On August 31, 1941, Ukrainian auxiliary policemen drove the Jews from their homes to the town's market square. The rabbi of Velikiy Zhvanchik, who came there to be with his congregation, was beaten for failing to appear at the collection point on time. Then the Jews were taken by foot 8 kilometers outside the village, to a field located near the Sokolets Forest, where two large pits had been prepared. The sick and handicapped were taken there by cart. On their way to the murder site the weak and sick were shot to death. According to a German report from September 1, 1941, the 320th Police Battalion shot to death (according to one testimony, some of them were buried alive) 380 Jews from the towns of Velikiy Zhvanchik and Sokolets. A Soviet ChGK document from 1944 reported 1,224 victims. After the murder operation the local Ukrainian population looted the homes of the victims. The remaining Jews of Velikiy Zhvanchik, who had been hiding during the murder operation, were forced into the ghetto that had been set up on one street of the town. According to one testimony, in June 1942 Ukrainian policemen and a German unit surrounded the ghetto. The Jews were loaded onto trucks and taken to the same killing site, where they were murdered. After they completed their task, 10 young men who had been selected to cover the pit with earth were taken back to the ghetto and, later, sent to the ghetto of Dunayevtsy.

More information: Yad Vashem

On August 31, 1941, according to a German report from September 1, 1941 the 320th Police Battalion shot to death (according to a testimony some of them were buried alive) 380 Jews from the villages of Sokolets and Velikiy Zhvanchik near Sokolets forest. A Soviet ChGK document from 1944, mentions 1,224 victims.

More information: Yad Vashem