Murder Story of Chomsk Jews in Mikhael Levinson's Garden

On the day before the 10th of Av [sic, August 1 or 2], 1941, the Germans unexpectedly arrived in the town. On their way, they had gathered the Jews who were working in the fields for the gentile farmers and shot them. After reaching the town, they grabbed the first 40 Jews [whom they could find] and locked them up in the large synagogue. They then issued an order that, within two hours, the following items be delivered to them: 2 cows, 200 kilos of sugar, 15 puds [a Russian unit of weight equivalent to about 16 kilograms] of oats, and 1,500 rubles. If the Jews failed to comply, the 40 detainees would be executed on the spot. Naturally, the Jews collected the [required] goods and handed them over to the Germans. Instead of releasing the Jewish prisoners, they [the Germans] ordered all male Jews over the age of 16 into that same synagogue…. Early on Saturday morning, I heard screams and shouts. I watched [from my hiding place] the Jews being led out of the temple [sic], marched away in rows of four, and shot. They were executed in Mikhael Levinson's garden on Lager Street and buried in a ditch that had been dug beforehand.