Current view of the Lubart fortress. Photographer: Eugene Shnaider, 2009.
Genesis Philanthropy Group project, Copy YVA 14616098
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Murder story of Luck Jews in the Lubart Fortress
Murder Site
Lubart Fortress
Poland
On June 30, 1941 300 Jewish men were taken by the Germans to the Lubart Fortress. According to one testimony, the Jews were made to dig a big pit for themselves in the courtyard near the eastern part of the fortress prison. Then, at sunset, they were taken in groups of 20-30 to the edge of the pit and shot to death by members of Sonderkommando 4a, under the command of Paul Blobel. The shooting ended at approximately 11 p.m.
On July 1 notices were posted around the city ordering Jewish men from age 16-60 to report with shovels on the following day to the courtyard of the Lubart Fortress to repair the drainage system. On July 2, 1941 a large group of Jews was assembled at the site: several skilled workers were released, while the remaining 1,160 Jews were taken to a trench that had been prepared on the eastern side of the prison. Over the next several hours the Jewish men were shot in groups of 30 by members of Sonderkommando 4a, the Order Police (Schutzpolizei), and an infantry platoon.
Related Resources
Written Testimonies
German Reports / Romanian Reports
ChGK Soviet Reports
From the testimony of Adam Sawicki, who was born in Łuck in 1900 and was working at the Krasne labor camp during the German occupation of the city
… When we returned to the city [after the first days of the German occupation], we found our house burned down. We returned to the Gnidawa suburb. While there, we heard that the Germans had posted notices all over the city ordering all Jewish men from 16-60 to assemble with shovels at the Lubart Fortress. Those who did not report [at the site] would face the death penalty. … Most [sic] of the men showed up. The Germans carried out a selection, releasing several men while detaining 5,000 [sic for 1,160]. Those men never returned home. Nobody knew what happened to them. Their disappearance left the [rest] of the Jews with a bad feeling. Everyone was thinking to himself how could these 5,000 disappear without leaving any trace? No one had an answer. In the evening they were taken to the Lubart Fortress and the next morning they weren’t there anymore. ….
YVA O.3 / 2224
From the testimony of Miriam Brik (neé Nekricz), who was born in Łuck in 1932 and was living there during the German occupation
... And on Thursday, it was on July 3 [sic for July 2], 1941 they [the Germans] posted notices around the city. That morning my mother was the first to go out onto the street and see the poster notices ordering the [Jewish] men age 16-60 to report for work. My mother came home and woke us up, and then my father and my uncle left for work. They never returned. They [the Germans] collected about 3,000 [sic for 1,160] Jewish men, only men. … at the old fortress [i.e., the Lubart Fortress] in Łuck. After the war we learned that all of them had been killed on the same evening – not a single one survived. …
YVA O.3 / 3921
Lubart Fortress
fort
Murder Site
Poland
50.758;25.347
Videos
Photos
Shmuel Shulman (Shmulik Shilo) was born in Łuck in 1929 and was living there during the war years
USC SHOAH FOUNDATION, 37546 copy YVA O.93 / 37546