Murder story of Smotrich Jews in the Smotrich Area

On May 25, 1944 the county commission … examined the murder and shooting site of the civilian residents of Smotrich County. Two mass graves that were located almost in the center of Smotrich were opened …. The opening of the first grave disclosed … a total of 40 bodies lying in complete disorder, in various positions… . The clothing had been partially preserved and most of the bodies were preserved, [but] it was impossible to identify the murder victims. [The bodies] display traces of physical violence, often there are heads where the skulls have broken jaws. The age of the victims varies from that of adults to children. In the second grave the bodies are lightly covered with earth. Due to the rapid decomposition of the bodies it was not possible to establish the [gender] composition or the number of the victims....