviet era

Plyskiv, Vinnytsia Region “To the citizens of Pliskov and Spichenets who perished at the hands of the German-fascist invaders, 1941-1945.” “Restored 1976” (graffiti-like addendum) Holocaust Mass Graves in Ukraine Post-Soviet example

Prokhid (north of Ratne), Volhynia Region Holocaust Mass Graves in Ukraine Looting

Khazhyn-Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Region Chukiv, Vinnytsia Region Protecting Memory: Pilot Project Pilot Project: Western Ukraine Bakhiv-Kovel, Volhynia Region Pilot Project: Western Ukraine Kysylyn, Volhynia Region

Pilot Project: Western Ukraine Ostrozhets, Rivne Region Protecting Memory: Current Project Scope of Activity

• Administration • Non-invasive archaeological investigation • Determining ownership and re-designating land • Architectural planning

• Historical research

• Maintenance of pilot project sites

• Public relations

• Civil society Non-invasive archaeological investigation Liubar (Yurivka site), Zhytomyr Region

An archaeologist pulls a ground penetrating radar unit over a survey area under supervision of rabbis, April 2017. Non-invasive archaeological investigation Kolodianka, Zhytomyr Region

Archeologists and rabbis search for mass graves in the field behind the local railway station, April 2017. Non-invasive archaeological and re-designation of mass grave sites Samhorodok, Vinnytsia Region

The concrete slab seen here (left) in November 2016 is registered as a memorial, but the grave is in fact much larger, as seen in the results of this investigation (right). Establishing ownership and re-designating mass grave sites Khazhyn-Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Region Architectural planning Khazhyn-Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Region Architectual Planning Lypovets, Vinnytsia Region

Vikiyentivka B Vikiyentivka A Historical Research Information Stelae

The Jews of Kysylyn, 1921-1 941

The town of Kysylyn was home to several hundred Jews between 1918 and 1939. Despite its small population and remote location, this centuries-old community supported a main synagogue and two Hasidic prayer houses. Zionist groups seeking to prepare Jews for immigration to Palestine were active here. Cultural activities included public lectures and evening courses. Most Jews worked as shopkeepers and market vendors or as craftsmen. To help its members in hard times, the community maintained a free loan society. After the German-Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939, Kysylyn became part of the Soviet Union. The new authori- ties curtailed religious practice, banned Zionist activity, and 1 Група євреїв із Кисилина, включно з батьком і дядьком expropriated businesses. вцілілої під час Голокосту Гелен Перел (уроджена Хая Філлер), під час Першої світової війни. A group of Kysylyn Jews, including the father and uncle of the Holocaust survivor Helen Perel, born Chaya Filler, during the The Holocaust in Kysylyn First World War. קבוצה של יהודי קיסיילין הכוללת את אביה ודודה של ניצולת השואה הלן פרל, The Wehrmacht captured Kysylyn on June 25, 1941. Under נולדה חיה פילר, במהלך מלחמת העולם הראשונה. German occupation, Jews had to observe a strict curfew, wear identifying armbands (later round, yellow patches), and hand over valuables, including ritual objects. They also had to work as forced laborers in agriculture and forestry. The Germans shot 48 Jews and two Ukrainians on August 19, 1941. Three months later, a ghetto was established in Kysylyn. Jewish families from nearby villages were relocated there shortly thereafter.

In early August 1942, the Germans had non-Jewish residents dig a pit in a feld outside town. On August 15, under German 2 and local police supervision, the ghetto inhabitants were Гелен Перел, уроджена Хая Філлер (у білому платті), разом із своєю родиною, 1925. driven in trucks to the pit and shot. At least 500 Jews were Holocaust survivor Helen Perel, born Chaya Filler (in white murdered at this site. dress), with her family, around 1925. Most of those Jews who had fed to the woods before or ניצולת השואה הלן פרל, נולדה חיה פילר (בשמלה לבנה), עם משפחתה, שנת 1925 לערך. during the mass shooting were tracked down and killed. The few Jews who evaded the German and local police faced the additional threat of anti-Semitism among partisans in the area.

Only a handful of Kysylyn’s Jews survived the German occupation.

Information Stele in Kysylyn

1., 2. USC Shoah Foundation Historical Research Inscriptions for Memorial Stones

“Between 1941 and 1944, Jewish life in Ratne and the surrounding area was eradicated by the German occupiers and their local subordinate authorities. Approximately 1,300 Jews were murdered at this site. May their souls be bound in the bond of everlasting life.” Historical Research Information Boards for Berdychiv

Choral Synagogue Ghetto Memorial Historical Research and Pedagogical Work Vinnytsia

Misha Tyaglyy and Vitalii Bobrov of the Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Studies conduct a seminar for teachers, September 2017. Historical Research and Pedagogical Work Plyskiv, Vinnytsia Region

Traces of Jewish life here are rare. Now a village community centre, the former main synagogue awaits refurbishment, September 2017. Maintenance Vakhnivka (New Jewish Cemetery), Vinnytsia Region

November 2016 September 2017 Maintenance Lutsk, Volhynia Oblast

Teachers, local government officials, and project organizers, as well as a German Embassy representative, meet to discuss pilot project sites, July 2017. Public Relations Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin

Ukrainian museum employees and staff members of the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe at Germany’s central Holocaust memorial, August 2017. Encouraging Civil Society Samary, Volhynia Region Remembrance Project Partners

• German Foreign Office • The Ukrainian Centre for • Yahad-In Unum Holocaust Studies • Berlin Office, American Jewish Committee • Ukrainian Jewish Committee • Central Council of Jews in • Association of Jewish Germany Organizations and • Central Council of German Sinti Communities-VAAD of Ukraine and Roma • Jewish Foundation of Ukraine • German War Graves Commission • Local administrations and • Committee for the Preservation Jewish communities in the of Jewish Cemeteries in Europa project locations • Conference of European Rabbis Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin