Ploština
Coordinates: 49°11′51″N 17°57′29″E / 49.19750°N 17.95806°E
Ploština was a small settlement situated near to Valašské Klobouky, Zlín District, Moravian Wallachia, today's Czech Republic. On April 19, 1945, at the end of World War II, it was burned and its people were massacred by Nazis in response to their support of the anti-Nazi resistance movement. The massacre was conducted by the special SS unit Zur besonderen Verwendung-Kommando Nr. 31, led by Walter Pawlofski, and by the SS anti-partisan unit Josef, whose headquarters was in Vizovice. Twenty-four people were burned alive, three more people were executed, and one person was tortured to death during interrogation.
After the unsuccessful Slovak National Uprising, part of the resistance movement centered in Moravian Wallachia. Partisans formed armed groups along with local volunteers under Soviet commanders. They searched for help from villagers from surrounding settlements, who provided them with food, shelter, and basic treatment, and sometimes even helped them with military actions. The unit operating near Ploština was, however, infiltrated by Gestapo confidants and traitors who informed Nazis about the collaboration. This led to the punitive action conducted by Nazis on April 19, 1945, a few days before the end of World War II. According to Božena Húšťová, a witness whose brother was killed during the massacre, the men were forced to enter burning houses after a detonation of hidden ammunition in one of the houses. Those who attempted to escape were shot.
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