Sakhnovshchina

Jewish merchants and craftsmen began to settle in Sakhnovshchina only in the early 20th Century. On the eve of World War I, Jews owned the town's single inn and bakery, and one of its three mills. During the early Soviet era, many local Jews, especially the younger ones, left the town for larger cities in search of new vocational and educational opportunities. In 1939, Sakhnovshchina was home to a mere 60 Jews, who made up 0.8 percent of the total population. Sakhnovshchina was occupied by German troops on October 6, 1941. Many Jews had apparently managed to leave the town prior to that. The several dozen Jews who remained under German occupation were murdered in late 1941 – early 1942. Over the period 1942-1943, Sakhnovshchina changed hands several times, before finally being liberated by the Red Army on September 17, 1943.