Exhibition “Shoah by Bullets: Mass shootings of Jews in Ukraine 1941–1944” presented in Kiev: Fostering tolerance and commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Babi Yar tragedy

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation, in partnership with the Memorial de la Shoah, Yahad – In Unum and the Ukrainian Embassies of Israel, France, Germany and the United States, presents the exhibition “Shoah by Bullets: the Mass Shootings of Jews in Ukraine 1941-1944.” The exhibition will be on display at the ‘Ukrainian House’ (2, Khreschatyk, Kiev) from September 9 to October 3, 2011.

The exhibition, previously displayed in Paris, Brussels, New York and other cities, will be shown for the first time in Ukraine. It seeks to promote tolerance and prevent discrimination by increasing public awareness and understanding, particularly among younger generations, of the history of the mass murder of Jews and other victims by Nazi soldiers in Ukraine. The exhibition is part of the official national program commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the Babi Yar tragedy.

The “Shoah by Bullets” is based on the work of French Catholic priest, Father Patrick Desbois, and his association, Yahad – In Unum, which conducts archival and field research and videotapes interviews with witnesses to the mass shootings in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Poland. To date, Yahad – In Unum teams have interviewed more than 2,000 witnesses to the massacres and identified the location of hundreds of mass graves, many previously unknown.

The exhibition was created by the Memorial de la Shoah and updated and adapted with the help of leading Ukrainian experts. It includes information on historical facts, video interviews, wartime documents, photographs of mass graves that have been discovered and objects documenting the history of the mass shootings – such as bullets and shell casings etc. An educational program created by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, USA and the Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Studies will be carried out during the exhibition to involve, inform and engage Ukrainian pupils and students in a dialogue on the subject.

Father Desbois will also present his book, The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest's Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews, translated for the first time into Ukrainian, with the financial support of the French Embassy. The book was published by the “Duh I Litera”. The Jewish Book Council awarded the book the National Jewish Book Award in 2008. A number of events and visits will accompany the exhibition.

The exhibition will be shown at the ‘Ukrainian House’ (2, Khreschatyk, Kyiv) from September 9 to October 3. It will not be shown on September 21-23.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 09:00 am – 19:00 pm, Saturday, Sunday 11:00 – 17:00.

Admission is free.

Organizers:
The Victor Pinchuk Foundation
Memorial de la Shoah
Yahad – In Unum

Partners:
Embassy of France in Ukraine
Embassy of Germany in Ukraine
Embassy of Israel in Ukraine
Embassy of the United States of America in Ukraine
Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Studies
USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education
Center of Studies of History and Culture of Eastern-European Jews

Media Partner
“Istorychna Pravda”

Contacts for media requests:
Press-office of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation
Tel: +380 44 494 11 48
E-mail: [email protected]

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