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| KIEV, UKRAINE, September 1941 Nazi Einsatzgruppen Operational Reports About Kyiv, Ukraine Einsatzgruppen, The Mobile Arms of the German Extermination Machinery Organized To Arrest and Murder Active and Potential Political Opponents And To Annihilate Jews "The Einsatzgruppen Reports", Published 1989 Holocaust Library, New York, September 28, 1941 The Chief Of The Security Police And Security Service Berlin 48 Copies (36th copy) Operational Situation Report USSR No. 97 Einsatzgruppe C Location: Kiev Vorkommando 4a (operates directly with the combat troops in Kyiv since September 19. Einsatzgruppe HQ came up on September 24. Office Building NKVD, October 24th street assigned and commandeered as seat of Einsatzgruppe HQ. Building evacuated this morning to move into emergency quarters in the one-Time Tsar's castle. Town almost destroyed upon entry of troops. Numerous barricades and tank traps put up in main street. In addition, other strong defensive installations in the town area. On September 20, the citadel blew up and the Artillery Commander and his chief of staff were killed. On September 24, violent explosions in the quarters of the Feldkommandatur; the ensuing fire has not yet been extinguished. Fire in the center of town. Very valuable buildings destroyed. So far, fire-fighting practically without any effect. Demolitions by blast- ing being carried out to bring the fire under control. Fire in the immediate neighborhood of this office. Had to be evacuated for this reason. Considerable damage done in and around the building by blasting. Blasts continue. Also, fire breaking out. Up to now, 670 mines detected in buildings, according to a mine-laying plan which was discovered: all public buildings and squares are mined, among them, it is alleged, also the building assigned to this office for future use. Buildings being searched most assiduously. In the course of this search, 60 Molotov cocktails of explosives were detected and removed. In the Lenin Museum, 70 hundred-weights (8,000 lbs.) of dynamite discovered which were to be touched off by wireless. It was repeatedly observed that fires broke out the moment buildings were taken over. As has been proved, Jews played a pre-eminent part. Allegedly 150,000 Jews living here. Verification of these statements has not been possible yet. 1,600 arrests in the course of the first action, measures being evolved to check the entire Jewish population. Execution of at least 50,000 Jews planned. German Army welcomes measures and demands drastic action. Garrison commander advocates public execution of 20 Jews. A large number of NKVD officials, political commissars, partisan leaders and partisans arrested. According to reliable information, demolition battalion of the NKVD and considerable number of NKVD men in Kiev. This morning, enemy plots detected. Contact established with the German Army and authorities. Participated pre-eminently in setting up town administration. Informants posted. Vorkommando of the Higher SS and Police Leaders arrives. Detailed reports to follow. October 2, 1941 Chief of the Security Police and Security Service Berlin, 48 copies (36th copy) Operational Situation Report USSR No. 101 Einsatzgruppe C Location: Kiev Sonderkommando 4a in collaboration with Einsatzgruppe HQ and two Kommandos of police regiment South, executed 33,771 Jews in Kyiv on September 29 and 30, 1941. October 7, 1941 The Chief Of The Security Police And Security Forces Berlin, 48 copies (36th copy)< Operational Situation Report USSR No. 106 Einsatzgruppe C Location: Kiev I. Kiev As a result of (war) destruction, especially of houses, and the forced order to evacuate endangered streets, about 23,000 persons became homeless and were forced to spend the first days of occupation in the open. They accepted this inconvenience quietly and did not cause panic. Meanwhile, locked and empty apartments, insofar as they had not been burned and damaged, were put at the disposal of the population. A corresponding number of apartments have also become available through the liquidation, thus far around 36,000 Jews on September 29 and 39, 1941. The housing of the homeless is assured and has also been taken care of in the meantime. The population of Kiev before the start of the war numbered around 850,000. For the time being, no exact indication concerning its national composition can be given. The number of Jews is said to have been around 300,000. The total number of ethnic Germans living in Kiev is presently being counted by a Kommando. The final results will be available in 10 days. The temporary appointed city administration has begun immediately to register all the inhabitants of Kiev. As a first measure, all males aged 15-50 must report. Except for a small part, the non-Jewish population, as far as can now be established, seems to welcome the German Army, or at least to display loya behavior. During the first days of occupation, serious unrest could be detected within the population because of rumors that the German Army was leaving the city. These rumors were successfully squelched with proper official announcements. The population cooperates very readily by furnishing information on explosives or secret memberships in the NKVD, the Party and the Red Army. Unlike the first days, one could note that this information was 90% correct. The reason for this is that the city inhabitants are less frightened than is the rural population, since they do not fear the possibility of a return of the Bolsheviks. The supply situation in Kiev is extremely poor. There are no food stocks and these must be provided. A staff in charge of economic affairs was created by the appointed city administration. Its main task was, for the time being, the supplying of the most vital food. This economic staff supplies the required transpiration and, thus, the most urgent needs could be met by bringing in supplies from the nearby collective farms. II. Executions and other measures The population was extremely infuriated against the Jews because of their preferential economical status under Soviet rule. It could also be proved that the Jews had participated in the arson. The population expected adequate reprisals from the Germans. For this purpose, in agreement with the city military command, all the Jews of Kiev were ordered to appear at a certain place on Monday, September 29, by 6 o'clock. This order was publicized by posters all over the town by members of new newly organized Ukrainian militia. At the same time, oral information was passed that all the Jews of Kiev would be moved to another place. In cooperation with the HQ of EGG and two Kommandos of the police regiment South, Sonderkommando 4a executed 33,771 Jews on September 29 and 30 (this took place in the revine of Babi Yar outside Kyiv). Gold and valuables, linen, and clothing were secured. Part of it was given to the NSV (National-Sozialistische Vorsorgung = Nazi Welfare) for the ethnic Germans, and part to the appointed city administration for distribution among the needy population. The action carried out smoothly and no incidents occurred. The population agreed with the plan to move the Jews to another place. That they were actually liquidated has hardly been made known. However, according to the experience gained so far, this would not meet with any opposition. The army has also approved the measures taken. The Jews that have not yet been caught or who will return will be treated accordingly. At the same time, a number of NKVD men and commissars were arrested and finished off. The Bandera members lost power with the arrests made by the Kommandos. Their activity was restricted to the distribution of leaflets and posters. Three arrests were made; more are pending. The HQ of EGC as well as Sonderkommando 4a and Einsatzkommando 5, both stationed in Kiev, have made connections with the proper offices. Constant cooperation with these offices was achieved, and imminent problems were discussed daily. Because of the vast amounts of information, each time (with each action) detailed operation reports must be submitted about the activity of the Einsatzkommandos. October 12, 1941 The Chief Of The Security Police And Security Service Berlin, 50 copies (36th copy) Operational Situation Report USSR No. 111 Einsatzgruppe C Location: Kiev Security police measures Sonderkommando 4a has now reached a total of over 51,000 executions. Apart from the special action in Kiev of September 23 and 29, in which two Kommandos of the Police Regiment South were involved, all executions carried out so far were made by that Sonderkommando without any outside assistance. The executed persons were mainly Jews; a small number of were political officials as well as saboteurs and plunderers. In the period between September 7 and October 5, 207 political officials, 112 saboteurs and plunderers, as well as 8,800 Jews were liquidated by Einsatzkommando 5. Sonderkommando 4b, in the period between September 13 and 25, executed 103 political officials, 9 saboteurs and plunderers, and 125 Jews. Einstakommando 6, in the period between September 1 and 27, executed 13 political officials, 32 plunderers and saboteurs, as well as 25 Jews. These were the reasons for the executions carried out by the Kommandos: political officials, plunderers and saboteurs; active Communists and political representatives; Jews who gained their release from prison camps by false documents; agents and informers of the NKVD; persons who by false dispositions and witness influencing were instrumental in the deportation of ethnic Germans; Jewish sadism and revenge; undesirable elements; partisans; politruks; danger of plague and epidemics; members of Russian bands; armed insurgents; supply Russian bands; rebels and agitators; drifting juveniles; Jews in general. On September 26, the Security Police took up its activities in Kiev. That day, seven interrogation Kommandos of Einsatzkommando 4a started their work in the civilian prisoner camp, in the prisoner-of-war camp, in the Jewish camp, and in the city itself. Thus, among other things, in the camp for civilian prisoners and prisoners-of-war, ten political commissars were discovered and interrogated in detail. Conforming to the old Communist tactics these guys denied all political activity. Only when confronted with trustworthy witnesses, five commissars relented and confessed, that is, they admitted the position they had held, but did not make any statements beyond this. They were shot on September 27. In one case, a Jewish politruk tried to ransom himself by offering gold. The man was taken to his apartment where he pried loose a few floor tiles, dug about 50 cm deep and produced a counter-weight of a clock. That weight contained 21 gold coins. The Jew was shot. Furthermore, 14 partisans were found, among them leading persons. They, too adhered to their attics of silence during the interrogation. Again, their status was proven by testimony. In some cases, a confession was obtained. A partisan leader who had made propaganda for the defense of Kiev also attempted to ransom himself by offering gold. In this case gold watches and Rubel notes were hidden behind a stove. All accused were shot. Three Jewish party officials who also tried to ransom themselves by offering gold were liquidated. The gold was seized. (TO BE CONTINUED...Next Report from Kyiv, October 13, 1941) |