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Obj. ID: 56953
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  Holocaust Memorial at the Killing Site in Garadok (Gorodok) near Vitebsk, Belarus, 1983

© via Wikimedia Commons, Photographer: Shulman, Arkadii,

Memorial name: 

No official name. 

Who is Commemorated?

Jews of Garadok (Gorodok), killed by the fascists. 

Description

The memorial was erected near the killing site and mass grave of the Garadok (Gorodok) Jews in Biarozavka (Berezovka). It consists of two elements: a high, relief stele, truncated in its upper part, and a relatively small pyramid-like upright slab. The high stele bears a plaque with the depiction of a greaving mother while on the smaller slab, there are metal branch and a plaque with the carved Magen David and the Russian-language dedication. 

Inscription

In Russian

Евреям - жертвам фашизма

Translation: To the Jews - victims of fascism. 

Commissioned by

The victims' relatives.

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

sub-set tree:  

Name/Title
Holocaust Memorial at the Killing Site in Garadok (Gorodok) near Vitebsk | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Date
1983
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Unknown |
Congregation
Unknown
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
0 image(s)      

0 image(s)      
Iconographical Subject
Material / Technique
Concrete
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
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Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
1
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
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Signature
Colophon
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Watermark
Hallmark
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Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconstruction
History/Provenance

Garadok (Gorodok) was under German occupation from 10 July 1941 until 24 December 1943 [Wikipedia]. In late August 1941, a ghetto was established [Al'tman 232]. The mass murders of the Garadok (Gorodok) Jews were carried out several times in a number of locations. By the time of liberation. non of the local Jews survived. [Wikipedia]. 

Immediately upon the end of the war, the victims' relatives began to look for the precise place of the mass grave near Biarozavka (Berezovka) where in the first half of August 1941, between 120 to 200 Jews were shot [Shulman; Yahad-In Unum]. The place was quickly identified, and in 1965 the monument was established [Shulman; Al'tman 232]. However, in the 1970s the decision to erect a new monument was made. The project was implemented by A.B. Bydman with the support of P.P. Shershen', the representative of the local authorities. Through their efforts, in the summer of 1983, the monument under discussion was opened [Wikipedia].
In the years of Perestroika, the memorial was vandalized: the metal plaque was stolen. On it there was a following Russian-language dedication agreed with the authorities: "To the Soviet citizens of Gorodok shot by the German-fascist invaders in 1941." Later, in its place, the concrete slab with the words "To the Jews - victims of fascism" was set [Wikipedia].
According to the tradition of the Garadok (Gorodok) Jewish community, annually on Tisha B'av the local Jews hold a commemorative ceremony at the place of the monument [Shulman]. 

There is another monument in the town's vicinity related to the Holocaust events. It was erected in December 2020 instead of the old one that dated back to the 1980s.

 


Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources
Type
Documenter
|
Author of description
Liza Schwartz | 2025
Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed: