Opava, Czechoslovakia

OPAVA Silesia (Sudetenland), Czechoslovakia. Jews are first mentioned in 1281 and were expelled a final time 1523, returning only in the first half of the 19th century. Their population was 134 in 1867; 1,127 in 1921; and 971 (total 11,627) in 1930. Zionist activity was extensive from the late 19th century. Most left before the annexation to Germany in September 1938 and suffered the fate of the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia. Of those who remained, 80 were deported to the Theresienstadt Ghetto in 1942, 57 of them on 18. November.