Klintsy

Jews were living in Klintsy by the first half of the 18th century. The number of Jews in the town increased significantly due to the migration of Jewish refugees from Warsaw and Lodz during World War I. Under Soviet rule many Jews were employed in local textile production. During the same period the town had a Yiddish school and a Yiddish school for adults. In 1939 Klintsy's 6,500 Jews comprised 16 percent of the total population. German troops occupied the town on August 20, 1941. By this time over half of Klintsy's Jews had managed to flee or were evacueted into Soviet interior. Immediately after the onset of the occupation a Judenrat was established in Klintsy and all the Jews were registered. German reports note that in September 1941 165 Jews were shot to death. A short time later, in either September or early October, a ghetto was established in the area of Bannyy. On December 6-7, 1941 the Germans conducted a large scale operation in which about 3,000 residents of the ghetto were shot to death. About 150 Jewish professionals who had been spared during the murder operation, were forced to work for the Germans. Between 150 and 300 remaining Jews, and about 30 Gypsies, were murdered in March, 1942. The last 50 Jews of Klintsy were murdered in April 1942. Klintsy was liberated by the Red Army on September 25, 1943.