Matanza en Pakruojis (400 personas)

Around mid-July 1941 (some sources indicate the date as July 13), several German officers, commanding a group of 50-60 soldiers, arrived in Pakrójis. With the support of White Guards of Požela, they arrested all the Jews of the town (over 100 people), including the rabbi of Pakrójis. The victims were taken to the Morkakalnis forest, located about 2 kilometers from the city, and were killed on the same day. The German soldiers were shooting, while local White Guards were guarding the site of the massacre. At the beginning of August 1941 (according to some data, August 5), several German officers and a White Guard squad from Linkevičiai arrived in Pakrójis. Local White Guards and police were sent to aid them. They were instructed to arrest the remaining Jews of the town (women, children, and the elderly). They collected over 200 Jews, whom they were told would be taken to another place to work. Instead, they were first driven to the synagogue, and then marched to the Morkakalnis forest. When the victims were within a few hundred meters of the pit, they were forced to disrobe. Then, Jews were led to the pit in groups of five and were killed. Pakrójis and Linkevičiai with white armbands organized the shooting. German officers led the killings. One of them was taking photographs. During the massacre, the German commander told the Jews that those who handed over their gold and valuables would be allowed to live. Eight or nine Jews did this and were sent home. Later in the same day, the same Jews were brought back to the site of the massacre and killed. Each shooter was paid 100 rubles for the work done. In total, 400 Jews from the Pakrójis region were killed in the Morkakalnis forest.

Sources:

http://holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search//page/10/item/99/

https://kvr.kpd.lt/#/static-heritage-detail/cf4f01d6-6b4a-4216-af99-fd339921553a