Alternate names: Borzna [Rus, Ukr, Yid, Pol], Borsna [Ger], Borzne. 51°15' N, 32°26' E, 52 miles ESE of Chernihiv (Chernigov).. 1900 Jewish population: 1,516.
- KehilaLink
- JewishGen Ukraine SIG
- Slownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego (1880-1902), I, p. 340: "Borzna".
- Shtetl Finder (1989), p. 10: "Borzna".
- Encyclopedia of Jewish Life (2001), p. 176: "Borzna"
- Wikipedia. "In World War II, the town was occupied by Nazi Germany from September 11, 1941 to September 7, 1943. On January 18, 1942, the Germans rounded up all the local Jews they could find and massacred them at Shapovalivka. 126 people were killed, 179 removed to Germany." [July 2014]
MASS GRAVE: Shapovalovka village [July 2014]
CEMETERY:
- "This is now very rural country - mud roads with deep ruts often filled with water. Alex is driving this poor car as though it were a jeep. I pity the owner after this trip. I see many babushkas following herds of cattle or shepherding flocks of geese. These people are not hungry. There were many geese and ducks and chickens. It is like a scene out of Fiddler on the Roof. Finally, we find the location and walk over to some markers we see in the distance. They are surrounded by a metal fence but are mostly recent. All are located at the edge of a field and number no more than eight or nine. Where are the older graves? A woman walks by and we inquire about these. She says that this was all that is left; the main part has been plowed under! I can see why Lena doesn't like to come out here. My original motive for learning Russian was to be able to read the markers here. As we stand on this field, Alex says that we are probably standing on the spot. I know now that the Synagogue-Fishmarket has become their last remaining monument." Source [July 2014]
- Borzna Jewish Cemetery - Some restoration has been undertaken at this site which is owned by the local municipality. However, the cemetery still requires fencing.[Mar 2015]
- US Commission No. UA24230501
- v. Shapovalovka (Borzna) is located in Chernigovskaya, 8 km from Borzna. The mass grave is located at right from road to Borzna. Present town population is 5,001-25,000 with 11-100 Jews.
- Town officials: unknown.
- The earliest known Jewish Community was end 18th century. 1926 Jewish population (census) was 697. Effecting Jewish Community were 1905 pogroms and Sept.1919 pogroms. Living here was Rabbi Glazman. The Jewish mass grave was dug in 1942. No other towns or village's Jews were murdered at this unlandmarked mass grave. The rural (agricultural) flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. A continuous fence surrounds the mass grave. 1 to 20 common tombstones, all in original location with none toppled or broken, date from 1962. No stones were removed. The site contains marked mass graves. Municipality owns site used for mass burial site. Properties adjacent are agricultural. Occasionally, Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors and local residents visit. This mass grave has not been vandalized. Authorities clean or clear occasionally. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Seasonal problems are vegetation overgrowth and water drainage. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access and vegetation. Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution and vandalism.
- Sokolova Eleonora Evgeniyevna of 253152, Kiev, Tychiny Pr. 5, Apt. 68 [Phone: (044) 5505681] visited site on 6/3/95. Interviewed on 4/3/95 was Knop Kelya Zinivyevna of R. Luxemburg St. 1a, Apt. 8 [Phone: (04653) 22753]. Sokolova completed survey on 05/03/1995.