The first spate of murders in Pinsk began on August 5, 1941. The Germans occupied Pinsk on July 4; 16 Jews were abducted and murdered the next day. In the second half of July, a 28-member Judenrat, headed by David Alper, the principal of the Tarbut High School, was established. On August 5, some 8,000 men were rounded up on the pretext of having to repair a railroad track; among them were 20 members of the Judenrat, including the chairman. All were taken to pits outside the city and murdered. On August 7, another 2,500-3,000 males (elderly, adults, and boys) were rounded up and subjected to the same fate.
