Zagłada ludności żydowskiej w Siemiatyczach

Abstract

First Jews settled here in 1582. Soon before the outbreak of the War, in 1939, slightly more than 4 300 Jews (52,9%) lived in Siemiatycze. After a short stay in September 1939 German forces entered the town for the second time in June 1941, after the outbreak of the German-Soviet War. Till July 1942 Jews in Siemiatycze lived in their own houses which, however, they had to mark with sings. In August 1942 the invader organized the Ghetto in which Jewish people were crowded into narrow area of 0,9 square meters per person. Upon larning of th plans to exterminate the Ghetto, a revolt took place on September 3, 1942 and about 300 Jews managed to escape from the Ghetto. The rest were displaced in a few stages and taken away, mostly to the camp in Treblinka. The refugees from the Ghetto or from transports were hiding in the area. An armed group under Herszel Szebes's command was organized, attempting to provide protection for larger groups of hiding Jews and dispensing justlce to those peasants who, after taking away their valuables, denounced Jews to Germans. On the other hand, however, many Jewish families were rescued by Boles. Several families in the area were executed for giving shelter to Jewish people. After the liberation of Siemiatycze in Juille 1944 the remaining Jews returned to the town. However, it was not a peaceful time for them. Herszel Szebes's group, provided with guns from the Soviet headquarters, started settling the wrongs in the area. In retaliation at night armed parties attackied Jewish homes and their inhabitants. There were victims on both sides. In this situation in 1945 the remaining Jews decided to leave the town. 107 persons, adults and children, left Siemiatycze emigrating to Palestine, USA and other countries.