Pirčiupiai

Infobox Settlement
name = Pirčiupiai
nickname =
settlement_type = Village
pushpin_

pushpin_map_caption = Location of Pirčiupiai
pushpin_label_position =
image_shield = Marcinkonys COA.gif
latd=54|latm=24|lats=|latNS=N|longd=24|longm=57|longs=|longEW=E
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
subdivision_type1= Ethnographic region
subdivision_name1= Dzūkija
subdivision_type2= County
subdivision_name2= Alytus County
subdivision_type3= Municipality
subdivision_name3= Varėna district municipality
subdivision_type4= Eldership
subdivision_name4= Valkininkai eldership
subdivision_type5=
subdivision_name5=
established_title=
established_date =
population_total = 102
population_as_of = 2001
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

Pirčiupiai is a village in Dzūkija, Lithuania with population of 103. The village is known since 16th century, when Grand Dukes of Lithuania used it as hunting grounds. On June 3 1944, a group of Nazi Germans were attacked by pro-Soviet partisans in a nearby forest. The Germans sent a punishment squadron and burned alive almost all inhabitants of Pirčiupiai. On that day 119 people (including 49 children under age of 16) were killed and only 13 escaped from the Pirčiupiai massacre. The bodies were allowed to be buried only after a week on June 11 1944. A monument, called "Mother of Pirčiupiai", was erected in 1960 and commemorates the event.

References

* [http://www.xxiamzius.lt/numeriai/2004/06/18/darb_01.html Prisiminta Pirčiupių tragedija (Tragedy of Pirčiupiai remembered)]