Krasnyi Sad Massacre
| Krasny Sad massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Eastern Front of World War II | |
| Location | Krasny Sad, Horokhiv Raion, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine |
| Coordinates | 50°07′24″N 25°34′04″E / 50.1234°N 25.5678°E |
| Date | 19 April 1943 |
| Target | Ukrainians |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Deaths | 104 |
| Injured | Unknown |
| Perpetrator | Polish Home Army and Schutzmannschaft Battalion 202 with Blue Police |
| Motive | Reprisal for an UPA attack on Polish civilians in Andrzejówka |
Krasny Sad massacre was a mass killing of Ukrainians that took place on 19 April 1943 in the village of Krasny Sad, located in Horokhiv Raion, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. A total of 104 civilians were killed by members of the Polish Home Army in cooperation with the Nazi Ordnungspolizei.[1]
Background
In early 1943, ethnic tensions between Poles and Ukrainians in the region of Volhynia escalated into violent confrontations. Following attacks by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) on Polish settlements, retaliatory actions were carried out by Polish armed units, often supported by German forces.
The massacre at Krasny Sad was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of Poles in the nearby village of Andrzejówka by UPA units.[1][2]
The Attack
On the morning of 19 April 1943, forces of the Polish Home Army and Blue Police surrounded the village of Krasny Sad. Civilians were gathered, and mass executions were carried out. Houses were looted and burned, and victims included women, children, and the elderly.[1][2]
Victims
According to local sources and historians, the massacre resulted in the deaths of:
- 25 women
- 10 children, including infants
- 10 elderly men
- and dozens of others of varying ages
Most victims were executed at close range or burned alive in their homes.
Aftermath
The village of Krasny Sad was almost completely destroyed. Survivors fled or were deported. The event was silenced during the Soviet era and only came to public awareness in post-independence Ukraine. Local historians and community members began organizing memorial services and preserving the story of the victims.[2]
Commemoration
A memorial monument was erected at the site of the mass grave. Annual commemorations are held on 19 April by residents, descendants, and civic organizations.
See also
Bibliography
- Nowak, Jan. War Crimes in Volhynia. Institute of National Remembrance, 2010.
- Kowalski, Piotr. Volhynia 1943: Memory and Tragedy. Historical Press, 2015.