Babi Yar was the single largest on-site mass execution in the entire span of the Third Reich, with over 33,000 Jews—and possibly as many as 100,000 people altogether—being murdered by Nazi Sonderkommando and SS soldiers over a two-day period. Children, of course, were not spared in this operation. Photographs, many taken by the Nazis themselves, document this horrific event, and several monuments and memorials, including many near the site itself, stand as somber and sober reminders of the depths of human depravity.
Here we see several women and little girls, awaiting their turn to be shot. It is truly chilling to look at such photos, knowing that only moments from this point in time everyone in this photo will be cruelly murdered.
(Photographer Unknown) – Babi Yar Massacre
Anna Ginsberg, age 3, one of the thousands of children slaughtered at Babi Yar:
(Photographer Unknown) – Anna Ginsberg, age 3, executed at Babi Yar
Mania Halef was another:
(Photographer Unknown) – Mania Halef, executed at Babi Yar
This monument to the children killed at Babi Yar rests near the Dorohozhychi subway station in Kiev, Ukraine:
Artist Unknown – Monument to the Children Killed at Babi Yar, Kiev, Ukraine (1)
Artist Unknown – Monument to the Children Killed at Babi Yar, Kiev, Ukraine (2)
Artist Unknown – (Title Unknown) (Babi Yar statue)
A detail of the maquette of Cindy Jackson’s massive monument, which is currently under construction (you can read about it at her site):
Cindy Jackson – The Babi Yar Massacre (detail)
Cindy Jackson Sculpture (Official Site)
Two observations:
During the entire Soviet era, students in Russia were taught that “Soviet citizens” were murdered at Babi Yar. The fact that Jews were especially targeted was not even mentioned.
German soldiers invading the Soviet Union were ordered that when firing into crowds, they were to shoot at waist level rather than head level. This was to avoid accidentally missing the children.