Tatarsk

The first mention of a Jewish community in Tatarsk dates to 1759. A small agricultural colony was founded in Tatarsk in 1848. At the beginning of the 20th century 56 people worked in the colony. Under the Soviet regime the colony was converted into a Jewish kolkhoz called Trudovik [the Laborer]. In 1926 the 864 Jews of Tatarsk comprised 78 percent of the total population. Tatarsk had two Yiddish schools. Tatarsk was occupied by the Germans on July 18, 1941. In mid-September 1941 a Judenrat was established in Tatarsk. The council had at least three members, who were murdered by the Germans a short time later. In late September or early October 1941 a ghetto was established in Tatarsk, and about 600 Jews lived there in very overcrowded conditions. The Jews of Tatarsk were murdered in three murder operations that took place before February 1942. The town was liberated by the Red Army in September 1943.