Former Execution Range Minsk

This site was scene of the mass execution of about 5,000 Jews from the Minsk ghetto. The Jews executed here were mainly Reich Jews, that is to say that they were German citizens. The SS Commander August Kube refused to execute these Jews as many of the men were decorated WW1 soldiers who had fought for Germany. Also Kube thought that the Reich Jews were intellectually superior to the Eastern European Jews. Today, there is a memorial (Yama Memorial) located on the former execution range which is dedicated to the Holocaust victims. The execution site is outside the main commercial city centre but it is easy to walk to.