Mankovka

Jews apparently lived in Mankovka since the second half of the 18th century. Most of the time only several dozen Jews lived in the town. In 1832-1859 when, in the aftermath of the Polish anti-Russian uprising of 1830, Mankovka was a garrison town of the Russian Empire, Jews were forbidden to live in the town. Only after 1859, did Jews start to resettle in Mankovka, albeit once again in small numbers. On the eve of World War I Jews figured prominently in the economic life of Mankovka, owning most of the shops, two lumberyards, and a drugstore. In mid-May 1919 there was a large-scale pogrom in Mankovka, carried out by an armed gang. In 1939 105 Jews lived in Mankovka, where they constituted 2.2 percent of the total population. German troops occupied Mankovka on July 28, 1941. Apparently, only few Jews managed to leave before the entrance of German forces. In April 1942 the able-bodied Jews of Mankovka were deported to the labor camp of Buki, the seat of the neighboring county. The rest of Mankovka's Jews, primarily women, children, and the elderly, were shot just outside the town in early May 1942. The Red Army first liberated Mankovka on January 7, 1944. However, the Germans retook the town about a week later. Mankovka was finally liberated by the Red Army on March 7, 1944.