The memorials will be opened in the places of mass slaughter of the Jews during WWII. These places are the town of Cherven, Minsk Oblast, where 1,750 people were killed, and in the village of Molchad, Baranovichi District, where the Nazis executed 3,600 people on 15-18 July 1942.
The memorials are erected on the initiative of the Holocaust Commemoration Commission of Belarus established by Belarus’ major Jewish communities and organizations in September 2003. The commission is sponsored by the Simon Mark Lazarus Foundation (UK), the Miles and Merelin Kletter Family Fund (U.S.) and the Warren and Beverly Geisler Family Fund (U.S.).
Since the commission was set up, over 60 signs and memorials to the Holocaust victims have been erected in Belarus. The design of the memorial has been created by Leonid Levin, Chairman of the UBJPAC. Great assistance in development of the near-by territory is provided by local authorities.
The opening ceremony of the memorials will be attended by representatives of embassies, local administrations, national Jewish organizations and communities and local people. The ceremonies will be held on 22-23 July.
There are over 500 mass graves of the Jews killed during the war in Belarus. About one million people is believed to be buried there.
