Forensic Cartographies of Atrocity: Soviet Investigative Maps as Spatial Evidence in Holocaust Studies.
This article examines cartographic materials produced by the Soviet Extraordinary State Commission during the investigation of Nazi crimes in the former Soviet Union and beyond. While such maps, plans, and drawings have frequently been cited as illustrative appendices to investigative reports or pos...
| Published in: | Journal of Holocaust Research Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 176 - 192 |
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| Format: | Article |
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Taylor & Francis Ltd
Apr2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=196034888&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 196034888 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 25785648 K614 jtl: Journal of Holocaust Research issn: 25785648 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Apr2026 vid: 40 iid: 2 pid: 377 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd artinfo: ui: 196034888 10.1080/25785648.2026.2687258 ppf: 176 ppct: 16 formats: tig: atl: Forensic Cartographies of Atrocity: Soviet Investigative Maps as Spatial Evidence in Holocaust Studies. aug: au: Cherkaska, Daria affil: Centre of Archaeology, University of Huddersfield, Obukhiv district, Ukraine su: Cartography Historical source material Spatial data structures Archaeological site location Holocaust, 1939-1945 Archaeology methodology War crimes Soviet Union sug: subj: Soviet Union Cartography Historical source material Spatial data structures Archaeological site location Holocaust, 1939-1945 Archaeology methodology War crimes keyword: Holocaust in Ukraine mapping of the Holocaust mass graves soviet forensic soviet investigations ab: This article examines cartographic materials produced by the Soviet Extraordinary State Commission during the investigation of Nazi crimes in the former Soviet Union and beyond. While such maps, plans, and drawings have frequently been cited as illustrative appendices to investigative reports or postwar legal proceedings, they have rarely been analyzed as investigative artefacts in their own right. Situating these materials within the broader forensic and spatial turn in Holocaust studies, the article argues that, when examined through an archaeological perspective, Soviet investigative cartography reflects specific evidentiary priorities and institutional logic. Drawing on selected case studies, including Slavuta, it demonstrates that these maps preserve spatial knowledge that can assist in the localization and verification of Holocaust-related burial sites. By analyzing scale, orientation, spatial representation, and subsequent reproduction, the article highlights their methodological significance and suggests that Soviet investigative cartography may function not only as historical documentation but also as a predictive tool in contemporary research. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y dt: @attributes: year: 2026 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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