Poninka

The Jewish community of Poninka grew significantly with the opening of a paper factory in the town in 1870. In 1897 the Jewish population was 206 out of a total of 1,025 residents. Under Soviet rule a Yiddish elementary school operated in the town until the mid-1930s. Many Jews continued to work at the local paper factory. In 1939 Poninka had a population of 675 Jews, who comprised 17.7 percent of the total number of residents. The Germans captured the town on July 5, 1941. Shortly afterwards, probably in the same month, a group of Jewish men was shot to death in the forest outside the town. Jewish houses were marked with a Star of David and the Jews had to wear yellow patches on their clothes. Apparently in late August or early September 1941 about 500 Jews from Poninka were shot to death in the same forest. According to several testimonies several Jewish artisans and specialists were left in the town. Probably in late autumn of 1941 they were taken to the ghetto of Polonnoye and murdered on June 25, 1942, along with the other ghetto inmates. Poninka was liberated by the Red Army on January 8, 1944.