Golaya Pristan

Jews apparently began to settle in Golaya Pristan at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1897 Golaya Pristan's 667 Jews comprised 11 percent of the total population. At the turn of the century many of the businesses in the town were owned by Jews. In 1905 there was a pogrom in which 2 Jewish shops were destroyed. The pogrom was stopped not by the authorities but by peasants who did not take part in the attack on the Jews. Under the Soviets the Jewish population of Golaya Pristan fell, mainly due to migration to larger cities in search of jobs and education opportunities. In 1939 Golaya Pristan's 276 Jews comprised 3.6 percent of the total population. Golaya Pristan was occupied by German troops on September 13, 1941. On October 12, 1941 the Jews of Golaya Pristan were shot outside the town. Golaya Pristan was liberated by the Red Army on November 4, 1943.