Jews rounded-up in Konskie wait to dig a grave for the bodies of four German soldiers.

Photograph | Digitized | Photograph Number: 50418

Overview

Caption: Jews rounded-up in Konskie wait to dig a grave for the bodies of four German soldiers.
Date: 1939 September 12
Locale: Konskie, [Kielce] Poland
Variant Locale: Konsk
Photo Credit: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Instytut Pamieci Narodowej
Event History: Upon reaching Konskie during the first weeks of the Polish campaign, German soldiers were fired upon by unidentified snipers. Four men were killed, including one officer, and the bodies were mutilated before the arrival of German reinforcements. German troops, incensed by the mutilations, gathered together a group of Jewish men, aged 40-50, and ordered them to dig a grave for the bodies, all the while beating the men with rifle-butts and slats ripped from a nearby fence. After a while, a police major approached the men and scolded them for their undisciplined behavior. He suggested that they let the Jews go and finish burying the bodies. The troops initially agreed, but after the officer left, began again beating the Jews, some of whom attempted to flee. Shots then broke out and 22 of the Jews were killed. Filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl witnessed the incident along with several members of her film crew (see #80965).

https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005593.

Photo Source: Instytut Pamieci Narodowej

Copyright: Agency Agreement

Provenance: G. Stypa

Source Record ID: 59027

Keyword: FORCED LABOR/BRIGADES GHETTO/OCCUPATION JEWS (POLISH) KONSKIE ROUND-UPS SOLDIERS/MILITARY (GERMAN)
Photo Designation: GHETTOS (MINOR) -- (K)