International Jewish Cemetery Project
International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies

KOTOVSK

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Alternate names: Kotovs'k [Ukr], Birzula [Rus, until 1935], Kotovsk [Rus, since 1935], Kotowsk [Pol]. 47°45' N, 29°32' E, 13 miles SSW of Balta. In Transnistria during WWII. 1900 Jewish population: 95.

Jewish history and cemetery information. [May 2016]

CEMETERIES:

  • KOTOVSK I:     US Commission No. UA15150501

Alternate names: Kotovsk (German), Birsava (Polish) and Birzula (Ukraine). Kotovsk is located in Odesskaya at 47º45 29º32, 25 km from Balta, 145 km from Uman and 188 km from Odessa. The mass grave is located at 50 let Oktyabrya. Present town population is 25,001-100,000 with 11-100 Jews.

  • Town officials: Mayor Ivanov Anatoliy Pavlovich (04862) 24554. Kotovsk Regional Department of Culture, Tsurkan Oleg Alekseevich (04862) 26637.
  • Regional: Odessa Oblast Department of Culture, Borodavko Roman Isaakovich (0482) 251351 and Podderskaya Tatyana Anatolievna (0482) 225345.
  • Kotovsk Kraeved Museum, Director Barsukova Elena Ivanovna (04862) 25853.
  • Odessa Jewish Community, Milshteyn Feliks Ilich (0482) 226590 and Chechelnitskiy Shimon of (0482) 247296.

The earliest known Jewish community was middle 19 [sic]. 1939 Jewish population (census) was 2507. Effecting Jewish Community was 1918-1920 pogroms. The unlandmarked Jewish mass grave was dug in 1941. No Jews from other towns or villages were murdered here. The urban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by 50 let Oktyabrya Street, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate surrounds the mass grave. The approximate size of mass grave is now 0.01 hectares. No stones were removed. The mass grave has no special sections but contains unmarked mass graves. The municipality owns the property used for "other." Adjacent properties are stadion. Local residents visit rarely. The mass grave was vandalized occasionally in the last ten years. There is no maintenance. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Very serious threat: uncontrolled access, pollution, vandalism, and existing nearby development and proposed nearby development. Slight threat: weather erosion.
Oks Vladimir Moiseevich of 270065, Odessa, Varnenskaya Street 17D, Apt. 52 [Phone: (0482) 665950] visited site on 1/9/95 on 10/12/94. Interviewed on 1/9/95 were Barsukova E.I. and Kovalskiy A.D. of Kotovsk. Oks completed survey on 02/13/1995. Other documentation exists but was inaccessible.

KOTOVSK III:     US Commission No. UA15150101
The cemetery is located at Turgeneva Street. The Hasidic cemetery was established in 1960 with last known Jewish burial 20 [sic]. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The suburban flat land, part of a municipal cemetery, has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. A continuous fence with gate that locks surrounds site. No stones are visible. Location of any removed tombstones is unknown. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns the site used for Christianity cemetery. Adjacent properties are residential. The cemetery boundaries are smaller now than 1939. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized prior to World War II. There is no maintenance. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Water drainage at the cemetery is a constant problem. Very serious threat: uncontrolled access, weather erosion and vandalism. Moderate threat: pollution and vegetation. Slight threat: existing nearby development and proposed nearby development.
Oks Vladimir Moiseevich of 270065, Odessa, Varnenskaya Street 17D, Apt. 52 [Phone: (0482) 665950] visited and completed survey on 6/10/94. Interviewed were Barsukova E.I. and Kovalskiy A.D. Other documentation exists but was inaccessible.

KOTOVSK IV:     US Commission No. UA15150102
The cemetery is located at Kotovskogo Street. The Hasidic cemetery was established in 1910 with last known Jewish burial in 1994. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The suburban flat land, part of a municipal cemetery, has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. A continuous fence with non-locking gate surrounds site. 501 to 5000 stones, most in original location with less than 25% of surviving stones toppled or broken, date from 1910. The cemetery has no special sections. Some tombstones have traces of painting on their surfaces, other metallic elements, portraits on stones, and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains marked mass graves. The municipality owns the property used for Jewish cemetery and other. Adjacent properties are residential. The cemetery boundaries are unchanged since 1939. Frequently, Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors and local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized prior to World War II. Jewish individuals within country did re-erection of stones, patched broken stones, cleaned stones and cleared vegetation. Restoration was done in 1945-1978. Now, occasionally, individuals clean or clear. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access and vegetation. Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution and vandalism.
Oks Vladimir Moiseevich of 270065, Odessa, Varnenskaya Street 17D, Apt. 52 [Phone: (0482) 665950] visited and completed survey on 10/6/94. Interviewed were Barsukova E.I. and Kovalskiy A.D. Other documentation exists but was inaccessible.

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Parent Category: EASTERN EUROPE