Murder story of Stepnoye Jews in the Stepnoye Area (Gas Vans)

The monstrous villainy of the Hitlerites started with the physical extermination of the entired Jewish population of the county. In September 1942, on sn order from the German command, the Jewish population had to gather at the German headquarter sin the village of Stepnoye. When the civilian population was told that they were to assemble to register for resettlement in a new place of residence this was a lie. 480 people assemembled at the assigned time at the main square; there were mainly women, elderly people, and children. After the Germans and their accomplices took the [Jews'] valuables, they started their murderous massacre of the innocent Soviet citizens. Large German vans, with dark curtains, pulled u p to the square. 60 to 70 people were loaded into each van. The overpacked vans left for 10 to 15 minutes and then returned for new victims. In that way 480 civilians -- elderly people, women, and children -- were taken from the village of Stepnoye. It is known today that all of them were murdered by poison gas in those vehicles.