Trembowla

In the early 1920s, Trembowla was home to some 1,500 Jews, who made up about 20 percent of the town's population. The local community boasted chapters of various Jewish parties and youth movements, including Zionist ones, as well as welfare institutions. Trembowla was occupied by the Soviets on September 17, 1939. Under their rule, the town's economy was nationalized; commercial activities (which were mostly in Jewish hands) were disrupted, and the Jewish parties were banned. In late June 1941, the Soviets retreated from the town, and groups of young Jews joined them. The Germans occupied Trembowla on July 7, 1941. During the following week, Jews were killed by German soldiers and by Ukrainians. The Jews were also required to perform forced labor. A Judenrat was established, and it was ordered to carry out a census of all Jewish males and females aged fourteen to sixty, who were then sent to forced labor and labor camps. In late September and October 1942, Jews from nearby localities - Budzanów, Janów, and Strusów - were relocated to Trembowla, joining the locals. All of these Jews, 4,000 people in total, were then herded into a ghetto, which was sealed on October 28, 1942. On November 5, 1942, the first transport of 1,500 Jews was deported to the Bełżec extermination camp. More than 100 Jews were murdered during the roundup when their hiding places were discovered, or when they tried to flee from the ghetto. On April 7, 1943, a second murder operation took place in the ghetto. At the end of that day, some 1,100 Jews were led into the Plebanówka Forest, about 3 kilometers from the town, and were shot dead. On June 2-3, 1943, the Trembowla Ghetto was liquidated, and its remaining 1,000 inmates were rounded up, led to Plebanówka, and shot. Trembowla was liberated by the Red Army on April 23, 1944.