Jews in Białystok under

Soviet occupation

Daniel Boćkowski

In the memories of contemporary inhabitants

of Bialystok memory of the Jews neighbors during the Soviet occupation

does not exist.

Everyday life Jews in Bialystok in this period is

associated exclusively with the relationship of collaboration with the

Soviet authorities.

People don’t understand why the Jews in Bialystok

rejoiced at the departure of Germans and Russians

invasion.They don’t know anything about the casualties of the Bialystok Jewsh during his stay in the German army.

Bialystok (and Lviv) was a town that has adopted

most of the Jewish refugees from the

central Polish.

Soviet documents inform about thousands of

refugees from Warsaw, Lodz and other Polish cities going to stay in Bialystok.Local Jews tried to help them in spite of poverty and financial difficulties.

Economic problems and anti-Polish policy of the

Soviet goverment quickly led to an

increase in hostility between Poles and Jews.

Everyday life of Jews in Bialystok under Soviet

occupation was as heavy as the Poles.

Jews lost their factories, industrial plants and

workshops.

Young people are fascinated communist ideology, abandoning

their traditions and faith.

The Soviet goverment closed many

synagogues and religious schools.

In this period were not closed any church.

Most of the city’s batei midrsah and synagogues

were taken over by homeless refugees.

Ceased to exist as a Bialystok’s Jewish

community institutions.

Soviet authorities repress many Jews.In the first wave of

arrests in October 1939 the Bund’s main

activists were arested.

Next wave was in April 1940 (merchants,

industrialists, archenemy of socjalism)

and June 1940 (Jewish refugees).

Thousands of Jews were arrested for trafficking, smuggling, and when you try to cross the

German-Soviet border.