Archive/File: places/ukraine/tarnopol/tarnopol-medical-act.440731
Last-Modified: 1998/07/24

                       "ACT (Abridged)
                              
Court-Medical investigation of the bodies of' victims of
German-Fascist crimes committed in the city of' Tarnopol and
region.

July 31, 1944.

Deputy of the main court-Med. expert, the First Ukr. Front,
G. W. Major M/SL. Cherninskyj P. J., in the presence of
Podpolk M/SL. Malaewa, Captain M/SL. Kogan, Capt. M/SL.
Magomedova, Dir. Med. Instit., Dr. Wojt-Kewich, Major
Just1ce-Kasachenko J. S., Capt. Justice - Novikowa A. M.,
investigated (from June 28-29, and from July 27-29, 1944),
the excavated mass graves containing the victims of German
fascism. The Commission established the following:

The German-Fascist occupation authorities systematically
exterminated Soviet peaceful citizens in the city of
Tarnopol and region during the year 1941, until April 1944.
Among the murdered were Soviet Party members, the educated
Polaks, Ukrainians, war prisoners, and partisans.

The Jewish population was marked for special mass
extermination. A Ghetto was created in the city of Tarnopol,
in which the Jews were separated by barbed wire. They were
forced to vegetate in anti-sanitary
conditions, with very little food. The handing over of'bread
and other food products for the Ghetto inmates was
forbidden. Regardless of age and health conditions, the Jews
were forced to perform hard work: wood cutting, road
building, and dirt cleanup.

All Jews were forced to wear a green color Star of David on
the right arm. Under the excuse of resettlement to work,
Ghetto residents were taken out in groups of 300-500, driven
out on trucks and later shot. Such shootings the Germans
called "Actions." There were five such "Actions" in
Tarnopol. People who managed to evade the Ghetto were forced
to hide in the forest, underground bunkers, attics, barns,
etc. Part of the Jewish population were transported, in
groups of 400-500 to the town of Belzec. Their fate is not
known.

During the excavations of the Pits, the following was
established:

To the west of Tarnopol, two km. past the village of
Petrikow, along the roadway leading to the Village of
Janowka, in the field at the right of the road, there are 17
Pits, and on the left, 3 Pits, with a downward top, grass
covered, with sand underneath.

Pit No. 1, Size: 5 x 3 times 3 meters.

The bodies lie in disorderly manner, 1.5 meters deep. Sixty
bodies were examined. The bones separated easily. All bodies
were naked.

Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 describe in detail the
condition of single victims. Shots in the back of the skull
were visible.

Pit No. 3 is 5 x 3 x 2 meters.

Bodies lie in disorder, naked, strong decomposition state.
One hundred seventy bodies were excavated and examined.
Among them: 4 children, 2 men and the rest women.

Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 describe condition of single body
skeletons.

Pit No. 4 is 5 x 3 x 2.5 meters.

Bodies In disorder, all naked. One hundred fifty-two body
skeletons were examined. Among them: 18 men, 7 children, and
the rest, women.

Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 describe single bodies as above.

All the other skeletons show similar bullet holes In the
back of the head, and the neck.

Pits No. 15-17, size: 5 x 3 x 2.5 meters.

Skeletons lie in disorder, naked. 120 were examined. Among
them: 8 children, 23 men, and the rest, women.

Pits No. 18-19, size: 2 x 3 x 2.5 each.

All lie naked in disorder. 0ne man found in slacks, jacket

and shirt. Found in the pocket were: a ration card with the

name Goldberg Kiwes, dated April 1943, and 20 Polish zlotyz.

One hundred fifty-five skeletons were examined. Among them:

43 women, 19 children and the rest men. Five children ages 1

to 5, didn't show any bullet holes. All the others had

bullet holes as described above.

Total in 17 Pits, i size: 5 x 3 x 3 meters.

Total in 2 Pits, size: 20 x 3 x 3 meters. Total in I Pit,

size: 10 x 3 x 3 meters. Were shot and buried over 15,000

people.

Westward from Tarnopol, 7 km. from the Dragunov Forest,
right from the roadside leading to Brze D zany, six pits
were discovered. Tops were sunken, covered with grass and
with gray-red soil.


Pit No. 1, size: 5 x 3 x 2 meters.


Bodies lie in disorder, all dressed injackets and slacks,
and shirts. some have winter coats, boots, others with
shoes and galoshes.


Twenty-eight bodies were examined. Among them: 18 men, 8
women and 2 children. In the pockets were found: combs,
matches, tabac, pencils, etc. Two 2-3 year old children
didn't show any bullet holes. The others had bullet holes
as described above.


Pit No. 2, size: 5 x 3 x 2.5 meters.


Bodies lay in disorder, decomposed.


No. 1, 2, 3, 4 describe condition of bodies in detail.

The investigation of the other bodies and skeletons
recalled similar damage from bullet wounds in the heads
and other parts of the bodies as described above.

In 6 pits, sizes from 5 x 4 x 3 to 5 x 3 x 2.5 meters,
between 2,500 and 3,000 people were found.
According to investigation materials and eyewitness
accounts, some pits were camouflaged and not
discovered.

Assist. of Main - Head Health Dept.
Court-Medic. Expert-Doc. Wojikewich
First Ukr. Front: Cherwinskij -Capt. M/SL. Kogan
Podpolkowik M/SL - Malaev - major justice
Kazacheuko Captain M/SL. - Magomedov
Captain justice - Novikow
Compiled: FO GATO Fond Nr. P. 274 op 1., 123, LL. 118-
123. Archive Director-L. 1. Lelekova
Archive Elder-G. W. Trotskava

                             (Translated by I. Gartner)"
                                                        
(Sabrin, 276-278)

                       Work Cited
                            
Sabrin, B.F., Ed. Alliance for Murder: The Nazi-Ukrainian Partnership 
in Genocide. New York: Sarpedon, 1991.

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