Overview. Introdcutory Remarks. Condition of Mass Graves and Existing Memorials in Ukraine. Protecting Memory: Pilot Project and Sites

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2 Overview Introdcutory Remarks Condition of Mass Graves and Existing Memorials in Ukraine Protecting Memory: Pilot Project and Sites Protecting Memory: Current Project

3 Historical Background Mass Grave Sites with More than 500 Victims (Total: 300)

4 Holocaust Mass Graves in Ukraine Sites that have fallen into disrepair or were vandalised. Barashi, Zhytomyr Region Vakhnivka, Vinnystia Region

5 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, Restored 1976 (graffiti-like addendum)

6 Holocaust Mass Graves in Ukraine Post-Soviet example Prokhid (north of Ratne), Volhynia Region

7 Holocaust Mass Graves in Ukraine Looting Khazhyn-Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Region Chukiv, Vinnytsia Region

8 Protecting Memory: Pilot Project

9 Pilot Project: Western Ukraine Bakhiv-Kovel, Volhynia Region

10 Pilot Project: Western Ukraine Kysylyn, Volhynia Region

11 Pilot Project: Western Ukraine Ostrozhets, Rivne Region

12 Protecting Memory: Current Project

13 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

14 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.

15 Non-invasive archaeological investigation Kolodianka, Zhytomyr Region Archeologists and rabbis search for mass graves in the field behind the local railway station, April 2017.

16 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).

17 Establishing ownership and re-designating mass grave sites Khazhyn-Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Region

18 Architectural planning Khazhyn-Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Region

19 Architectual Planning Lypovets, Vinnytsia Region Vikiyentivka B Vikiyentivka A

20 Historical Research Information Stelae The Jews of Kysylyn, Група євреїв із Кисилина, включно з батьком і дядьком 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 First World War. קבוצה של יהודי קיסיילין הכוללת את אביה ודודה של ניצולת השואה הלן פרל, נולדה חיה פילר, במהלך מלחמת העולם הראשונה. 2 Гелен Перел, уроджена Хая Філлер (у білому платті), разом із своєю родиною, Holocaust survivor Helen Perel, born Chaya Filler (in white dress), with her family, around ניצולת השואה הלן פרל, נולדה חיה פילר (בשמלה לבנה), עם משפחתה, שנת 1925 לערך. The town of Kysylyn was home to several hundred Jews between 1918 and 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 authorities curtailed religious practice, banned Zionist activity, and expropriated businesses. The Holocaust in Kysylyn The Wehrmacht captured Kysylyn on June 25, Under 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, 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 field outside town. On August 15, under German and local police supervision, the ghetto inhabitants were driven in trucks to the pit and shot. At least 500 Jews were murdered at this site. Most of those Jews who had fled to the woods before or 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

21 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.

22 Historical Research Information Boards for Berdychiv Choral Synagogue Ghetto Memorial

23 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.

24 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.

25 Maintenance Vakhnivka (New Jewish Cemetery), Vinnytsia Region November 2016 September 2017

26 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.

27 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.

28 Encouraging Civil Society Samary, Volhynia Region

29 Remembrance

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

31 Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin