German troops look on as Jews dig a grave for the bodies of four German soldiers that were found in Konskie.

Photograph | Photograph Number: 50415

Date: 1939 September 12
Variant Locale: Konsk
Photo Designation: GHETTOS (MINOR) -- (K)
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).
Keyword: FORCED LABOR/BRIGADES
GHETTO/OCCUPATION
GRAVES/MARKERS/TOMBSTONES
JEWS (POLISH)
KONSKIE
SOLDIERS/MILITARY (GERMAN)
SPECTATORS/AUDIENCES/BYSTANDERS
Photo Source: Instytut Pamieci Narodowej

Copyright: Agency Agreement

Source Record ID: 59027
: Record last modified: 2006-11-14 00:00:00
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/pa1039037

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