in detail
Before the Second World War, Ponary near Vilnius was a popular destination for summer outings. The small Lithuanian town belonged to Poland between the wars and was occupied in 1939 by the Soviet Army, which set up a military base in the forest of Ponary. Following the invasion of the German Wehrmacht in July 1941, Lithuanian and German privates murdered more than 100,000 people, including 70,000 Jews, until 1944.
The first memorial for the »victims of fascism« was established in Paneriai in 1948. The museum, that was opened in 1960, displays personal effects of the victims, documents and photographs. In 1985 the area of the former extermination centre was redesigned and the exhibition was reworked and moved to a new building. After the Lithuanian state regained independence, a first memorial stone was installed on the initiative of the Jewish Community in Vilnius, which commemorates the genocide of 70,000 Jews with an inscription in Yiddish and Hebrew. In 1991, a further memorial for the murdered Jews was established. Memorials were built for the murdered Poles and Lithuanians in 1989 and 1993 respectively.
From 1941 to 1944 the mass shootings of approximately 100,000 people, of whom some 70,000 were Jews, took place in the forest of Ponary (Paneriai), eight kilometres south?west of Vilnius. The monument for the »victims of fascism« was established in 1948. A museum was set up in 1960 and since 1989 monuments to the murdered Jews, Poles and Lithuanians.
1939
Ponary occupied by the Soviet Army; establishment of a military base.
July 1941
Invasion by the German Wehrmacht.
To 1944
Mass execution of more than 100,000 people, including more than 70,000 Jews.
1948
First memorial to the »victims of fascism«.
1960
Opening of a museum.
1989
Installation of a first commemorative stone on the initiative of the Vilnius Jewish Community; its inscription commemorates the genocide of 70,000 Jews.
1989
Establishment of a memorial for the murdered Poles.
1991
Establishment of a further memorial for the murdered Jews.
1993
Establishment of a memorial for the murdered Lithuanians.
Ponary, Probably 1941, shootings in one of the construction pits dug by the Soviets for oil tanks, YIVO Institute, New York.
Paneriai, 2004, Site where the German occupiers burned the corpses of those shot, SDJE.
Paneriai, 2004, Commemorative stone with inscription on the side (Soviet period), commemorative plaque from 1990 in the centre, SDJE.
Ponary, corpses of victims, YV.