Sharkovshchina — Association of Jews of Vilna and vicinity in Israel

Szarkowszczyzna, Dzisna County, Wilno District, Poland (today Sharkovshchina) , Belarus )

A Jewish community existed in Szarkowszczyzna in the first half of the 19th century. During the period between the two World Wars the town was part of the Polish state. In 1921 769 Jews lived in Szarkowszczyna. They mainly earned their living from trade in cotton and small business, while 35 families engaged in agriculture. Zionist parties and youth groups and a branch of the Bund were active in the town. A number of Jewish schools operated there as well. On September 18, 1939 Soviet troops entered the town and this was followed by the sovietization of many aspects of life. Artisans continued to work but within the framework of cooperatives. Two Jewish schools were closed and the pupils were transferred to state schools where instruction was in Belarusian.
On June 22, 1941, right after the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Soviets suddenly left Szarkowszczyna and many Jews fled with them. Some of the refugees encountered German troops on the way and were forced to return. After the Soviet authorities left, the town remained without any rulers for several days. Farmers from nearby villages went on a rampage and ranksacked state storehouses and Jewish property. On June 27, 1941 German forces entered Szarkowszczyna. In October of that year local Jews were incarcerated in two ghettos that were set up and Jews from nearby areas were also taken there. A total of about 1,900 people were imprisoned in the ghettos. Most of them were killed in a murder operation on July 18, 1942.
The town was liberated by the Red Army in March 1944.

From: Yad Vashem