In August 1941, nearly the entire Jewish population of Kolno was executed by the SS Einsatzgruppe killing squads into mass graves around the nearby villages of Kolimagi and Mściwuje.
Meant at first to take the job as staff consultant on Einsatzgruppe B's staff, Bradfisch took part in a major discussion at the Pretzsch Border Police School at which Heydrich and the Chief of RSHA Department IV (Gestapo), Heinrich Müller, explained to the Einsatzgruppe and Einsatzkommando leaders in all plainness their task.