Pologi

Pologi was founded in 1887 following the construction of a railway line from Ekaterinoslav to Berdyansk. A small number of Jews began to settle in Pologi, probably at the beginning of the 20th century. The Jews mostly made their living from trade. In 1939 the Jewish population of Pologi was 416; they comprised 3.2 percent of the total population. Pologi was occupied by the Germans on October 5, 1941. The town’s commandant immediately issued an order that all the Jews had to register with the police and wear white armbands with a red Star of David on their left arm. The local Jews were banned from managerial positions and from engaging in commerce and, also, from leaving Pologi. In December 1941 70 Jewish families or, according to other sources 100, Jews were murdered in a fat boiling pit. Other murder operations were apparently conducted during the following months. The town was liberated by the Red Army on September 17, 1943.