Vinograd

Jews apparently first settled in Vinograd in the late 18th century. In 1897 1,523 Jews lived in Vinograd, where they comprised 37.5 percent of the total population. The Jews of Vinograd suffered greatly from the violence accompanying the years of revolution and civil war in Russia. In pogroms staged by various warring parties in 1917-1918 scores of Vinograd Jews lost their lives and Jewish property was looted or destroyed. Many Jews left the town at this time although some of them apparently returned when the situation stabilized. In 1926 Vinograd's 1,110 Jews comprised 25.4 percent of the total population. Many Jews, especially the younger ones, left the town for cities in search of vocational and educational opportunities. German troops occupied Vinograd in the second half of July 1941. About 200 Jews in the town were shot dead by local auxiliary policemen near the town, either in the second half of 1941 or the first half of 1942. Vinograd was liberated by the Red Army in January 1944.