Kamien Koszyrski - Commemoration of Jewish Victims

A black polished granite monument was erected in July 1992 in the town center, where the ghetto had been located.. The monument, topped with a Star of David, bears inscriptions in Ukrainian and Hebrew. The Ukrainian inscription says: "In 1942 there was a ghetto here into which were driven 3,000 Jewish residents who became the victims of the German-Fascist occupiers. Eternal memory to the dead ones!" The Hebrew inscription says: "Here was [located] the ghetto of Kamień Koszyrski and of its surrounding areas, where 3,000 Jews were living. From here they were taken to their annihilation by the Nazis and their accomplices on the [following] dates: 1 Rosh Chodesh [first day of the month of] Elul, 5701 – August 23, 1941 [and] 27th of Av, 5702 – August 10, 1942; 22th of Marcheshvan, 5703 – November 2, 1942. From here [Jews] also fled to the forests to fight with the [Soviet] partisans! Respect for their memory!" During this period two other monuments were erected at the murder sites of the Jews of Kamień Koszyrski. The first monument was erected in the forest about 5 kilometers outside the town and has inscriptions in Ukrainian and Hebrew. Its Ukrainian inscription says: "At this site in 1941 about 100 Jewish residents were shot to death by the German Fascist occupiers and their accomplices. We bow our heads in their memory [that of the victims]." The Hebrew inscription says: "Here are buried about 100 Jewish residents of Kamień Koszyrski who were murdered by the Germans and their accomplices. May God avenge their blood [murdered on the following date]: 1 Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5701 – August 23, 1941. May their souls be bound up in the bond of life." The monument is fenced off and the area is being cared for. The second monument, of labrardorite and topped with a Star of David, was erected near the former Jewish cemetery. It also bears inscriptions in Ukrainian and Hebrew. The Ukrainian one says: "At this site in August 1942 2,600 Jewish residents were shot to death by the German Fascist occupiers and their accomplices. Eternal memory to them [the victims]." The Hebrew inscription says: "Here are buried about 2,600 Jews, residents of Kamień Koszyrski and its surroundings who were murdered by the Germans and their accomplices. (May God avenge their blood), [on the following dates]: 27 Av 5702 – August 10, 1942; 22 Marcheshvan, 5703 – November 2, 1942. May their souls be bound up in the bond of life." Nineteen Jewish residents of Mala Hłusza village who were killed by the Nazis in 1942 were reburied in an area near the monument. The area is fenced in. The Ukrainian text on the memorial sign, which is topped by a Star of David, says: "At this site were reburied 19 innocent Jewish residents who were murdered by the Fascists in 1942 in Mala Hłusza village of [today's] Lubeszow County." All the monuments were erected and dedicated by the Association of Kamień Koszyrski Jews living in Israel and the United States.