Img. ID: 494912

Stone 28

NINTH FORT 

ONE OF A CHAIN OF FORTS BUILT AROUND KOVNO
A CITY IN LITHUANIA. IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THE
NINTH FORT WAS THE SITE OF EXECUTION FOR MORE
THAN 50,000 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN THE
EARLY AUTUMN OF 1941 AND LASTED THROUGH THE
SUMMER OF 1944. MOST OF THE VICTIMS WERE JEWS
FROM THE KOVNO GHETTO AND DEPORTEES FROM
GERMANY. 

IN THE FALL OF 1943, UNDER AKTION 1005, THE
GERMANS SECRETLY BEGAN TO BURN THE BURIED
CORPSES.  MANY JEWS WHO WERE FORCED TO DO
THIS WORK MANAGED TO ESCAPE TO THE RUDNIKI
FOREST WHERE THEY FOUGHT WITH PARTISAN
UNITS UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF THE RED ARMY.