Murder Story of Varvarovka Jews at the Varvarovka Labor Camp

…The next day I went out [to work] again. I was returning when, suddenly, I noticed a great tumult. What was happening? They no longer were allowing us into the camp through the gates but were gathering all the camp [inmates] in front of the gates and a group of 6-8 water carriers…were there digging a common grave. There was deadly silence; you could feel death in the air. Someone, somehow, was sayingthat they had tried to run away but were caught when they were already on a train; they were brought back and now there will be a show. After the grave was dug, they were shot in the presence of all [camp inmates] and, only after that, were we allowed in… At that time we witnessed more such "shows," for example, of people being hanged for not going out to work but, apparently, staying [in the camp] without permission. How did they stage the show? When I was returning from work SS men were entering the yard. [There were] two poles there, they [the executioners] were standing between the poles and there were iron wires, not ropes, for the hanging, and [the victims were hanged] not individually but in groups of four. There was a bench, they [the victims] mounted the bench and [other] inmates placed the iron wires around their necks, [and] then knocked over the bench…

… The investigation commission assigned by the SS appeared at the place and maintained that we Jews had been sabotaging the construction of the bridge, causing delays in the work. Carpenters from the Engineering Corps came on the same day, in the evening, to the yard to erect a huge gallows, which had ten ropes for ten victims. The next morning all the camp inmates were assembled in the middle of the yard and SS officers selected from among us ten guys, some of the strongest ones. Those selected turned white thinking that they were going to the gallows but, to our great surprise, the camp's gate opened and ten guys who worked on the west bank of the Bug were brought in with their hands tied, guarded by Cossacks with bayonets attached [to their rifles]. In addition to the SS officers all the Germans from the Engineering Corps appeared in the courtyard decked out in dress uniforms and in good spirits because all the blame [for delays in the work] was being put on us… The SS officers ordered the guys selected from among us to put the ten guys, with their hands tied, on a bench, to put the ropes around their necks, and to remove the bench. Initially, the guys refused to serve as executioners of their fellows, but the officer took out his watch and said that if they did not obey the order in five minutes , they would take the places [of the victims]. Having no choice, they lifted the ten onto the bench, put the ropes around their necks, and removed the bench. Nine of them remained hanging, but the tenth fell to the ground because his rope had ripped. He pleaded with the Germans to spare him, referring to the international law that states that every criminal who falls from the gallows while still alive is to be pardoned. However, the Germans did not pay attention to his words and ordered him to be hoisted up again on the gallows. At that point he screamed at the Germans: "Criminals! Wild beasts! God will not forgive you for this." The officers jumped on him and beat him so terribly that it was doubtful whether he was still alive when he was raised on the gallows for the second time….