Sarny סארני Map

Communal History

A town in Rovno oblast, Ukraine. It may be assumed that the first Jews settled in Sarny in 1901. After Sarny acquired the status of a town in May 1903 its Jewish community developed rapidly. during the Civil War after the end of World War I, the Jews of Sarny did not suffer from the pogroms in Ukraine and the community aided refugees and orphans from other places. In independent Poland, after Sarny was made the district capital in 1921, the city developed further. The Jewish population numbered 2,808 in 1921 (470f the total), 3,414 (45) in 1931, and 4,950 (45) in 1937. A Tarbut school was founded in 1920 - 21, and an ORT school in 1923 - 24. There were also a talmud torah, and several haddarim. On the outbreak of World War II preparations were under way for opening a Hebrew high school.

Until the early 1920s zaddikim of the Karlin - Stolin hasidic dynasty lived in Sarny, and later continued to visit it.

Holocaust Period

After the outbreak of World War II many refugees arrived in Sarny, and by 1941 the number of Jews there had risen to 7,000. During the Soviet occupation (1939 - 41) the Jewish institutions were disbanded. The 2,000 refugees from the German - occupied western Poland were transferred to the Soviet interior. The Germans occupied Sarny on July 5, 1941, and immediately began persecution of the Jews there, indiscriminate murder, seizure of able - bodied people for forced labor, and extortion of large sums of money. On the Day of Atonement (Oct. 1, 1941) they rounded up the Jews in Sarny for a census and ordered them to wear the yellow badge instead of a white band with a blue Star of David.

Before America, a trip back to Sarny

Sarny Yiskor Book

Cemetery Information on Sarny

The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and during the Holocaust

Also see: JewishGen Sarny Information
JewishGen Volhynia Information

A ghetto was established in April 1942, and a few weeks later the Jewish community was forced to pay a "fine" of 250,000 rubles ($50,000). On Aug. 27 - 28, 1942, the Germans began to "liquidate" the community with the murder of approximately 14,000 Jews of Sarny and its vicinity. A group headed by two Jews, one called Mendel, the other Tendler, attempted to break out of the ghetto but were betrayed by the secretary of the Judenrat. Several hundred managed to escape but many were later murdered by the Ukrainians, and only a few managed to join partisan units.

Courtesy of:
"Encyclopedia Judaica"
©1972, Keter Publishing House Jerusalem Ltd
Jerusalem, Israel

There are two known Holocaust mass grave sites in Sarny for at least two Aktions.
JewishGen Cemetery Project

SARNY II: (US Commission No. UA17240501)
The mass grave is located at W, near military unit fences in the forest. The Jewish mass grave was dug in 2-4 April 1942. Berezhnitsa Jews (15 km away) were murdered at this unlandmarked mass grave. The isolated wooded flat land has signs or plaques in local language mentioning the Holocaust. Reached by forest near fence of military unit, access is open to all. A broken fence with no gate surrounds the mass grave. 1 to 20 stones, all in original location with none toppled or broken, date from 20th century. No stones were removed. Some tombstones have metal fences around graves. The site contains marked mass graves. Municipality owns site used for mass burial site. Properties adjacent are forest and military unit. The mass grave boundaries is larger now than 1939. Organized individual tours visit occasionally. This mass grave has not been vandalized. Local/municipal authorities erected stones and cleared vegetation. Authorities clean or clear occasionally. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Vegetation overgrowth is a seasonal problem, preventing access. Serious threat: uncontrolled access (Caretaker is needed and possible.) Moderate threat: weather erosion, pollution, vegetation, vandalism, and existing nearby and proposed development.

SARNY III: (US Commission No. UA17240502)
The mass grave is located at W, in forest near military unit (petrol clear section.) The Ashkenazy Hasidic Jewish mass grave was dug 27-28 August 1942. Berezhnitsa Jews (15 km away) were murdered at this unlandmarked mass grave. The isolated wooded flat land has signs or plaques in local language mentioning the Holocaust. Reached along fence of military unit, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate surrounds the mass grave. 1 to 20 common tombstones, all in original location with none toppled or broken, date from 1995. No stones were removed. The site contains marked mass graves. Municipality owns site used for mass burial sites (2.) Properties adjacent are military unit. The mass grave boundaries is larger now than 1939. Rarely, organized individual tours visit. The mass grave was vandalized during World War II and not in the last ten years. Local/municipal authorities did re-erection of stones. Authorities clean or clear occasionally. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Serious threat: uncontrolled access (Uncontrolled access. Possible vandalism. (Need fences and caretaker.) Moderate threat: weather erosion. Slight threat: pollution, vegetation and vandalism.

SARNY I: (US Commission No. UA17240101)
The cemetery is located at NW, Paris Komunny St. stadium. Present town population is 25,001-100,000 with fewer than 10 Jews. The earliest known Jewish Community was 19th century. 1939 Jewish population (census) was 2808. Effecting Jewish Community were Khmelnitskiy's pogroms and World War I. The unlandmarked Jewish cemetery was established in the 19th century with last known Hasidic burial 1955. The suburban flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road and Parizhskoy Komuny Street, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate surrounds the cemetery. No stones are visible OR The cemetery has only common tombstones. Location of any removed stones is unknown. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. Municipality owns site used for recreational use (park, playground, and sports.) Property adjacent is hospital. The cemetery boundaries are smaller now than 1939 because of hospital. Local residents visit rarely. The cemetery was not vandalized in the last ten years. There is no maintenance. Within the limits of the cemetery are no structures. Serious threat: proposed nearby development (possible widening of stadium.) Moderate threat: uncontrolled access, weather erosion, pollution, vegetation, vandalism and existing nearby development.