Murder Story of Bobruysk Jews in Kamenka

or A. I. Vegman, 99 Obvodnoy Kanal Street, apt. 68 Leningrad October 7, 1942 Hello, my dear ones. I am writing this letter not knowing whether you will get it. I know that a year-and-a-half ago, my brother lived in Leningrad together with his family, but now I am not sure where he is. Since there is now an opportunity to send you a letter, I have decided to let you know about my existence. My dear ones, I am sure Arkadiy is away from home, so if you know where he is now, please, let him know that I am with a partisan unit in the Polesye District, Belarus. For a year-and-a-half already, I have been fighting the Fascist occupiers and their collaborators. During this time, I have annihilated not a few Fascists. Our partisans heroically destroyed the Fascists, and we are sure that within a short period of time Belarus will be liberated from the Hitlerist occupiers. Dear brother Arkadya, Nata, Lyuba, Galya, I am unable to describe everything, as it is possible to write a whole book about the deeds of the Fascists in Belarus, and how they destroyed the population. Seven thousand Jews, who were not evacuated, and remained in Bobruysk, were murdered. They were brought outside the town, to the area of Kamenka, and shot; children were thrown into the pit alive. Not only the Jews suffered, the same was done to the Russians as well. There are counties where the whole population of five villages was burned together, including all the women and children. In short, what the Fascists do is a nightmare. My dear ones, my beloved family perished as well. On November 7, 1941, when the people in Bobruysk were killed, my beloved family was also murdered: Manechka, Boren’ka, Izin’ka, her parents, her sisters and their children also perished with them. Raya, who had come from Leningrad for a vacation, also perished. In short, everybody – nobody from our family remained [alive], everybody left [sic]. I came to Bobruysk a month after the war began, and found my family at home. I was told that Israel left by car, together with all his family, as well as Dina, Chana, Riva and Nyura. I do not know how far they managed to go, but I hope to see them some day. I am sure we will liberate Belarus soon. My dear ones, it is very hard to think about the family and everybody – I do remember them – but there is nothing I can do, only the memories remain. I am finishing my letter as I do not know whether it will get to you, you may have moved somewhere too. Best regards to you and all our acquaintances. Your brother, Mulya Vegman Best regards to Leningrad, which heroically defends and defended itself from the German fiends. My address: Central Committee, General Headquarters of the Partisan Movement. To Samuil Isaakovich Vegman, a partisan of Oktyabr County, Polesye District. Arkadya should know where Oktyabr County is, he went there once. It is the former Rudobelka. Please, let all my relatives know where I am fighting the Fascist invaders.