Klatovy, Czechoslovakia

Klatovy, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, today Czech Republic. Jews are mentioned in the 14th century and may have formed a community by the 16th century but subsequently their residence was banned until the mid-19th century. A synagogue was consecrated in 1873 and the Jewish population grew to 724 in 1893, with Jews owning most of the city’s factories. In WWI, 1,100 East European Jews found refuge with the community. In 1930, the Jewish population was 344 (2% of the total). In July 1941, Czech Fascists pillaged the synagogue and on 26 November 1942, the Jews were deported to the Theresienstadt ghetto. Most were sent to Auschwitz in January and September 1943. Few survived.