Ugale file / תיק קהילה

📜 History of the Ogallala Community: From Settlement to Holocaust

These sources document the history of the Jewish community in the town. Ogla in Latvia, starting from the period State independence until its destruction in the Holocaust. At the beginning of the 20th century, a small group of Jewish residents lived there, who discovered Zionist political involvement, but their situation changed drastically with the annexation of the region to the Soviet Union in 1940. After The German invasion In the summer of 1941, the town was occupied and its Jewish residents were murdered by The Nazis and local collaboratorsThe documents state that by the end of that year The community was liquidated. In general, and some sources even mention the existence of a nearby labor camp where additional Jews were imprisoned. In conclusion, the texts serve as historical evidence of Jewish life in the region. Ventspils And their bitter fate under the German occupation.

Geographical location and political status

The settlement Ogale (Ugale; in German: Ugalen) is located in the sub-district Ventspils (Ventspils), formerly called Window (Windau), belonging to the region Kurzema (Kurzeme), also known by its former name Courland (Kurland), in Latvia (C4-1f, C4-4f). Between 1920 and 1940, Ogala was part ofIndependent Latvia (C4-1f, C4-4f).

Demographics and Zionist activity in the community

In 1925 they lived in the rural area of Ogale 18 Jews, and by 1930 their number had increased to 24 (C4-1f, C4-3f). The small community showed significant political involvement; in the elections forThe Eighteenth Zionist Congress Held in 1933, 15 of the region's Jews participated, and all voters gave their votes toRevisionist Zionist Party List (C4-1f, C4-3f, C4-4f).

The Soviet annexation period

after Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact Signed in August 1939 between Germany and the Soviet Union, Latvia was annexed to the Soviet Union in the summer of 1940 and becameSoviet Republic (C4-1f, C4-3f). With the change of regime, Soviet authorities were installed in the settlement and changes took place in the local political and economic spheres, which also affected the lives of the Jews (C4-3f, C4-4f).

The Holocaust and the destruction of the community

A few days after the German attack on the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, Soviet forces occupiedGerman army Ogale (C4-1f, C4-4f). This occupation, which took place at the end of June 1941, marked the beginning of the end for the community; all the local Jews were murdered during the summer or fall of that year (C4-1f, C4-3f). The murder was carried out by the Germans with the assistance of Latvian nationalists Locals (C4-1f, C4-3f, C4-4f).

In addition to the destruction of the local community, the sources indicate that near Ogala a Labor camp (C4-3f). Jews who were deported fromRiga (C4-3f). The period of German occupation lasted until 1945, when he returned The Red Army and occupied the area (C4-3f). The information about these events is based, among other things, on the testimony of Shloma Kasitsky Located in the archives (C4-3f).

Historical terms and concepts

• Windau – The former name of Ventspils County in Latvia.
• Kurland – The historical name of the Kurzeme region in Latvia.
• The Eighteenth Zionist Congress – The 18th conference of the Supreme Institution of the World Zionist Organization, held in 1933.
• List 18 / Revisionist Zionist Party List – A political faction in the Zionist movement that advocated an activist approach.
• Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact – A non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that included a secret protocol for dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

List of sources

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• C4-1f – Documentation in Hebrew of the history of the Jewish settlement in Ogla, Latvia, and the fate of the community during the Holocaust.
• C4-3f – A historical overview of the Ogla community, including demographic data, political activity, and a list of archival sources.
• C4-4f – An information sheet in English from Beit Hatfutsot about the history of Ugla, the Jewish community, and its destruction in the Holocaust.

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