Murder Story of Svyatsk Jews at the Former Brick Factory near Svyatsk

On January 25, 1942 the murder squad returned to Svyatsk. They searched the village, arrested the Jews, and took them to the local authority [headquarters]. There they were beaten and their good clothing was taken from them. When all of them were collected, carts were brought. The Jews were taken toward the site of the former brick factory outside of Svyatsk. They were beaten on the way. At the factory [site] they were all forced to undress; the temperature was minus 37 degrees. Then they were made to line up and forced into a pit one after another. The executioner murdered one person after the other, firing his gun at the backs of their heads. Thus, 118 people - men, women, old people, and children - were murdered. On January 26, 1942 nine people who had been hiding were caught and also shot. All the shooting victims were covered lightly with snow and remained that way until spring, when they were covered with earth.