Alternate names: Biķernieki, Biterniyeki, Bityerneku. 55°58′27″N 26°49′12″E, 5.8 miles ENE of Rīga. During World War II, 30,000 Jews were murdered in this small, forested area on the outskirts of Riga, Latvia's capitol. In total, 80,000 Latvian Jews, or 80% of the pre-war Jewish population, was murdered from 1941-1944. A monument was dedicated in 2001. Source: Dateline, World Jewry, January 2002. [January 2002]
MASS GRAVE: Approximately 40,000 Jews from throughout Europe were murdered at Bikernieki Forest and are buried there. In 2001, a memorial was dedicated at this site on the outskirts of Riga, Latvia. [March 2009]