Object numberM1996/033:017
DescriptionGreen glass bottle encrusted with soil, excavated from the mass grave in Serniki and used as material evidence in the War Crimes Trial held in Adelaide in the early 1990s. The bottle and other glass fragments excavated from the grave are most likely from schnapps bottles belonging to the perpetrators. There was a 'festive' mood alongside the killing. German officers would have got extra food, cigarettes and a special ration of alcohol to make it easier for them to do their killing.
The Jews of Serniki were murdered in one day in early September 1942. 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.
The Jews of Serniki were murdered in one day in early September 1942. 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, Australian link to Holocaust
Object namebottles
Materialglass
Dimensions
- height: 270.00 mm
diameter: 75.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by the War Crimes Investigation Unit