Katerinopol

Jews lived in Katerinopol at least since the second half of the 18th century. In 1897 Katerinopol's 1,980 Jews constituted 27.5 percent of the town's total population. Under the Soviets some local Jews turned to agriculture. In 1929 the Jewish collective farm "Naye Lebn" (New Life) was established near the town. This farm later became a mixed Jewish-Ukrainian one. The town council was established in 1920s and conducted deliberations in Yiddish. In the 1920s and 1930s there was a Yiddish seven-year school in Katerinopol. Many Jews, especially younger ones, left Katerinopol for larger towns and cities in search of vocational and educational opportunities. In 1939 the 395 Jews living in Katerinopol constituted 6.1 percent of the total population. German troops occupied Katerinopol on July 29, 1941. In early September about 30 Jews and Communists were shot to death. In May 1942 most of the remaining Jews of Katerinopol were taken to Zvenigorodka and murdered, together with local Jews, in the summer of 1942. The Red Army liberated Katerinopol on January 8, 1944. However, a month later the Germans succeeded in recapturing the town. Katerinopol was finally liberated by the Red Army on March 9, 1944.