Local policeman cutting off Yakov Yehoshua Steinboim’s Local policeman cutting off Yakov Yehoshua Steinboim’s sidelocks,1939sidelocks,1939

September 1st World War II breaks out when Germany invades Poland.

September 15 The German army enters Hrubieszow

December 1st Death march of Chelm and Hrubieszow Jews to

the river Bug. Establishment of the Ghetto, Judenrat and Jewish Police.

June 1st deportation of 3,400 Hrubieszow Jews to the Sobibor death camp.

June 9 Deportation of 2,000 Jews to death camp in Belzec.

October 28 Deportation of 2,000 Jews to the Sobibor death camp

September Liquidation of 160 Jews, last of the “Cleaning” unit..

1939

1942

1943

8,0008,000 Jews were herded into the ghetto in the old market place, and lived there in isolationJews were herded into the ghetto in the old market place, and lived there in isolation

Map of the Jewish QuarterMap of the Jewish Quarter (drawn from memory by Abraham Silberstein)

The Old Market Place

The Public Bath-house

Residence of Rabbi Wertheim

Town Hall

The Cemetery

Market Place

The Pharmacy The Council

The Syndicate House

Dam

Church Shools

(Beth Hamidrash)

Flour mill

Church

The Zamosz Bridge

The Cinema

The Cinema

ghettoghetto

Jewish men of Hrubieszow before the Death March, December Jewish men of Hrubieszow before the Death March, December 19391939

From left: Joseph Schwartz (father of Shalom Omri), Isser Shorer and Shalom Omri

From the testimony of From the testimony of Shalom OmriShalom Omri survivor of the “death march survivor of the “death march:”:”

……””In December 1939 the Germans announced that all Jewish men aged 15 to 65 In December 1939 the Germans announced that all Jewish men aged 15 to 65 should appear the next morning at 7 am in aground near the town. There were should appear the next morning at 7 am in aground near the town. There were rumors about forced laborrumors about forced labor..

We showed up, very innocently, but soon realized that this unfortunate morning We showed up, very innocently, but soon realized that this unfortunate morning was the beginning of a “death march”- expulsion, on foot, of the Jews of Chelm & was the beginning of a “death march”- expulsion, on foot, of the Jews of Chelm & Hrubieszow to the Russian borderHrubieszow to the Russian border..

I was 17; after two days of quick march without food & water we nearly collapsed. I was 17; after two days of quick march without food & water we nearly collapsed. The Germans solved it simply – four of their men started to shoot down those who The Germans solved it simply – four of their men started to shoot down those who lagged behind. Many of the Jews fell & their bodies were spread in the mire. lagged behind. Many of the Jews fell & their bodies were spread in the mire. Among them was my uncle Israel. With my last effort I tried to help him, but when Among them was my uncle Israel. With my last effort I tried to help him, but when they saw it, they shot him downthey saw it, they shot him down..

At the end of that day we arrived at the bridge on the river Bug – the border At the end of that day we arrived at the bridge on the river Bug – the border between Russian occupied Polish territorybetween Russian occupied Polish territory..

The Germans officer surprised us announcing that we can go over to the The Germans officer surprised us announcing that we can go over to the Germans. Four Russian soldiers dragged me to the German side. We found Germans. Four Russian soldiers dragged me to the German side. We found

refuge in the house of a local farmerrefuge in the house of a local farmer .… .…

That night I swore that never again will I let this happen – no more exile, no more a That night I swore that never again will I let this happen – no more exile, no more a worthless & defenseless peopleworthless & defenseless people”.”.

After the war some survivors returned and arranged burial of the After the war some survivors returned and arranged burial of the

victimsvictims.

Unveiling of Holocaust memorial in the old cemetery, Hrubieszow 1947

5050 years after the war, Shalom Omri and Avraham Silberstein decided to build a years after the war, Shalom Omri and Avraham Silberstein decided to build a monument to commemorate the Jewish Holocaust victims of Hrubieszowmonument to commemorate the Jewish Holocaust victims of Hrubieszow..

The unveiling of the Monument took place on July 9, 1997, under auspices of the Mayor The unveiling of the Monument took place on July 9, 1997, under auspices of the Mayor and his attendance, together with members of the Hrubieszow landsmannschaft in Israel, and his attendance, together with members of the Hrubieszow landsmannschaft in Israel,

USA, Canada and AustraliaUSA, Canada and Australia..

Pieces of old tombstones from the Jewish old cemetery are embedded in the monument, Pieces of old tombstones from the Jewish old cemetery are embedded in the monument, symbolizing 500 years of Jewish life in Hrubieszowsymbolizing 500 years of Jewish life in Hrubieszow..

Let them be of

blessed memory!