Michail Grintshuk

(Ukrainian police commander), Born 1902 in Medwedowka. Statement Date: January 25, 1973

Q: Report on your repressive measures against the Jews during the German occupation

A: In the fall of 1941 I gave notice, on the basis of a directive by the German Commissar that the Jews of the entire Krassilov region must live in a ghetto. The notice was printed and posted in the villages; I signed it in October 1941. About 1 1/2 to 2 weeks later the deputy, a German named Freiderich, arrived in Krassilov. He led the construction of the various ghettos and resettlement of the Jewish population. Frederich himself chose the quarter of the village to be surrounded by barbed wire.

Q: When did you direct the Jews to wear identification on their clothing?

A: The order was given by the German Commissar. I don’t know how this command was communicated to the Jews. Maybe I put it in the posted document.

Q. When did you order the Jews to go to the camps of Manevtsi?

A: The area Commissar gave that order. In spring 1942 with the help of the local police the Jews were moved from the ghettos into the camp of Manevtsi. Following that Germans and members of the police shot them. I did not take part in the executions.The

Q What made you give the order to destroy the houses in Kultschiny after the Jews were put in the camp?

A: After the Jews were put in the camp, their houses were plundered by the villagers. When I saw that, I asked the area commissar for permission to sell some of the Jewish dwellings. The commissar allowed me to sell the empty houses. A commission was formed to choose the houses. So was the decision made which house to sell. Buildings chosen by the commission I sold to villagers who wanted them. Many Jewish houses were torn down for use as building material or firewood for the German authorities.

Q: How did you estimate the value of the confiscated goods?

A: After marching the Jews into the Manevtsi camp and to Orlinzy the local police took all the valuable possessions and sent them to Antoniny. Remaining goods of lesser value, with the permission of the area commissar, I sold to the local populace. There was little of value left: old furniture, pots and pans, etc., whatever the Germans didn’t take. Residences were sold by me to villagers but many houses were torn down for material to build a new building. The proceeds and taxes went into the treasury of the Commissariat of Antoniny. In Kultschiny the most of the Jewish houses were destroyed and sent to Antoniny as firewood for the German authorities. I sold only a small number of houses to a few people for residences.