A mass war grave - Zabytek.pl
Address
Wąsosz
Location
woj. podlaskie, pow. grajewski, gm. Wąsosz
It provides an educational, anti-war message.
History
A mass grave of the civilian population of the Mosaic faith is related to the events of World War II. Shortly after the end of the war, next to the mass grave, a monument with an inscription saying: “Here lie the Jews murdered by the Fascists”, was unveiled. In the publication of 1970, under the entry “Wąsosz”, we find the following information: “in June 1941, the Wehrmacht soldiers murdered around 250 Jews of Wąsosz in Bolesław Lenczewski’s colony. Bodies were buried in the place of siege in an anti-tank ditch.” In 1995, by efforts of Wąsosz residents, the old monument was replaced with a new one. The investigation concerning the murder in Wąsosz has been carried out by the Institute for National Remembrance since 2006 (participation of the Poles in the pogrom is also subject to verification). According to the Institute’s establishments, the pogrom took place on 5 July 1945.
Description
The mass grave is situated outside the housing area, in arable land at a field path to Niećków (on its western side). The fence, on an elongated rectangular plan, is made of perpendicular posts linked by a chain stylised as a barbed wire. A centrally located monument in the form of a matzevah crowned with a menorah. The Star of David is located in the central, openwork part. Below, there is a copper commemorative plaque in Hebrew and Polish: HERE LIE THE ASHES / OF 250 JEWS / SAVAGELY / MURDERED / IN JUNE 1941 / MAY THEIR MEMORY BE HONOURED.
Accessible structure.
compiled by Iwona Górska, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Bialystok, 22-10-2014.
Bibliography
- Karta ewidencyjna, Mogiła ludności cywilnej z II wojny światowej, oprac. Tomecka B., 2005, Archiwum Wojewódzkiego Urzędu Ochrony Zabytków w Białymstoku Delegatura w Łomży.
- Onacik J., Przewodnik lata wojny 1939-1945 woj. białostockie, Warszawa 1070, s.76.
Category: cemetery
Protection: Register of monuments, Monuments records
Inspire id: PL.1.9.ZIPOZ.NID_N_20_CM.6071, PL.1.9.ZIPOZ.NID_E_20_CM.94801