Beshankovichy (Belarusian: Бешанковічы, romanized: Biešankovičy; Russian: Бешенковичи, romanized: Beshenkovichi; Polish: Bieszenkowicze) is an urban-type settlement in Vitebsk Region, Belarus.[1] It serves as the administrative center of Beshankovichy District and is a port on the Western Dvina. It is located 51 kilometres (32 mi) west-southwest of Vitebsk on the railway line between Orsha and Lyepyel.[2] As of 2024, it has a population of 6,904.[1]
Beshankovichy
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 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Beshankovichy | |
| Coordinates: 55°2′N 29°27′E / 55.033°N 29.450°E | |
| Country | Belarus |
| Region | Vitebsk Region |
| District | Beshankovichy District |
| First mentioned | 15th century |
| Elevation | 142 m (466 ft) |
| Population (2024)[1] | |
• Total | 6,904 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK) |
| Area code | +375 2131 |
History
editIn the early 16th century, the small village was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ruled by the Drucki-Sokoliński princes. In 1552 it numbered 34 houses.
In 1630, the village was purchased by the Vilnius Voivode Kazimierz Leon Sapieha. It underwent rapid expansion and was granted Magdeburg rights in 1634. At that time, new stone houses were built and trade fairs were held semiannually, frequented by 4 to 5 thousand visitors from Belarus, Russia and abroad.
After the First Partition of Poland in 1772, control of the village was passed to the Russian Empire. By the end of the 18th century, Beshankovichy was a township of the Lepel Uyezd and later became the center of the volost.
According to the 1897 Russian census, the town's population was 4,423 people, there were 1,099 buildings, a post office, a telegraph, a school, 3 people's schools, 127 shops and a hospital.
At that time, Beshankovichy was a largely Jewish settlement, numbering 3,182 Jewish citizens in 1900. The Jewish Encyclopedia (published between 1901 and 1906), describes the town's population as four fifths Jewish of whom 576 are artisans.[3] The town had a synagogue, many houses of prayer, three benevolent societies, and numerous religious schools.
Under Soviet power, Beshankovichy became an urban settlement and was the center of the raion for several years. It later became part of Vitebsk Region.
World War II
editIn 1939, 1,119 Jews lived in the town, making up 26.3% of the total population.[2] During the Second World War, Beshankovichy was under German military occupation from 6 July 1941 until 25 June 1944, and was almost entirely destroyed. 10,276 persons from Beshankovichy and the raion were massacred, including the entire Jewish population.[4] A resident at the time of the German occupation recalled, "One Jewish family that had not been taken to the ghetto was still living on my street. When the Jews were being gathered for the shooting, the Germans came to get this family. A little Jewish boy was hiding in the fireplace. The Germans found him and shot him right there, in the house."[5]
According to an Einsatzgruppe report, 855 Jews were killed in the town on 11 February 1942, while the inscription on the monument erected on the site of the murders says that 1,068 citizens were killed that day.[6] The town was recaptured on 25 June 1944 by the 1st Baltic Front.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Численность населения на 1 января 2024 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2023 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа". belsat.gov.by. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ a b Megargee & Dean 2012, p. 1647.
- ^ The Jewish Encyclopedia. Funk & Wagnalls. 1901–1906. pp. Vol 3, p. 449.
- ^ "Beshankovichy. Holocaust". Archived from the original on 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
- ^ "Execution Sites of Jewish Victims Investigated by Yahad - In Unum". Yahad Interactive Map. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ^ Megargee & Dean 2012, p. 1648.
Sources
edit- Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Dean, Martin (2012). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume II. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. pp. 1647–1649. ISBN 978-0-253-35599-7.
External links
edit- Beshankovichy. Jewish Cemeteries Archived 2011-08-18 at the Wayback Machine
- Photos at Radzima.org
- (in English) The history of the town
- (in English) Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee - Information about the Beshenkovichy district
- (in English) Belarus Guide - Some historical photographs of Beshenkovichy
- (in English and Russian) Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee
- (in English) The Road to Beshincovichi - Dr. David L. Frey's search for the Jewish cemetery of Beshenkovichy
- The murder of the Jews of Beshankovichy during World War II, at Yad Vashem website.