Attraction in Białowieża

Execution Site Memorial (Miejsce Straceń)

A memorial at a former gravel pit near Białowieża marking the wartime execution of around 500 local people by Nazi German forces. It is one of the village's most important places of remembrance.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

Execution Site Memorial (Miejsce Stracen) — Photo: Panek / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Execution Site memorial (Miejsce Straceń) is a place of remembrance at a former gravel pit near Białowieża, marking where Nazi German forces killed around 500 people during the Second World War. Visitors come to pay their respects and to understand the wartime loss suffered by the village, whose Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish residents were among the victims.

What you find at the site

The memorial stands at the ground of a former gravel pit, the place where the killings were carried out. It is a quiet, open spot rather than a museum, given over to commemoration and reflection. People often leave flowers or candles here. Set aside a short while to read the memorial and take in the setting before moving on.

The history it commemorates

During the Second World War, Nazi German forces executed around 500 people at this gravel pit. The victims were residents of the Białowieża area, and they came from the district's Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish communities, a reflection of the mixed population that had long lived on this eastern edge of Poland. The memorial holds together the memory of that multi-ethnic community and the violence that fell on it.

Who it suits

This is a site for anyone who wants to look beyond the forest and understand what the local community lived through in the twentieth century. It suits visitors interested in wartime history, in the Orthodox and Jewish heritage of the borderlands, or simply in paying respects. Because it is a place of mourning, a calm and considerate visit is appropriate.

Fitting it into a Białowieża visit

Most people come to Białowieża for the primeval forest and the bison, but the village itself carries a difficult recent past that this memorial makes plain. It pairs well with the other places of remembrance around the settlement and adds context to the human side of the area. See our Białowieża guide for how to reach the village and plan the rest of your time there.

Good to know

This is an outdoor memorial with no facilities, so visit respectfully and check local or parish channels for the timing of any commemorative gatherings.

Frequently asked questions

It marks a former gravel pit where Nazi German forces executed around 500 people during the Second World War. The victims were Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish residents of the Białowieża area.

It stands at a former gravel pit near the village of Białowieża, in eastern Poland close to the Białowieża Forest. For exact directions, check local information channels once you are in the village.

It is an open outdoor place of remembrance rather than a ticketed attraction. There is no set fee or opening hour published here, so treat it as accessible for quiet, respectful visits and confirm any details locally.

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