Latvian SSR

PEOPLE’S COMMISSARIAT FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS

RECORD OF QUESTIONING

1 March 1945, I, the authorised representative of the NKVD LSSR and ChGK [Special State
Commission], Captain Bundzis I. M., have questioned as witness:
1. Surname: Burkevich
2. Name and patronym: Avgust [August] Antonovič
3. Date of birth: 1881
4. Place of birth: Rozums [?], Valmiera district, LSSR [Wolmar]
5. Place of residence: Valmiera, 1 Udens st., Flat 10
6. Nationality and citizenship: Romni*, citizen of the USSR
7. Party membership (past and present): no affiliation
8. Education (general, special): illiterate
9. Passport: issued by the Vilkene municipal administration [Wilkenhof] of the Valmiera
district, LSSR
10. Occupation: casual labourer
11. Social background: farming
12. Social situation (occupation and possessions)
a) before the revolution: agriculture
b) after the revolution: likewise
13. Family members: son Burkevič, Paulis Avgustovič, born 1901, resident of the town of
Cēsis, worker. Daughter Simanis, Šarlota Avgustovna, born 1918, lives with her husband in
Cēsis, works in the town. Daughter Burkevič, Zuzanna Avgustovna, born 1921, resident of
Valmiera, 59 Stacia st., casual worker in agriculture.
14. Punitive action taken against the witness: previous convictions, arrests, etc. (when, by
which authority and for what reason):
a) before the revolution: none
b) after the revolution: none
15. What honours have you been awarded (medals, official documents, coats of arms etc.)
during the Soviet era: none
16. Category in the reservist forces and where registered: deleted from the registry on age
grounds.
17. Service in the Red Army (Red Guards, partisan units), when and in what capacity: did not
serve.
18. Service in the Whites or other counterrevolutionary armies (when, in what capacity): did
not serve.
19. Participation in gangs, criminal organisations and rebellions: did not take part.
20. Details of socio-political activities: —
Statement given by the witness Burkevič, Avgust Antonovič on 1 March 1945.

voi_00035_EN.docx
The witness has been informed of the consequences of giving false statements under Article
95 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR. At the request of the illiterate Burkevič, E. Ziedin’š
has explained Art. 95 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR.
Question: Where were you living and what were you doing during the German occupation of
the city of Valmiera from July 1941 to September 1944?
Answer: During the German occupation of the city of Valmiera. I worked for different
peasants in the vicinity of Valmiera and kept a low profile to avoid arrest.
Question: Report in detail what you know about German-fascist crimes?
Answer: About German-fascist crimes in the city of Valmiera, I can report that from the very
first day they entered, in July 1941, and throughout the whole time of occupation, they carried
out mass arrests and shootings of civilians and Red Army soldiers. Up to 3,000 persons were
shot in the city of Valmiera and its surroundings alone, including the whole Romani
population of the city and district, more than 150 people, and up to 1,000 people from the
Jewish population; the majority of the remaining victims of the exterminations were Latvians
and Russians, amongst them Soviet POWs.
In September 1942 I had to witness how over 150 Roma were shot, more than 100 of whom
were locals. Overall, far more Roma* were shot here because some were brought here from
other cities and districts. The shooting in September took place in the woods behind the
municipal administration of Valmiera, where there are numerous large mass graves. I
observed the events from a distance of about 40 metres, from behind a clump of bushes. There
was a second case, when I saw the shooting of 30 Soviet POWs [prisoners of war], on 10 or
20 September 1942. They were shot one morning in the same woods.
I was not present at other shootings, but I frequently saw how inmates from the Valmiera
prison were marched off to execution ordriven on trucks, whereby the hands of the men were
tied behind their backs. The adults were shot while standing, while the children were grabbed
by the feet and their heads bashed against trees or they were beaten with the butts of firearms.
The clothing of those shot was loaded onto several wagons by the German bandits and taken
to the city. The best pieces were later sent to Germany. Those taking part in the shooting
received five marks and half a litre of vodka for each person shot dead.
My wife, Matilda, and my son Robert were shot on 6 April 1943 in a group of 7 persons in the
woods of Iršu Park, where there are also large graves.
Before their withdrawal, in the summer of 1944, the German occupiers exhumed corpses and
burned them on specially made pyres to get rid of any trace of their atrocities. Only the
corpses of those executed most recently were exhumed and burned.
The record of this questioning was read to me with a translation into Latvian and it accords
with what I said, which I confirm with the signature of citizen Ziedin’š, who signs on my
behalf.
Questioning by Captain Bundzis

SSR-eski Latvia
MANUŠENGO KOMESARIJATO VAŠ E ANDRUNE BUĆA

PHUČIMASKO PROTOKOLI

Avgo Marto 1945 berš, me sar autorizirimo dženo kotar o NKVD LSSR thaj kotar e ČGK [specijalno themeski komisija], Kapetano Bundzis I.M., phučlem sar mujalnes:

1. Familijako anav: Burkevič
2. Anav thaj dadesko anav: Avgust [August] Antonovič
3. Bijamutno datum: 1881
4. Bijamutno than: Rozums, Valmiera distrikto [Wolmar]
5. Dživdipasko than: foro Valmiera, Udens-ulica Nr. 1, stano 10
6. Nacionaliteto thaj themutnipe: Rrom*, USSR-esko themutnipe
7. Partijako somdasno (nekanutno thaj adivesutno): naj nijekhe partijako dženo
8. Edukacija (generalno džanibe): bidrabarutno
9. Pasporto: dino kotar e Vilkene komunaki administracija [Wilkenhof] Valmierako distrikto, LSSR
10. Profesija: povarkana bućari
11. Socijalno avipe: agrokultura
12. Socijalno situacija (bućaripe thaj barvalipa)
    a) Angleder i revolucija: bustanari, agrokultura
    b) Pala i revolucija: sar so si
13. Familijake džene: čhavo Burkevič, Paulis Avgustovič, 1901 bijando, bešel ando foro Cesis [nemcikanes vi sar Wenden], bućari. Čhaj Simanis, Šarlota Avgustovna, 1918 bijandi, bešel pe rromesa ando foro Cesis, kerel buti ko foro. Čhaj Burkevič, Zuzanna Avgustovna, 1921 bijandi, bešel ando foro Valmiera, Stacia-ulica Nr. 59, povarkana bućarni ko agraro.
14. Tala save krisipa si o mujalno: anglokrisaripe, phanglipe v.a. (kana, kotar savo Badani thaj soske):
    a) angla e Revolucija: naj
    b) pala e Revolucija: naj
15. Save pursaka si tumen (manaj, diploma, jagalo m.a.) andar o sovjetikano vrama: naj
16. Kategorije ande reservistengi Karta thaj kaj si registrovime: sebet e berša andar e Karta ikaldo.
17. Bućarnipe ande Loli Armija (Loli Garda, Partizajenge Jekhina), kana thaj ke savi Funkcija: naj sas somdasno.
18. Bućarnipe ande Parne vaj aver kontrarevolucijake Armije (kana, ke savi funkcija): naj sas somdasno.
19. Somdasnipe ke bande, kriminalutne Organizacije thaj Uštipa: naj sas somdasno.
20. Hramope vaš i themutni-politikani buti: —

Vakaripe dino kotar o mujalno Burkevič, Avgust Antonovič ko avgo Marto 1945 berš.

O mujalno si informirime vaš o birindipe te dijas xovavno mothoviba pala o RSFSR-esko Artiklo 95 kotar o Kriminalutno Kanuni. Sar so rodijas o analfabeto Burkevič Ziedinjiš, oleske sas vakardo so haćarelpe telal akava artiklo.

Phučipe: Kaj bešenas thaj so kerenas ki vrama kotar e nemcikani okupacija ko foro Valmiera kotar o Juli 1941 berš dži ko Septembri 1944 berš.

Mothovipe: Ki vrama telal i nemcikani okupacija ko foro Valmiera me kerdem buti ke gavutne manuša paša e Valmiera thaj garavavas ma te našav katar o phanglipe.

Phučipe: De amenge detalno reporto pe sa so džanes vaš e kerde nemcikane -fašistikane džungalimata.

Mothovipe: Vaš e nemcikane -fašistikane džungalimata ko foro Valmiera me šaj te phenav, katar o avgo dives ko Juli 1941 berš von avile marširindos andre, thaj trujal i sasti okupacijaki vrama kerde masivni phanglipa thaj mudaripa upral e themutne thaj pe Lole-armijake manuša. Dži ko 3,000 manuša sas mudarde ko foro Valmiera thaj lesko trujalipe, genindos maškar sa e Rromani foroski thaj avruni populacija, buteder kotar e 150 manuša, thaj dži ko 1,000 manuša sas džene kotar e Biboldengi populacija; buteder kotor avera mudarde jadžura si e Letoncura thaj Rusijake manuša, maškar olende si thaj e Sovjetenge maribaske phangle.
Ko Septembro 1942 berš me dikhlem sar buteder kotar e 150 Rroma mudarde sas, kolendar buteder kotar e 100 džene sas thaneske manuša. Sar si, buteder Rroma* sas mudarde akate, aver sas andar aver forora thaj thana akate andine. O mudariba pecinde ko Septembro ko veš pala e komunako administracijako kher ki Valmiera, kote so si e masovni limorja. Me dikhlem so kerdilaspe, soske semas numa 40 metre dur, pala e kašta. O dujto mudaripe sas ko 10. vaj 20. Septembro 1942 berš kana dikhlem o mudaripe pe 30 Sovjetonge POWs [maribaske phangle manuša]. Von sas mudarde anglal o mezmeri ando veš.

Me na semas pe aver mudariba, numa butivar dikhlem e phanglen kotar o Valmierako phanglipe, sar phangle vastenca pe zeja, phirindos vaj si legarde vordonenca dži ko mudaribasko than. E phureder sas mudarde ačhindos pe punre, e čhavorra sas astarde punrendar thaj šerenca khuvde ko kašta, vaj jagaljenca čalavde. E mudarde manušenge patave sas čhuvde ko nekobor vagonora kotar e nemcikane banditorja thaj legarde ko foro. E majlačhe kotora sas dureder bičhalde ando Nemcikano Them. E manuša so kerde o mudaripe lije po pandž marke thaj dopaš litra votka vaš sako jekh mudardo.
Miri romni i Matilda thaj miro čhavo o Robert mudarde si po 6. Aprilo 1943 berš ki grupa kotar e 7 manuša ko Iršu parko, kote so but limorja si.
Angleder te džan peske, ko nilaj 1944 berš e Nemcikane okupatorja kerde ekshumacija e praxosarde manušenge, thaj phabarde olen ke kerdine vrašale, te guraven pe džungalimaske vurme. Numa e trupura kotar e palune mudarde ekshumirime si thaj phabarde.

O protokolo si mange drabardo rinćaripasa pe Latvijaki čhib thaj kodo si sa so phendem, dav signatura kotar o themutno Ziedin savo skrinisarel ko muro anav.

O phučibe kerdas o Kapetano Bundzis.