Alternate names: Viekšniai [Lith], Vekshne [Yid], Vyekshnya [Rus], Wieksznie [Pol], Veckshna, Vekshni, V'yekshnyay, Viyekshnyay, Viekšnių, Vekshnyay, Vekshnya. Russian: Векшня. 56°14' N, 22°31' E, 37 miles NW of Šiauliai (Shavl), 20 miles NNE of Telšiai (Telz), 9 miles SE of Mažeikiai (Mazheik). 1900 Jewish population: 1,646. [March 2009]
CEMETERY: Large Jewish cemetery (next to Christian cemetery in excellent condition) has about 50 stones in very poor condition. [Source?]
MASS GRAVE is in MAZEIKIA: Mazeikiai Jewish cemetery; 123; pic. # 165-166 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad .
The Germans entered Mažeikia on Wednesday, June 25, 1941. Mass killings of the men occurred on August 3, 1941 and the women on Saturday, August 9--a total of possibly 1,000 people. On the outskirts of the town is a road-sign on the edge of thick woods is a sign marking the mass grave. A footpath inside the woods teads to the Jewish cemetery. A large rock with a memorial plaque on grassy areas with a low iron fence to mark the site where hundreds of Mazheik residents lie. Subsequently, none remained. Next to the cemetery, a series of narrow black granite pillars a few feet apart hold up a third cross-piece inscribed in Yiddish to commemorate the slaughter and mass burial site of 4,000 Jewish men, women and children, who perished at that spot with the Jews of Mazeikiai: Sede (Siad), Viekshniai (Veckshna), Tirksliai (Tirkshla), Zidikai (Shidik), Pikeliai (Pikeln), Klykoliai (Klilul) and other towns. a little further away are several non-Jewish graves (communists also killed there.) A few feet behind the tall granite Holocaust memorial is another shorter pair inscribed in Lithuanian on the top cross-column. [March 2009]
