Zolotonosha

Zolotonosha became part of the Poltava District in 1802. Since that district lay within the Pale of Settlement, Jews were allowed to settle in the town. The local Jewish community experienced constant growth during the 19th Century. On October 21, 1905, there was a pogrom in Zolotonosha. Much of the town was burned down, and the 500 families that had been targeted endured starvation. On April 24, 1919, another pogrom was perpetrated by local peasants and bandits. 25 Jews were killed; Jewish residences and shops were looted, and individual Jews were robbed. Less than a month later, on May 12, 1919, yet another pogrom was carried out by Red Army troops. In 1939, the town was home to 2,087 Jews, who made up 11.4 percent of the total population. About one-fourth of the Jews worked in industry; approximately one-third were white-collar workers, and another third were artisans who had joined various cooperatives. The rest were employed in agriculture. Zolotonosha was occupied by German troops on September 19, 1941. Three days later, 300 Jews were shot in a murder operation at the beet storage area. A second murder operation was carried out in Strunkovka, just northwest of the town, on November 22, 1941, and it claimed the lives of more than 3,500 Jews. Zolotonosha was liberated by the Red Army on September 22, 1943.