Babi Yar

Babi Yar (Ukranian for: "Ravine of old woman") is a ravine in the north-west of Kiev. From 29 to 30 September 1941, it was scene of the massacre of 33,771 jewish residents of Kiev. The implementation of the order was entrusted to Sonderkommando 4a, commanded by SS-Standartenfuhrer Paul Blobel. From this moment, 100.000 to 150.000 more Ukranians, Soviet prisoners of war, communists, gypsies and jews were excuted here untill the liberation of Kiev. Sonderaktion 1005, under command of the same man who was responsible for the Babi Yar massacre in 1941, Paul Blobel, was entrusted with the task to erace all traces of the murders in Babi Yar. The bodies were recovered, burned and their ashes scattered on farmland in the vicinity.

Memorial for the victims of Babi Yar:
There is a bombastic memorial standing near the ravine to commemorate the Soviet victims of Babi Yar. At the feet of this memorial are three memorial plaques written in three different languages; Ukranian, Russian and Hebrew. There are other memorials in memory of the victims, including the memorial for the jewish victims, located at Babi Yar.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Koos Winkelman

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