Disna — Association of Jews of Vilna and vicinity in Israel

In Russian Disna
A small town near Polotsk, Belarus. Until World War II in the district of Vilna, Poland.

Jews are first mentioned there at the end of the 18th century. The community numbered 1,880 in 1847; 4,617 in 1897 (68.3% of the total population); and 2,742 in 1921 (62% of the total). A Jewish elementary school was opened in 1909.

Between the outbreak of World War II and the German-Soviet war, Disna was under Soviet occupation. When the German army entered on July 3, 1941, there were 6,000 Jewish inhabitants in the city. Soon after the arrival of the Germans, the synagogues were burned down. At the end of the year a ghetto was set up. The main Aktion was carried out on June 14-15, 1942, when the entire ghetto was destroyed. The inhabitants were all taken to Piaskowe Gorki where they were murdered. During the Aktion about 2,000 persons broke out of the ghetto and sought refuge in the forests. The Germans hunted down the escapees, but some succeeded in organizing Partisan units, while other Disna Jews joined the fourth Byelorussian Partisan brigade. On January 22, 1943, 17 Jewish craftsmen, the sole survivors of the Aktion of June 1942 to remain in Disna, were murdered.

From: Beit Hatfutsot