There are over 1500 Holocaust killing sites across Ukraine, scattered through the woods, villages and towns of the country, but many of these sites are not listed in existing catalogs, and are only known to local residents. Recording these sites through archival and on-site research is urgent – the gradual loss of artifacts and increasing lapses in individuals' memories mean that this data is at risk of being permanently lost. As part of the 2020 IHRA Grant program, the Shoah Atrocities Mapping -- Ukraine (SAMU) project provides an informed perspective on the scope and scale of the Holocaust tragedy in Ukraine through the creation of an interactive online map of these sites.
The SAMU Online Atlas: An important contribution to research in the field
The SAMU Online Atlas is a combination of interactive maps, basic information about individual sites, and links to further content for each site that was investigated. The website also contains a historical overview of Jewish life in Ukraine, as well as details about the Nazi occupation and grim statistics of the Holocaust in Ukraine. The online atlas also includes a bibliography, containing a list of publications that were used for obtaining information and data for the Shoah Atrocities maps and the profile pages for the various killing sites.
View the interactive online atlas on the project page: Shoah Atrocities Mapping -- Ukraine
While the project is still ongoing and some aspects of the website have yet to be finalized, it already represents a significant contribution to research in the field. The project's focus on accessibility through the production of an online interactive tool and the establishment of valuable local partnerships is also very welcome. This project was organized by the Tsal Kaplun Foundation, in partnership with the Izyaslav Region Administration and the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies.
The IHRA Grant program is now open for applications: find out more on our funding page.
