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Krasnyi Sad Massacre

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Krasny Sad massacre
Part of Eastern Front of World War II
LocationKrasny Sad, Horokhiv Raion, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates50°07′24″N 25°34′04″E / 50.1234°N 25.5678°E / 50.1234; 25.5678
Date19 April, 1943
TargetUkrainians
Attack type
Massacre
Deaths104
InjuredUnknown
PerpetratorPolish Home Army and Schutzmannschaft Battalion 202 with Blue Police
MotiveReprisal for an UPA attack on Polish civilians in Andrzejówka[disambiguation needed]

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

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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[disambiguation needed] by UPA units.[1][2]

The Attack

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Bibliography

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  • Nowak, Jan. War Crimes in Volhynia. Institute of National Remembrance, 2010.
  • Kowalski, Piotr. Volhynia 1943: Memory and Tragedy. Historical Press, 2015.
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References

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  1. ^ a b c Трагедія Гіркої Полонки. Історична правда. Процитовано 7 листопада 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Члени цієї польської самооборони мали дозвіл на зброю від німецької влади