Faleristic material from the place of mass extermination in the Blagovshchina forest (Maly Trostenets) in 1942–1943

Abstract

 The article introduces into scientific circulation one of the categories of artifacts – badges and medals of the second half of the 19th century – the end of the 1930s, which were revealed in the process of archaeological survey of field and construction work during the memorialization of the place of mass extermination of the people in the Blagovshchina forest in the period of 1942–1943. The Blagovshchina forest is a common grave for tens of thousands of deported Jewish citizens of Western Europe, prisoners of the Minsk ghetto, resistance fighters, partisans and hostages. A large collection of personal and household items of victims has been collected, which, in the absence of presentational documentary sources, acquires the character of a full-fledged source for the formation of a new source of knowledge with significant information potential. The author also drew attention to the need for a scientific archaeological study of objects of the Modern times, especially associated with the events of the First and Second World Wars.