Object numberM1996/033:015
DescriptionCoin excavated from mass grave. See photographs M1996/033:248-250. The Jews of Serniki were murdered in one day in early September 1942, presumably on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. The German execution squad arrived shortly before lunch and left in the late afternoon. With the help of local collaborators, the Jews were rounded up and brought to a pit 40 metres long and 5 metres wide on the outskirts of the village. The victims were forced to lie face down on the floor of the pit, while marksmen at the edge of the pit targeted the heads of the victims. Other victims were clubbed to death. Corpses were stacked on top of each other in layers. A considerable number of Jews did escape the slaughter by fleeing into the forests. Those who were later found were shot. Altogether, about 850 men, women and children were massacred.
Production placeSerniki, Ukraine
Subjectwar crimes, pit killings, genocide, archaeology, mass graves, archaeology
Object namecoins
Materialmetal
Dimensions
- diameter: 15.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by the War Crimes Investigation Unit