Pliskov

Jews are first mentioned as living in Pliskov in the census carried out in 1765. In 1897 1,828 Jews lived in Pliskov, where they constituted 47 percent of the total population. Most of Pliskov's Jews were artisans or merchants. The Jews of Pliskov suffered greatly during the revolutionary events and civil war in Russia. In 1918-1919 there were pogroms in Pliskov during which the local Jews were assaulted and their property either looted or severely damaged. Under the Soviets many young Jews left Pliskov for larger towns and cities in search of educational and vocational opportunities. Some former Jewish merchants became integrated into state or municipal service, other found employment at the local brick factory. In the 1920s Pliskov became the center of a Jewish council. Pliskov had also a Yiddish school. In 1939 Pliskov's 793 Jews comprised 24.4 percent of the town's total population. Apparently some Jewish refugees came to Pliskov in September 1939, after the German invasion of Poland and, again, after June 22, 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union Pliskov was occupied by German troops on July 22, 1941. Soon after the start of the occupation the German authorities appointed a Jewish elder and imposed "taxes" on the Jewish population of Pliskov on various items, including cash and valuables. The Jews were forced to wear Stars of David and to perform various kinds of work. Also a short time after the beginning of the occupation the Germans began to murder small groups of Jewish men. The majority of Pliskov's Jews, between about 600 and about 900 people (according to various testimonies) was murdered in October 1941 and July (or October, according to some testimonies) 1942 in the vicinity of the town. In 1942 another massacre took place, this time of Jews from surrounding towns and villages, including about 90 Jews from Dzyunkov, as well as Jews from Pliskov. Pliskov was liberated by the Red Army on January 3, 1944.