The main gate leading to the site of mass killings

Three gates used to lead to the territory of mass killings, the so-called ‘Base’. The main gate was in the north-western part of the territory, on the side of the Vilnius-Grodno highway. The gate had a warning sign in German prohibiting access to the area to both civilians and military personnel. On the poles supporting the barb wire around the site of mass killings, German inscriptions warned of the danger of mines: ‘Minen. Lebens-Gefahr’. The barracks of the SS and SD groups, that guarded the area were inside the gate. According to Abraham Blazer, a member of the burning brigade (Sonderkommando 1005A), which had been formed by the Nazis, the Base was guarded by an internal and external guard.

The main gate to the Base was located 5-6 m from the main road. From the sides, this gate was surrounded by dykes that have survived to this day. It was through this gate that the victims were herded to the site of mass killings.